Abu Dhabi

The capital, Abu Dhabi, hosted the regional workshop on sustainable investment in digital transformation in the Arab region, organized by the Department of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation at the League of Arab States and the Arab Federation for Digital Economy.

The workshop was attended by representatives of Arab countries, representatives of the ministries of sustainable development, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, specialized Arab organizations, specialized Arab unions, and representatives of the United Nations, the private sector and civil society.

The two-day workshop included several main sessions. The first session addressed digital investment in the Arab region, and included government digital transformation initiatives – strategic infrastructure investments such as: smart cities, digital payment systems, cloud data centers, and global trends in investing in digital transformation and its role in achieving sustainable development in the Arab region.

The second session addressed supporting private investment opportunities and foreign partnerships in digital projects, such as successful practices, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, investment in developing digital skills, and encouraging technological innovation to achieve sustainable digital transformation.

The third session addressed supporting the building of strategic partnerships at the regional level and launching a roadmap to achieve a sustainable digital economy 2025-2030 through the Arab Digital Platform for Sustainable Development as a regional digital platform to support all projects in vital sectors related to achieving sustainability, within the framework of following up on the implementation of the Economic and Social Council’s decision.

On the sidelines of the workshop today, Tuesday, the 16th meeting of the Arab Committee for Sustainable Development was held, in person and via video conference, under the chairmanship of the UAE, in accordance with the presidency of the Economic and Social Council in its current session.

The meeting was attended by representatives of fourteen Arab countries concerned with sustainable development, in addition to specialized Arab organizations, as well as a representative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the United Nations Program, UNESCO, the Islamic Development Bank, and various civil society organizations concerned with sustainability and media.

The committee’s agenda, which includes 14 items, discussed a number of important topics and initiatives, such as eliminating hunger in the Arab region, the Arab Digital Platform for Sustainable Development, sustainable financing in the Arab region, Arab Vision 2045, achieving sustainable development in conflict-affected countries, the Regional Climate Security Initiative, the Arab Sustainability Initiative, the Arab Team for Sustainable Development Indicators, and the Arab Sustainable Development Week.

The workshop was opened by Minister Plenipotentiary, Her Excellency Nada Al-Ajizi, Director of the Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Department, who welcomed the existing cooperation between the Arab Digital Platform for Sustainable Development and the Arab Federation for Digital Economy in the project to encourage sustainable investment in digital transformation in the Arab region, which was prepared within the framework of following up on the implementation of the Economic and Social Council’s decision in its 114th session dated September 5, 2024.

She stressed that digital technology and sustainable investment are essential pillars for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development. Hence, the importance of this workshop, which brings together a group of high-level decision-makers and experts, to discuss a number of vital topics that focus on enhancing digital transformation and supporting strategic investments in our Arab region, in addition to discussing the proposal to launch an “Arab Roadmap to Achieve a Sustainable Digital Economy 2025-2030” through the Arab Digital Platform for Sustainable Development.

His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al Darmaki, Deputy Secretary-General of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, spoke at the opening session, explaining that sustainable investment in digital transformation in the Arab region comes at a time when digital transformation has become an indispensable necessity to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development.

His Excellency added that global economies are moving rapidly towards adopting technology, transforming business models and innovation, and we in the Arab world must keep pace with this process, and even strive to be at the forefront of innovators and investors in this field, noting that this workshop constitutes an additional step towards a bright digital future for our Arab countries, and achieving a qualitative shift that benefits our societies and economies.

For his part, Dr. Ayman Mokhtar Ghoneim, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy, presented an overview of the Arab Food Market Initiative, which establishes a broad alliance between government agencies, the public and private sectors, and the technology sector to create a virtual digital market through which the export capabilities of producers of different specializations can be enhanced, and administrative and technological solutions can be found for transactions related to export activities.

At the end of the meetings, Minister Plenipotentiary Ms. Nada Al Ajizi, Director of the Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Department, and the participants thanked the UAE for hosting the workshop and the pioneering role it plays in driving digital transformation in the Arab world.