“Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as an Enabler for Competitiveness” was the main theme of the first Global Competitiveness Forum.

Its focus was to explore the impact that ICT can have on competitiveness and how it could be harnessed. Participants concluded that ICT was a critical tool for building highly-productive societies and economies, driven by knowledge-based assets, skills and innovation, as opposed to societies based on just natural resources or labor advantages. This sector is also on the forefront of change. Saudi leaders have implemented a bold program of economic reforms and have encouraged the creation of a highly active, innovative and competitive private sector.

The keynote speech entitled “ICT as an Enabler of Competitiveness” was presented by Mr. Bill Gates (pictured above), Chairman of the Microsoft Corporation and was followed by presentations and panel discussions based on the National Competitiveness Agenda and ICT and how ICT could be used as an Enabler to reach Saudi Arabia’s ambitious 10 by 10 program: to become among the top ten most competitive economies by 2010.