Cairo

The General Assembly of the Arab Federation for the Digital Economy unanimously approved the election of His Excellency Dr. Ali Mohamed Al-Khouri to chair the Board of Directors for its new session for the year 2023-2027, with the membership of Her Excellency Ruqaya Al-Dirham, former Minister of Digital Economy from Morocco, and His Excellency Dr. Hani Mahmoud, former Minister of Communications from Egypt, and His Excellency Dr. Amr Salem, former Minister of Communications from Syria, and His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Qarsh, Assistant Minister of Agriculture of Egypt, His Excellency Major General Yahya bin Zahem from Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Brigadier General Abdullah Al Jabri from Oman, and His Excellency Laila Al Jassim from the Emirates.

This came during the association’s meeting held at the headquarters of Cairo University in the Arab Republic of Egypt on Monday, December 25, 2023. His Excellency Dr. explained. Atef Helmy, President of the Federation’s General Assembly, stated that the election of Dr. Al-Khoury’s assumption of this mission is an appreciation from the association for the great achievements that have been achieved in the past period, and a confirmation of his confidence in the leadership and practical personality that the candidate possesses, appreciating the supportive role of the UAE’s leadership in activating the digital transformation in the Arab region, its support for joint Arab action, and its sponsorship of the Arab vision. For the digital economy, which was approved at the Arab Leaders Conference in Algeria in November 2022, and became a guiding reference for Arab countries. He thanked Lieutenant General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior – Supreme President of the Union – for the continuous support for the work and activities of the Union. .

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Ali Mohamed Al-Khouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Federation for the Digital Economy, expressed his appreciation for the great confidence of the Federation’s members, and stated that the achievements achieved reflect the belief of the Federation’s members in the noble goals of the Arab vision for the digital economy, and that they are the result of the care that the Federation’s projects have received from the leadership of the UAE since the idea of ​​developing the initiative. The “Arab Vision for the Digital Economy” until it was announced in Abu Dhabi in 2018, and until now.

Al-Khouri extended his thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Supreme President of the Arab Federation for the Digital Economy, praising his high directives and diligent follow-up, and His Highness’s continued affirmation of the UAE leadership’s keenness and commitment to supporting everything that supports the Arab countries’ keeping pace with global developments. Taking advantage of technology for the benefit of the Arab peoples, and enhancing collective Arab economic capabilities.

Al-Khouri pointed out that the Union’s initiatives, especially the Arab Digital Economy Vision and the Arab Digital Economy Index, succeeded in directing the compass of the Arab arena towards the concept of the digital economy, and stimulating the discovery of this field, which has today become one of the pivotal topics in sustainability plans and the enablers of global competitiveness, stressing that the plans Al-Ittihad Future aspires to implement projects supporting sustainable Arab development in cooperation with government sectors and private sector institutions.​​

His Excellency Prof. Dr. also praised Mohamed Othman Elkhosht, President of Cairo University, for renewing confidence in His Excellency Dr. Ali Muhammad Al-Khoury for the presidency of the Union, praising the great achievements that the Union was able to achieve in the past short period and has begun to proceed within broad and multiple frameworks within the scope of Arab institutional work, noting the prominent role of Cairo University in shaping the Arab vision for the digital economy in cooperation with the American Harvard University and international organizations, He expressed his happiness that Cairo University would be a platform hosting this meeting.

In a speech by His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Ahmed El-Ni, Secretary-General of the Council of Arab Economic Unity, delivered on his behalf by Mr. Mohamed Mahmoud Miska, he explained that the Arab region is facing a pivotal moment where integrating digital technologies into their economies is no longer just an option, but rather a necessity for sustainable development and economic prosperity, and that The digital economy provides unprecedented opportunities for growth, innovation, and social progress, and is a key driver for enhancing competitiveness, increasing efficiency, and promoting comprehensive development. He praised the role of the Arab Federation for the Digital Economy, describing it as a giant, noting that it is considered one of the distinguished federations among the specialized Arab federations. He thanked those in charge of it for their efforts, wishing the new Board of Directors more successes.

His Excellency Abdullah Humaid Al Mazrouei, former Minister of Justice in the UAE, stressed the inevitability of digital transformation to achieve an Arab economic renaissance, and that it is important to benefit from the experience of the UAE as a pioneering country in the field of the digital economy, indicating that there is an urgent need for a digital economic renaissance to achieve balance. Regional integration and activating the Arab role in the global economy, at a time when the world is rapidly transforming into a digital economy based on technology and innovation, and investment in it has become not just an investment in technology, but rather an investment in the future of future generations.

Her Excellency Rokia Al-Dirham, former Minister of Digital Economy in the Kingdom of Morocco, indicated that Morocco relied on strategies to expand the areas of digitization in multiple sectors with the aim of increasing the gross domestic product, providing work, improving products, and facilitating commercial transactions and marketing inside and outside Morocco, and it has become necessary to activate the partnership between the Arab Union For the digital economy and the private and public sectors in Morocco, and the need for the Union to work with policy makers to facilitate coordination and standardization of regulations and standards across industrial sectors and countries, modernize customs administrations, and facilitate operations and financial services, especially related to the food and agricultural industry sector, for farmers and investors, so that they have new opportunities, especially for small producers and informal sectors. .

Her Excellency Al Dirham also indicated that, according to many international bodies and organizations, the accelerated development of digital technologies could generate an additional contribution to the global economy estimated at approximately $15,000 billion by 2030, or 14% of the global gross domestic product, and that the expansion of digitization in multiple sectors could There will also be profound transformations at the level of the labor market, especially with expectations of the disappearance of traditional professions that require low skills, but it will create more other professions estimated at about 250 million new jobs by 2030, and that for the countries of the Middle East and North Africa region, the success of their digital transformation can… It generates gains estimated by the World Bank to be at least $1.6 trillion until 2030.

His Excellency Counselor Dr. Judge Khairy Al-Kabbash, President of the Court of Appeal in Egypt, noted the necessity of recognizing the dynamic nature of the investment environment, and moving to create a unified legislative and judicial framework across Arab countries to protect and sustain Arab and foreign investments, establishing a common minimum for investment protection, and that through coordinating systems throughout The region, can provide a safer and more predictable environment for investors, and that this is not only a vital step to enhance confidence among investors, but it is also necessary for the growth and sustainability of the digital economy in the Arab world, and he expects that such initiatives will enhance economic growth and encourage foreign investment, Promoting a more stable and prosperous regional economic climate.

In a speech by His Excellency Amr Salem, the former Syrian Minister of Communications, he praised the distinguished group of figures present at the meeting and expressed his appreciation for Cairo University and beloved Egypt. Then he greeted and thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness the Sheikh. Saif bin Zayed for their sponsorship of the Arab Federation for the Digital Economy and the Arab Vision for the Digital Economy, and to the Chairman of the Board of Directors and all members, as he pointed out that the digital economy is no longer an intellectual luxury for any country, but rather carries with it the collection and analysis of information and finding solutions to the complex challenges facing societies in order to achieve growth. Economic and social, His Excellency praised what the United Arab Emirates has achieved in the field of digital economy and that it has come a long way in this field due to its wise leadership. He stressed the need to benefit from the experience of the UAE in this field as it is one of the pioneering countries in it, and indicated that he hopes to work with… The distinguished team present in the Union, to convey the Union’s lofty message to all Arab countries.

His Excellency Prof. Dr. also presented Marian Amir Azer, former member of the House of Representatives, professor at Nile University and the National Telecommunications Institute, in her speech, expressed her sincere thanks to His Excellency the President of the General Assembly, Eng. Atef Helmy, and all the distinguished attendees. Dr. Marian stressed in her intervention the importance of the digital economy and the necessity of digital transformation to advance Arab economies. She also appreciated the initiatives. Several laws launched by the Arab Federation for the Digital Economy, such as the initiative to sponsor one million Arab entrepreneurs, indicated that Egypt has issued three important laws as a legislative structure for the next stages of the digital economy, the first of which is the “Information Technology Crimes Law No. 175 of 2018 and the Digital Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020.” And finally, the Financial Technology Law No. 5 of 2022. She also stressed that the Financial Supervision Authority worked to activate the last law as a regulatory body by reaching an understanding with the companies that will provide the appropriate infrastructure to enable the law to be activated so that there are clear controls for the companies affiliated with it. She indicated that she sees the union The Arab League for Digital Economy is a source of strength in this field, and wishes success to the union and those working on it.

His Excellency the Minister Plenipotentiary, Mohamed Khair Abdel Qader, former Director of the Department of Arab Organizations and Unions at the League of Arab States, pointed out that the Arab Union for the Digital Economy is the union of this stage, and that the world is changing with this tremendous scientific and technological development of the digital revolution, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence, and that the Union, despite It was established a short time ago until it was born great and achieved great achievements. His Excellency added that, in the midst of the rapid developments in the framework of information technology that have made the digital economy an effective catalyst in achieving comprehensive economic development goals, and these economic and social challenges in the Arab region, a great effort is required to employ the available digital and technological capabilities to achieve sustainable development goals.

He had clear efforts and important activities during the launch of many initiatives and the preparation of international and Arab studies and indicators for the digital economy, which were welcomed by the Algiers Summit 2022, and the announcement of the Arab Food Market Initiative in Abu Dhabi in January 2023 during the work of the 54th session of the Joint Arab Coordination Committee, and his launch of the Arab Index for the Digital Economy. The Arab Digital Economy Award and the Arab Digital University. His Excellency Minister Muhammad Khair praised the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Federation for the Digital Economy, saying: “A word of truth must be said about activating the tasks and activities of this Federation, and that they could not have been possible except through the thought of a man who has a vision and enjoys a renewed and lively thought and keeps pace with the plans and programs of scientific and technological development.” He is Dr. Engineer Ali Muhammad Al-Khoury. The truth is that the Union witnessed remarkable activity and development during his reign that was praised by everyone. In the next phase, we will work to continue these efforts through the intensive participation of this union in the activities of the Arab League sectors and greater cooperation and coordination with effective Arab labor organizations and institutions.”

For his part, Mr. Dr. Ayman El-Sherbiny – Head of ICT Policies at the United Nations Committee (ESCWA), thanked the attendees and praised the great successes achieved by the Union and the continued cooperation between the Union, the United Nations and ESCWA in the files of the Arab Digital Agenda and the Arab Vision for the Digital Economy, and praised the Union as a promising entity to create the future in the field of economics. Digital.

For his part, Mr. Dr. Ayman El-Sherbiny, Head of the ICT Policy Section at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), expressed his gratitude to the attendees, praised the great achievements made by the Arab Union for the Digital Economy, and highlighted the ongoing cooperation between the Union, the United Nations and ESCWA in advancing the Arab digital agenda. And the Arab vision for the digital economy, and praised the Union as a promising entity in shaping the future of the digital economy. Dr. explained. Al-Sherbini highlighted the role of ESCWA in supporting the Arab world in terms of work principles, vital policies and technical expertise, which help in developing comprehensive strategies for the digital economy, stressing ESCWA’s commitment to facilitating technological progress and economic development in the region, and enhancing its pivotal role in promoting digital transformation throughout the Arab countries.

At its meeting, the General Assembly approved the formation of a supreme advisory committee composed of Arab ministers, ambassadors, and leaders from the governmental and private sectors in the Arab countries, the formation of the Legislation Committee headed by Counselor Dr. Judge Khairy Al-Kabbash, the approval of the establishment of two branches of the Union in Iraq and Syria, and the approval of the appointment of the Minister Plenipotentiary/ Muhammad. Khair, from Sudan, Secretary General of the Arab Federation for the Digital Economy .

A large number of Their Excellencies, ministers, ambassadors and officials from members of the Union, and observer members from the United Nations, the Arab League and the Council of Arab Economic Unity, participated in the meeting.