Riyadh Region Mayor Prince Dr. Faisal Bin Ayyaf Completes Official Visit To South Korea For Urban Development Initiatives

Prince Dr. Faisal bin Ayyaf, the Mayor of Riyadh Region, recently wrapped up his official visit to South Korea. The trip aimed to forge international partnerships and learn from global urban development practices to improve life quality through technology. During the visit, several meetings were held to strengthen ties between Riyadh and Korean cities.

A significant outcome of the visit was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Seoul's Metropolitan Government. This agreement focuses on collaboration in smart city management, sustainable urban planning, and infrastructure development. The Saudi Cabinet had previously authorized Prince Dr. Faisal to negotiate this MoU, highlighting its importance.

The visit began with a cordial meeting between Prince Dr. Faisal and South Korea's Prime Minister, Dr. Han Duck-soo. Following this, he met with Dr. Sang-woo Park, Korea's Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. Their discussions centered on enhancing infrastructure development and urban planning while exchanging expertise.

Prince Dr. Faisal also engaged with Oh Se-hoon, Seoul's Mayor, where they signed an MoU to boost bilateral relations and share knowledge in city management. Additionally, he met Gyeonggi Province's Governor, Dr. Dong-Yeon Kim, discussing sustainable urban development and environmental technologies.

Further discussions took place with Incheon's mayor on topics of mutual interest. These meetings underscored the commitment to fostering cooperation in various aspects of urban management and operations.

Exploring Technological Innovations

During Smart Life Week in Seoul, Prince Dr. Faisal addressed the global Mayors Forum about Riyadh's future initiatives. He attended the opening ceremony and explored an exhibition showcasing cutting-edge digital transformation innovations for intelligent cities.

He also visited Seoul Transport Operation and Information Service (TOPIS) to understand intelligent transportation systems better. These visits provided insights into advanced technological solutions that could benefit Riyadh's urban landscape.

Field Visits to Leading Companies

The mayor conducted field visits to prominent Korean companies like Naver and Samsung, including a tour of the Samsung museum. These visits aimed at exploring potential collaborations in technology and innovation sectors.

In addition to these engagements, Prince Dr. Faisal met Saudi students studying in South Korea. He encouraged them to excel academically to contribute towards achieving Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

Concluding Ceremonial Events

The visit concluded with a ceremonial dinner hosted by Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to South Korea, Sami bin Mohammed Al-Sadhan, honoring Prince Dr. Faisal and his delegation. This event marked the end of a successful trip focused on enhancing cooperation with major global cities.

This visit aligns with efforts to exchange expertise in digital transformation and sustainable urban development as part of Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives.

With inputs from SPA