Title: Economic diversification in Saudi Arabia: the role of information communication technology and e-commerce in achieving Vision 2030 and beyond

Authors: Olawale R. Olaopa; Yazeed M. Alsuhaibany

Addresses: Department of Economics, College of Business Administration, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ' Department of Economics, College of Business Administration, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The consequences of the global price instability, low-carbon energy adoption and lesser demand for crude oil in some situations such as the global pandemic with the associated revenue dwindling, among others, necessitated the adoption of Vision 2030 agenda. Outlined in the vision is the diversification of the economy towards greater non-oil revenue generation through digital transformation facilitated by the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. This study aims at evaluating the level and impacts of ICT/digital penetration, accessibility, adoption, and utilisation on the status of e-commerce and entrepreneurship development as well as the achievement of the economic diversification objective of Saudi Vision 2030. The paper adopts a literature survey method and relies on qualitative analysis of the secondary data using content and theme method of analysis. The study found that for an enhanced service-orientated and knowledge-based economy, ICT adoption, and utilisation is indispensable in the pursuit of sustainable economic diversification agenda.

Keywords: economic diversification; information and communications technology; ICT; knowledge-based; service-orientated; Vision 2030; Saudi Arabia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTLID.2023.135347

International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, 2023 Vol.15 No.2, pp.137 - 161

Received: 17 Mar 2023
Accepted: 06 Jun 2023
Published online: 05 Dec 2023 *

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