Expo to Showcase Saudi Inventions

JEDDAH, 29 November 2007 -- Inventors in the Kingdom, both Saudi and expatriate, are called on by the King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for the Gifted and Saudi Aramco to participate in the "Ibtikar 2008 Expo," which is to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh between March 9 and 13, 2008.

The expo, which has been sponsored by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who is the president of the foundation, has been jointly organized by the foundation and Aramco.

"The main aim of the expo is to highlight the inventiveness and ingenuity of the Kingdom's human resources. The expo will display inventions ... and will be an opportunity for inventors and investors to build relationships," said Muhammad Al-Fouzan, general supervisor of the expo, which will be open to all visitors.

"Inventors are to focus on areas that touch Saudi society or that help its economic and social development. Participants should be either Saudi or resident in the Kingdom," he said.

Fares Al-Faraidi, executive director for the expo, said that it was essential for the participants to patent their ideas beforehand.

"Participants will have to sign a legal paper freeing the organizers from any responsibility if their ideas were stolen," he said.

A committee will select the final projects that will take part in the expo. Priority will be given to the newest, unique and most creative projects.

By Samir Al-Saadi