DUBAI (Reuters) – The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and stc Group (stc) said on Friday they had signed a joint venture agreement to establish a new company focused on the Internet of Things (IoT).
IoT, the concept of connecting household devices to the internet, is projected to reach 10.8 billion riyals ($2.88 billion) by 2025 with an annual growth rate of 12.8%, the statement said, citing data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).
The new company, which will be headquartered in Riyadh, will be owned 50% by the PIF and 50% by stc.
In February, Saudi Arabia launched investments worth $6.4 billion in future technologies, as the kingdom races to diversify its economy from oil in the face of fierce regional competition.
The agreement is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to drive the rapid growth of the IoT across the kingdom and to make it a regional centre for the Middle East and North Africa, the PIF said.
($1 = 3.7512 riyals)
(Reporting by Saeed Azhar; editing by David Evans)
