The delegation of the Council of Arab Economic Unity headed by His Excellency Dr. Ali Mohamed El-Khoury, Advisor to the Council of Arab Economic Unity at the League of Arab States in meeting with the United Nations Development Program in New York, USA to unify the efforts of economic and social development in the Arab world

This comes within the context of the Arab League and the Council’s issuance of the first draft of the joint Arab strategic vision, which resulted from the recommendations and outcomes of the first conference on the Arab digital economy held in Abu Dhabi last December. The strategic vision includes programs that promote economic and social development in relation to the digital economy.

The Regional Office for Arab States, headquartered in New York, manages the regional programs and country offices of the United Nations Development Program in 17 Arab countries, while the eighteenth office is located in the occupied Palestinian territories. The United Nations Development Program is the United Nations’ global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources with the aim of helping people build a better life. The activities of the United Nations Development Program in the Arab States region are based on several areas, the most important of which is addressing the most prominent obstacles to human development in the region and achieving the causes of sustainable development for Arab peoples.

The joint Arab strategic vision for the digital economy, in turn, promotes economic development programs in Arab countries, organizes and consolidates economic relations between member states of the League of Arab States, and provides the best conditions for the prosperity of Arab countries, develops their economies, ensures their renaissance, and improves the living situation.

The roles converge and integrate according to development prospects, a common confrontation of challenges, and the promotion of opportunities for young people in the Arab region, as they are the focus of sustainable development.

Murad Wahba, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Assistant Director and Director of the Regional Office for Arab States in the United Nations Development Program, welcomed the unification of efforts within the frameworks of creating job opportunities for Arab youth in the Arab region and supporting the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that “the joint Arab strategic vision for the digital economy provides us with a plan and common agendas to address some of the urgent challenges facing our Arab world, such as poverty, unemployment, and political and social instability for some Arab countries.”

He continued, “We support many different projects in all regions of the Arab countries, and the goals achieved from these projects can be enhanced and their sustainability through a single system within the framework of the League of Arab States to direct infrastructure investments for all Arab countries combined. We also welcome this agreement because we have the necessary expertise and capabilities to drive progress and help support countries on the path to sustainable development.”

On his part, His Excellency Dr. Ali Muhammad Al-Khoury stressed the importance of partnership with the United Nations Development Program to ensure coordination of efforts and non-duplication of efforts and directing grants and investments to achieve the desired impact on scientific and practical foundations within the frameworks of the sustainable development goals. “Today, we have no choice but to move to digital economies to advance our Arab societies and consolidate our natural role in contributing in promoting global economic growth.”

The Arab League and the Council of Arab Economic Unity are currently coordinating efforts with relevant authorities, including the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program, to hold coordination meetings to support Arab digital economy programs.