Tokyo – In a stride towards urban technological advancement, Japanese tech firm Uhuru has initiated an IT training program for engineers from the Saudi National Research Institute. This move is part of a strategic cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology (KACST), established in 2022, to foster smart city and environmental technology development.
As a component of their joint efforts, the program aims to enhance comprehensive technology and business acumen from local implementation to broader cloud-based applications. This collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious ‘Saudi Vision 2030’, which includes the creation of NEOM, an immense smart city project powered by sustainable and highly automated technologies.
An official from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, MUTO Sachio, highlighted Japan’s contributions to international cooperation and digitalization, particularly in the smart city sector.
“We are actively sharing our insights and have participated in numerous international forums,” MUTO remarked, underscoring Japan’s increasing influence in this domain and his anticipation for enhanced bilateral relations and knowledge exchange with Saudi Arabia.
Elham Matub Alkabawi of KACST shared her enthusiasm about the training: “We’re on the third day, and the exposure to leading-edge technologies like virtual reality, digital twins, and AI is truly exhilarating.”
The training itinerary for this week includes visits to Shirahama Town, Susami Town, and Hidakagawa Town in Wakayama prefecture, providing hands-on experiences in Japan’s smart city environments.