Baghdad
His Excellency Ambassador Mohammed Khair Abdel Qader , Secretary General of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, participated , representing the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, in the Digital Economy Forum – Second Edition , which was held in the Republic of Iraq with the participation of a select group of officials, experts and specialists in the fields of digital transformation and technological innovation.
In his speech during the opening of the forum, His Excellency stressed the importance of the global digital acceleration witnessed in various sectors due to modern technological developments, noting that artificial intelligence has become a key element in shaping the future of societies and economies , and that the digital economy has become a fundamental driver for sustainable development and improving the quality of life of the Arab citizen.
His Excellency the Ambassador explained that the Arab Union for Digital Economy has launched a series of pioneering strategic initiatives over the past years , most notably the Arab Vision for the Digital Economy , which was launched from the United Arab Emirates under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and was adopted by the League of Arab States and endorsed by the Arab Summit in Algeria (2022), and was welcomed at the Arab Summit in Jeddah in 2023, to become a guiding reference for Arab countries in developing their national digital policies.
His Excellency also reviewed a number of projects launched by the Union, including the Arab Digital Economy Index , the Arab Digital Economy Award , the initiative to qualify one million Arab digital entrepreneurs , the Arab Platform for Digital Education and Training , and the Arab Digital Food Market , stressing that they all aim to strengthen the role of modern technology in supporting Arab economies and achieving digital integration in the region.
The Secretary-General noted that the results of the Arab Digital Economy Index showed that a number of Arab countries still face challenges in the field of digital investment, which requires the development of supportive policies and legislation , strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors , and establishing national investment funds specializing in digital technology .
His Excellency called for the necessity for each Arab country to develop a clear and comprehensive digital strategy that aligns with economic development goals and includes developing digital infrastructure, fostering skills and innovation, and enhancing cybersecurity and data protection. He pointed out that building an integrated digital society also requires spreading a culture of digital vocational training and awareness of modern technologies .
He concluded his speech by emphasizing the importance of joint Arab cooperation to build a unified Arab digital market , and to develop policies that support innovation and investment in human capabilities, wishing the forum success in achieving its goals towards an integrated and sustainable Arab digital economy
