محافظ جدة يفتتح الملتقى الإحصائي الثاني للجامعات والجمعيات الإحصائية

On behalf of the Deputy Emir of the Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Jeddah, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, today inaugurated the second statistical forum for universities and statistical associations, organized by the General Authority for Statistics at the conference center of Jeddah University, with the participation of a select group of experts, specialists, representatives of specialized scientific associations, and a prominent group of academics and researchers in the fields of statistics and data-related sciences.

Upon his arrival, the national anthem was played, and the ceremony began with verses from the Holy Quran. Then, the President of the General Authority for Statistics, Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Dosari, delivered a speech in which he emphasized the vital role of statistics in the national development journey, noting that the forum represents a qualitative scientific platform for exchanging experiences and expertise among academic and professional institutions, contributing to the development of research and academic programs, statistical methodologies, and enhancing statistical innovation using the latest technologies, and establishing strategic partnerships.

In his speech, Al-Dosari announced the launch of the "Road to Riyadh" program, which is the preparatory phase for the Kingdom's hosting of the sixth United Nations World Data Forum in 2026, scheduled to be held in the capital, Riyadh, in November 2026. This forum aims to enhance global awareness of the Kingdom's pioneering role in the field of statistics and highlight its efforts in leading digital transformation and developing the statistical system to support the achievement of sustainable development goals and align with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030 in building a knowledge-based economy driven by statistical data. The program will extend over a full year leading up to the forum and will include workshops, events, and local, regional, and international dialogue sessions, with the participation of a select group of experts and statistical agencies from various countries around the world. The program will continue even after the forum concludes to ensure the sustainability of its outputs, maximize its impact, and solidify its achievements in the long term.

Al-Dosari also announced at the end of his speech the launch of the second cycle of the Innovation Lab projects, following the positive results achieved in the first cycle, emphasizing the lab's role in enabling researchers and specialists to develop innovative statistical projects and solutions that align with the developments in the statistical community and meet the requirements of Saudi Vision 2030, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals, and inviting researchers and statisticians to apply for participation in this cycle.

The Governor of Jeddah witnessed the signing of six memorandums of cooperation between the General Authority for Statistics and: King Abdulaziz University, Taif University, King Khalid University, Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, the Islamic University in Medina, and the Saudi Statistical Society.

The cooperation agreements aim to enhance collaboration, improve coordination, and integrate efforts in the areas of expertise of all parties, and to establish an institutional framework for mutual activities and tasks, in addition to developing institutional capacities in areas of mutual interest. His Highness also received a commemorative gift on this occasion.

This forum is part of the Authority's efforts to enhance integration with universities and statistical associations and expand the circle of strategic and research partnerships, to reinforce the advanced position that the Kingdom has achieved in the field of data, statistics, and indicators, and to affirm its role as a regional and international statistical reference that contributes to measuring progress made in achieving sustainable development goals and supporting the realization of Saudi Vision 2030.

After that, the sessions began, which included a main working session titled "The Role of Universities in Shaping the Future of Statistical Innovation," which reviewed the role of universities in developing innovative statistical methodologies, building national capacities, and aligning educational outputs with sustainable development requirements.

The program also included dialogue sessions addressing various issues, most notably: the role of statistics in community development, modern methodologies for improving data quality, statistical work ethics and data privacy, as well as practices of statistical offices in providing data to beneficiaries.

It is worth mentioning that the first edition of the forum, organized by the Authority in 2024, witnessed distinguished attendance, scientific and research contributions, and recommendations that resulted in notable outcomes in statistical work. The holding of this year's forum coincides with World Statistics Day 2025, which falls on October 20 under the slogan: "Statistics for Sustainable Opportunities," where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joins the world in celebrating this occasion held every five years, reaffirming the importance of official statistics in supporting development and decision-making.