Saudi Arabia wasn’t on my bucket list of places to visit for business or pleasure; it should have been. Colossal economic changes are transforming the once oil-dependent nation into a high-tech, diversified economy under the direction of Vision 2030, the nation’s blueprint for progress. As the president of the Colorado Business Roundtable, I recently witnessed firsthand how these changes are creating unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation for the men and women of Saudi Arabia. As they forge a new direction, Colorado businesses have an open door to investment and collaboration. The desert is blooming.
Last month, a delegation of Colorado Business Roundtable board members traveled to Saudi Arabia to develop long-term business connections that will benefit the economic interests of Colorado and the Kingdom. The visit followed up on a virtual Colorado Business Roundtable event last year with Saudi Ambassador to the United States Her Royal Highness Ambassador Reema. The Roundtable represents Colorado businesses that globally employ 3.2 million people and generate $1.3 trillion in annual revenue.