Secretary-General of the Digital Co-operation Organisation (DCO), Deemah AlYahya, held separate meetings last week with Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, and Arab League Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, during her visit to Cairo.
During her meeting with the Egyptian minister, AlYahya highlighted opportunities for collaboration between the DCO and Egypt on the road to achieving Egypt’s digital transformation strategy.
The DCO is the world’s first intergovernmental body that focuses on accelerating the growth of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy.
It is a global multilateral Organisation founded in November 2020 with the aim of enabling digital prosperity for all.
AlYahya emphasised to Minister Talaat that Egypt’s economic strengths and goals align with her Organisation’s objectives.
The same economic strengths and goals, she said, offer opportunities for growth and prosperity in the digital economy.
She commended the ‘Digital Egypt Pioneers Initiative’ which leads digital transformation by developing digital skills, fostering innovation, and supporting young talents and entrepreneurs.
She underscored the DCO’s eagerness to cooperate with Egypt in achieving its goals in ICT infrastructure and strengthening innovation ecosystems through public-private partnerships.
The Egyptian government’s programmes in digital inclusion and infrastructure development, she said, align with the DCO’s strategic priorities.
“The Egyptian government has taken serious steps towards strengthening the digital economy by investing in digital infrastructure, developing e-government services, and supporting digital entrepreneurship,” AlYahya said.
“This is evident through efforts to enhance digital inclusion and empower women and youth in the digital economy, as well as the presence of a substantial number of companies operating in the digital economy,” she added.
She referred to elements for growth in the Egyptian digital economy.
AlYahya also cited reports indicating that digital investments in Egypt will reach $9.8 billion in 2028.
The same applies, she said, citing the same reports, to digital payments, which are expected to reach $30.8 billion in 2028.
“The DCO is ready to collaborate with Egypt on its journey towards digital transformation and achieving the sustainable development goals to reach an inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable digital economy,” AlYahya said.
The DCO brings together the ministers of communications and information technology of its member states.
The Organisation is focused on empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs, leveraging the accelerative power of the digital economy, and leapfrogging with innovation to drive economic growth and increase social prosperity.
The Organisation has 16 member states, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Djibouti, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait, and Morocco.
Collectively, the 16 member states have a GDP of nearly $3.5 trillion. They boast a combined market of nearly 800 million people, over 70% of whom under the age of 35.
Through co-operation and strategic dialogue, the Organisation drives the facilitation of mutually advantageous cross-border legislation.
It seeks to establish within its member states the optimal infrastructure and policies for the rapid creation of inclusive and equitable digital economies within which all people, businesses, and societies can innovate and thrive.
The DCO says its vision is to work towards a world in which every nation, business, and person has a fair opportunity to prosper in the digital economy.
It adds that it works collaboratively with governments, the private sector, international Organisations, NGOs, and the civil society to enable more inclusive digital transformation and the growth of the digital economy in pursuit of the member states’ common interests.
The Organisation’s key initiatives include programmes to enhance cross-border data flows, promote market expansion for SMEs, empower digital entrepreneurs, and advance digital inclusion among women, and youth, and other underrepresented populations.
During her meeting with the Arab League chief, AlYahya discussed ways to energize what she described as the ‘promising potential’ of the digital economy in Arab countries.
She stressed the need for accelerating multilateral co-operation to enhance youth’s digital skills and create more areas of co-operation between countries in promoting the digital economy.
“The Arab League plays a crucial role in the Arab world as the oldest regional intergovernmental Organisation,” AlYahya said after the meeting.
She expressed pleasure to meet Secretary-General Aboul Gheit and discuss ways to enhance co-operation between her Organisation and the league.
“The DCO is already cooperating with the Arab League as an observer in the activities of the Council of Ministers of Information and Communications Technology of the Economic and Social Council,” AlYahya said.
“We look forward to strengthening our co-operation, especially since the full digital economy system in the Middle East and North Africa region has the potential to add gains of approximately $1.6 trillion to the GDP in the next 30 years,” she added.
