New York

The Arab Federation for Digital Economy held a high-level meeting with the leaders of the World Bank, during which they discussed opportunities for cooperation in the fields of digital transformation and sustainable development in the Arab world.

The Federation’s delegation was headed during the meeting by His Excellency Dr. Ali Mohamed Al Khouri, Advisor to the Council of Arab Economic Unity and Chairman of the Federation, and from the World Bank, Paul Noumba Am, Regional Director for Infrastructure for the Middle East and North Africa, Samia Melhem, Senior Expert in the Global Practice for Digital Capabilities, Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnerships, Silvia Solf, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Region at the World Bank, Audrey Aris, Digital Development Officer at the World Bank, along with Richard Kirby, Advisor to the Arab Federation for Digital Economy for International Affairs.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Ali Al Khouri stressed the essential role of digital transformation in supporting economic growth and achieving sustainable development goals in the Arab region.

He pointed out the importance of international indicators and reports focusing on the availability and readiness of digital infrastructure and its ability to benefit from advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, to drive economic and social development.

He stressed the Arab Federation for Digital Economy’s endeavor to enhance technical partnerships with international institutions, especially the World Bank, to benefit from expertise and implement joint projects that contribute to accelerating digital transformation in the region.
During the meeting, attendees discussed a number of important initiatives led by the Federation, most notably the “Arab Vision for Digital Economy 2026-2030”, which aims to support digital transformation and innovation in all Arab economic sectors, and the “Arab Digital Economy Index”, which is a tool for measuring digital progress in Arab countries and supporting the ability of countries in the region to achieve their development goals.

Al-Khouri noted the important role that the World Bank can play in the international committee to follow up on updating the Arab Vision for Digital Economy, which was announced at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) meetings last Wednesday, and said that technical cooperation with international bodies, especially the World Bank, will contribute to achieving qualitative leaps in sustainable economic development in Arab countries.

The meeting also focused on several key areas that cooperation between the Arab Federation for Digital Economy and the World Bank could contribute to developing, including innovation and entrepreneurship, digital education, developing digital infrastructure, and enhancing financial inclusion, in addition to discussing how to support entrepreneurs and start-ups in the Arab world by developing a strong digital infrastructure and providing a regulatory environment conducive to growth and sustainability.

The importance of promoting digital education was highlighted through the Arab platform for education and training initiative Edu4Arab.org, led by the Arab Federation for Digital Economy.

World Bank representatives stressed that digital education is essential to empower Arab youth and prepare them for the digital labor market of the future.

The attendees discussed ways to improve the digital infrastructure in Arab countries to accelerate the pace of digital transformation, expand access to the Internet and data,and enhance financial inclusion through technological solutions, such as developing payment systems and digital transfers, which can empower underserved communities, especially in poor areas.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed the importance of cooperation in the areas of joint research and studies, and stressed that this cooperation will contribute to providing in-depth insights and accurate analyses on the challenges and opportunities to address digital challenges and economic development on a scientific basis.

In appreciation of the role of the United Arab Emirates and its Arab vision, the World Bank team praised the leading role of the UAE in advancing digital transformation in the Arab world.

The team commended the Arab vision for the digital economy as an important step towards building integrated and sustainable digital economies in the region and presented its upcoming initiative to conduct a future skills gap assessment for the Middle East and North Africa region, noting that innovation in education, trade and digital technology can contribute to a qualitative shift in the economies of Arab countries.

The two sides noted the need to intensify efforts to enhance sustainable development through digital transformation in the Arab world and stressed that technical expertise and international cooperation will be essential to support the Arab vision for the digital economy and provide innovative solutions to the challenges facing the region.

At the end of the meeting, a shield of appreciation was presented by the Union to the World Bank in appreciation of the efforts of its team of experts in reviewing the Arab vision for the digital economy document, which was approved at the Arab Leaders Summit held in Algeria in 2022.