Dr. Tawfig Bin F. Alrabiah, Director General, MODON and the Director of Al-Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University Dr. Suleiman Bin Abdullah Aba Alkhail signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Science and Technology Zone in the university. MODON, according to its mission statement, is responsible to create ideal environment for developing and upgrading Technology Zones in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, encourage and support the establishment of advanced technology zones that provide infrastructure and developed services necessary for strategic knowledge industries for the national economy. Al-Imam university seeks to achieve its aspirations and activate its distinct potentials in the fields of research and scientific development. It seeks to authenticate its relations with the actual needs of development and productivity sectors in the Kingdom. Also to achieve common goals of both parties in support of applicable scientific research and development of innovation and creativity environment, then to perform its national responsibility in supporting the knowledge community and the basic industry. In consideration to its belief in the inevitability of integration of efforts between various supervisory, industrial and educational agencies to reach those superior goals, MODON and Al-Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a science and technology zone (Science Park) in the university.
The memorandum of understanding includes cooperation of the university and MODON in preparation of preliminary studies, the establishment of forums for dialogue, and coordination of field visits aimed to find the actual needs and competitive advantages of the University. The University also cooperates for achieving its future vision for the establishment and development of technology zones, proportionate to the current capabilities and competencies as well as future expansions. MODON shall cooperate to support the university in implementing this vision by granting the technology zone all possible types of physical, logistical, moral and formal support through the following aspects:
• Supporting whatever is related to technical and economical feasibility studies of the project.
• Approving the zone as a technology zone exempted from any fees or government deductions.
• Supporting the provision of funding for the establishment of advanced technical services such as open laboratories and reverse engineering centers, and others.
• Coordinating with relevant agencies to finance the establishment of industrial projects in the technology zone.
Dr. Alrabiah proclaimed that MODON is currently overseeing 14 existing industrial cities in various regions of the Kingdom (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Makkah, Qassim, Al-Ahsa, Madinah, Assir, Al Jouf, Tabuk, Hail and Najran). The investments in these cities exceeds 200 billion Saudi Riyals and more than 300 thousand workers are employed. Also, there are non-developed allocated areas to establish new industrial cities in different regions of Saudi Arabia in Sudair, Al-Ahsa, Dhuba, Zulfi, Taif and Gurayaat, to which four under construction cities are added to include Al- Kharj Industrial City, Jeddah 2nd industrial city, Ar’ar industrial city and Jazan industrial city as the developments contracts of these cities were signed at the end of 2008.
Dr. Alrabiah added, that MODONS’s Statute which has been issued by the Council of Ministers Resolution No. (235) dated (27/8/1422 H), included a definition of the technology zones represented as follows:
Lands and sites allocated for scientific parks, in which the infrastructure and additional services are provided to form an advanced scientific center encouraging invention, innovation and creativity in various fields so as to ensure the development of knowledge, service, and vital industries business and technology incubators and so on.
In accordance with Articles XVI and XVIII of MODON’s Statute, the establishment, management, development, operation or maintenance of any specified industrial city (industrial cities and technology zones) may not be allowed, unless approved by MODON which issues the necessary licenses in which, controls and stipulations are explained in accordance with the provisions of this Statute and its Executive Bylaws.
MODON establishes and develops new technology zones through the provision of additional services in these zones by promoting and encouraging the investors to establish infrastructure viable to the establishment of high-tech industrial facilities in these zones. MODON also invites and encourages universities, research centers, scientific development and men of thoughts and creativity to participate in the development of science and technology system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as setting up the basic infrastructure and necessary services for the development of high-tech advanced industries in the Kingdom.
MODON’s role to activate technology zones in the Kingdom is as follows:
• Encourage the establishment of technology zones in the Kingdom.
• Create the required tangible and intangible infrastructure.
• Facilitate licensing procedures for the development and operation of technology zones.
• Facilitate the registration and licensing procedures of the enterprises existing in these zones.
• Link the technology zones and the enterprises existing in these zones with MODON strategy and goals and with the policy of science and technology, industrial strategy and the development plans in the Kingdom.
• Coordinate and follow-up with relevant authorities that contributes to the success of technology zones in the Kingdom.
It is worth mentioning that MODON oversees the technology zone, which is established by Pubic Pension Agency on a total area of (455,536) square meters and is located in Al-Nakheel district of Riyadh city.
At the end of his speech, Dr. Alrabiah re-emphasized that MODON welcomes investors to invest in the industrial cities whether their investments be in industrial, service, commercial or residential sectors.
