Written by Ahmed Ali, December 5, 2018 |
Ali Al-Khouri, Advisor to the Council of Arab Economic Unity and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, revealed the formulation of a global content strategy in the digital economy field. The Federation has formed a subcommittee comprised of Arab and international experts and international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to study, review, and formulate the final strategy.
During the press conference announcing the Arab Digital Economy Conference in Abu Dhabi on December 16-17, 2018, he explained that the committee is reviewing the strategy, which will be submitted for approval by the League of Arab States, the Council of Arab Economic Unity, and the Arab Federation for Digital Economy before being presented and officially launched with representatives of Arab countries at the opening session of the first Arab Digital Economy Conference in Abu Dhabi.
He indicated that preparations are currently underway to include the strategy among the documents to be presented to Arab leaders at the upcoming summit scheduled to be held in Tunisia in March of next year.
Al-Khouri added that the Council contracted Cairo University last September to design a study on the Arab Digital Economy Strategy. The study explores the concepts of the digital economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in addition to sectoral and environmental analysis, and the economic and social impacts of digital transformation in the Arab world.
The study also aims to explore the digital reality in the Arab world through detailed comparisons of the capabilities of advanced economies and to identify the main obstacles and economic opportunities for member states of the League of Arab States.
Al-Khouri continued: “We are prioritizing digital economy activities in Arab countries in light of the real opportunities to develop our economies… We want to activate the common Arab vision to improve the living conditions of our Arab societies and our economic conditions by mobilizing inter-Arab investments and expertise, and directing international investment funds to build frameworks for sustainable development in the Arab world.”
It is worth noting that the Council of Arab Economic Unity is organizing the first conference on the Arab Digital Economy in Abu Dhabi to present the pillars of the joint Arab strategy for the digital economy, which supports sustainable development and investment in technological projects and infrastructure in the Arab world.
The first Arab Digital Economy Conference is intended to review the strategic pillars and the economic opportunities available to Arab countries as a result of the digital transformation, given the real opportunities for inter-Arab investment in technology infrastructure and the digital economy.
A number of themes will also be addressed to support Arab governments’ digital transformation plans, enhance financial inclusion plans, and support the development of knowledge, legislative, and technological infrastructure in Arab countries.
