Cairo
The Arab Federation for Digital Economy participated in the first high-level regional roundtable on “Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability,” titled “From Innovation to Impact.” The roundtable was held in Cairo, Egypt, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States. The roundtable was organized by the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization (AICTO) in Tunis, in cooperation with the Department of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation at the League of Arab States.
The Union was represented at the first roundtable by Dr. Mohamed Fahmy, Chairman of the Union’s Artificial Intelligence Committee, who delivered a speech in which he emphasized that artificial intelligence has become a strategic necessity for supporting sustainable development and enhancing the position of Arab economies on the global map.
The Union’s participation comes as part of its efforts to enhance regional cooperation, exchange expertise with Arab and international institutions, and work collectively to consolidate the role of artificial intelligence as a fundamental pillar for building an Arab knowledge economy that keeps pace with global transformations.
Highlights of Dr. Mohamed Fahmy’s speech during the sessions :
- Artificial intelligence has become a strategic infrastructure that is reshaping production systems, work patterns, and forms of competitiveness in the global economy. From this perspective, the Union believes its adoption in the Arab region is an existential choice.
- Artificial intelligence goes beyond improving basic services; it represents a gateway to establishing “Arab knowledge economies” that rely on innovation and creativity, transforming big data into a sovereign resource equal in value to traditional natural resources.
- Regulatory frameworks are required not only to regulate ethical use, but also to protect digital sovereignty and ensure that the path of technological transformation remains compatible with societal values and security considerations, while avoiding the trap of technological dependence on global power centers.
- The Arab Federation for Digital Economy is working to develop innovative applied initiatives, such as establishing joint investment funds for AI startups, building regional research centers, and establishing an “Arab AI Observatory” to monitor global transformations and provide proactive policies for decision-makers.
