Three-city edition BTX Road Show 2022 kicks off with first event in Riyadh
The three-city edition, BTX Road Show 2022 started with the first event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 27 June at the Voco Riyad Hotel. This is the third time that BTX Road Show is being staged in Riyadh and featured multiple invited keynotes, technology keynotes, panel discussion and four sets of awards.
The event was organised by GEC Media and supported by various partners including Redington, Juniper Networks – Barq Systems; Logitech – Avientek, Zscaler, Blackboard – Anthology, Advanced Integration, Finesse, Rittal, IGOAI, Global CISO Forum, Business Transformation, Enterprise Channels MEA.
Close to 80 attendees were present at the event that began after lunch. Dalal Buhmeida was the Event Host and welcomed Arun Shankar, Editor GEC Media to begin the event with his welcome introduction.
Shankar welcomed the guests and attendees and VIP Eng. Mohammed Mahnashi at the event. He cited statistics that Saudi Arabia will witness, over the next five years, the growth of the IT and emerging technologies markets at a compound annual rate of nearly 10%. Its size will exceed $27 billion by 2025 according to Dr Mohammed Saud Al-Tamimi, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission
Saudi Arabia is a powerhouse of industry, innovation, technology, and social change. It has executed 750+ business reforms and aims to be net zero by 2060. Saudi Vision 2030 has now transformed into Sustainable Saudi Vision 2030. Change is a transformation and transformation is both an opportunity for change as well as a challenge for businesses and industries.
There are multiple announcements of innovation ranging from Neom and the Red Sea initiative on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, STC continuing to set a global standard of innovation in broadband and commercial networks, and the urban metro network of Riyadh.
Next, Eng Mohammed Mahnashi, Digital Transformation and Data Management Advisor for the Saudi Electronic University, gave the opening keynote. Mahnashi presented multiple slides showing the progress of innovation and development in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Ahmed D Alharthi, Vice-Dean of eLearning and Distance Education for Technical affairs, Umm Al-Qura University presented his invited keynote and explained the transformation roadmap followed by the University while adopting digital platforms.
The technology keynote on the role of networks in business transformation was presented by Mohamed Abou Gabal, Senior Regional Partner Manager, Juniper Networks. The technology keynote on the role of Zero Trust approach in cyber security and business transformation was presented by Wissam Saad Eddine, Regional Director Middle East and Africa, Zscaler.
The panel discussion looked at the twin aspects of managing the cost of a business and digital transformation journey and automating security to enable successful digital transformation. Panellists included Dr Samer Marouf, IT Director, Rakka Holding; Abdelmajed Saeed, Cyber Security GRC Manager, MEDGULF; Saghir Ahmad Khan, Security Operations Centre Lead, SBM; and Mohammed Fayez Alshehri, Chief Information Security Officer, Al-Amthal Financing. The moderators were Abdullah Faisal Biary, CISO, United Cooperative Assurance and Arun Shankar, Editor GEC Media Group.
The last invited keynote before the awards was given by Dr Ahmed Darwish, Head of Digital Delivery, Bank Albilad, who spoke on the disruptive challenges and opportunities around the arrival of Fintech companies in Saudi Arabia.
Ines Ben Rejeb, Media Sales Manager, GEC Media Group gave the vote of thanks to all the sponsors, VIP, guests and delegates at the event.
The half day event included multiple invited keynotes, technology keynotes, panel discussion and four sets of awards.
