On behalf of His Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Investment, Eng. Majid Al Qassabi, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadli patronized on Monday the opening ceremony of the International Engineering Conference & Exhibition, which was organized by the Saudi Council of Engineers and the coronation of the Saudi engineers with the Engineering Innovation and Excellence Award. The conference three-day activities were held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, under the theme "Upgrading engineering standards towards national development".
Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman Al-Fadli said that organizing the first International Engineering Conference and Exhibition in Saudi Arabia is within the framework of the development of the profession and engineering work within the Saudi Vision 2030. He added that it is a modern method of mobilizing scientific and research institutions in the Kingdom and the world to serve engineering and knowledge, energizing the spirit of renewal of engineering work and keeping up with the era.
Al-Fadli said that this International Engineering Conference & Exhibition will set the foundation for the engineering future project and build a better tomorrow through this great scientific gathering, which will provide in-depth engineering experiments with a distinguished research movement, to raise awareness of engineers of contemporary issues and to renew engineering thought in light of what is happening in the world around them. He stressed that it brings together the outstanding engineers in the Kingdom, who will be awarded the Innovation and Excellence Award granted by the Saudi Council of Engineers for the first time to Saudi engineers. The award represents the continuation of the Council’s efforts to implement its plan to promote engineering and finding incentives to raise quality and creativity. It also contributes to the promotion of the profession and the promotion of research and development, innovation and creativity and stimulates individuals and institutions in design and invention.
The Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture praised the role of the Saudi Council of Engineers, its Board of Directors and the General Secretariat for this award, as it represents a distinctive trend in favor of the profession, engineers and the nation following the pattern of international institutions in the nomination of the most outstanding engineers to receive the award and honor them.
He pointed out that we will honor the Council as the home of Engineers, which provides the engineers with continuous motivation and constructive support to continue the qualitative effort and achieve prosperity for the country.
Afterwards, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Council of Engineers, Dr. Jamil bin Jarallah Al-Baqawi, delivered a speech in which he stressed that our country, under its wise leadership, has exceptional qualities, a prosperous economy and fruitful opportunities. Engineering is one of the elements of our ability to achieve the sustainability of the national economy. The International Engineering Conference & Exhibition is a qualitative initiative that provides the local, Gulf and Arab engineering sector with global elements through the exchange of experiences and the presentation of views and experiences by 211 speakers from nearly 32 countries.
Al-Baqawi said that the Council seeks in this international forum to stimulate creativity and enhance engineering standards and achieve knowledge exchange through the presentation of about 200 specialized papers by experts and specialists from 32 countries to translate the latest methods and engineering remedies in various fields, and present the latest developments in the engineering disciplines of progress of the engineering profession.
The Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Conference, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Council of Engineers, Dr. Bassam bin Ahmed Gulman, said that our country's comprehensive renaissance, development acceleration and economic reforms are motivating us to look forward to a promising future and a renewed prosperity, adding that we are in the age of vision and plans for a better future and a bright tomorrow in order to build a country that is prosperous and strong, based on the arms of its citizens and its capabilities.
He pointed out that the Council has worked and continues to implement its vision of advancing the profession and enabling engineers and engineering institutions to reach the optimal solutions and raise the level of creativity and innovation to achieve an internationally recognized position in this field. He noted that the forum extends over four days for the environment industry to share the experiences and values of engineering and professional and to review the latest engineering knowledge and build relationships and promote professional communication between participants from different countries of the world taking parts in this conference and exhibition.
At the end of the ceremony, the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadli, honored the winners of the Engineering Innovation and Excellence Award, presented by the Saudi Council of Engineers for the first time this year, and awarded to 88 engineers from all over the Kingdom, individuals and institutions who have made contributions and bidding in their work.
It is worth mentioning that the conference is held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, with 211 speakers representing 32 countries and a number of prominent personalities at the local and international levels. Speakers at the International Engineering Conference discuss 12 engineering courses in various disciplines in addition to a specialized engineering exhibition in which 76 participants took part along with the participation of 100 exhibitors from the government and private sectors, presenting the latest technology in the engineering, industrial and technical fields.
On Tuesday the conference will discuss safety and inspection engineering, civil engineering, industrial engineering, water desalination, architecture and urban heritage.