Monday 2nd June 2008: Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Arabian General Investments Authority (SAGIA) in cooperation with the Knowledge Economic City (KEC) is organizing the International Knowledge Forum "NOOR" between June 22nd and 24th, 2008. It is the first of its kind in the world, and will start this year by discussing two major topics: healthcare and information communications technology (ICT).
This gathering will take place in Al-Madinah city and will comprise participants from all over the world, including academics, scientist, specialists, practitioners, senior officials and others. The forum will be held under the title "Knowledge-Based Investments" and will focus on two main topics: Healthcare and ICT. SAGIA officials said that the primary goal of this forum is to make it an annual knowledge gathering of scientists and investors in order to elevate the human civilization right from the land of Al-Madinah by attracting investors, scientists, scholars and pioneer institutions into Knowledge Economic City, which, is to become an international Center for knowledge based investments and to elevate Saudi Arabia's competitiveness in knowledge-based industries among SAGIA's comprehensive program to invest in the 10 x 10 program which aims to put KSA in the top 10 global countries in investment competitiveness by the year 2010.
KEC was established by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz in June 2006 in a close location to the Prophet's Mosque. Construction of the project started in April 2008 after finalizing designs, plans and budgets. KEC is the third of the four economic cities planned to launch soon. KEC holds a special importance to Muslims worldwide due to its location in the Holy city of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, about five kilometres from the Prophet's Mosque, and 7 kilometres from Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport. King Abdullah's Foundation for his Parents participated in this project by providing the land to be the nucleus of a knowledge-based society in Al-Madinah. Many national companies started the primary works of the project, which consists of the construction of parts of knowledge, touristic and educational facilities as well as the first phase of the residential part (100 villas + 300 apartments). The overall project consists of: An educational quarter with technical and administrative institution; medical sciences and biotechnology center; advanced technology park for knowledge-based industries and research and scientific development centers. The commercial quarter has 1,200 world-class shops to serve the KEC inhabitants and visitors, in addition to a retail shopping mall with an old Madinah style.
The medical sciences and biotechnology centers will benefit from the smart infrastructure of the city, especially the medical simulation technologies and remote treatment technologies. Medical services are also available for the inhabitants of Al-Madinah city and its visitors. In addition, a rehabilitation complex will be established and will offer its services to all Muslims to make use of the spiritual treatment in Al-Madinah. The project includes also a commercial station with smart infrastructure, a technology and entertainment park and a special park operated by advanced multimedia means, laser and digital technology to highlight the Islamic culture. The residential area has villas, high-rise and low-rise buildings, furnished apartments and spacious green landscapes.
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© Press Release 2008
