Page 77 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2023

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Bahrain Assumes Presidency of DCO

Bahrain has assumed the presidency of the in November 2020 and headquartered in new opportunities, especially that 70%
Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) for Riyadh, that aims to enable digital prosperity of the new value created in the global
the current session (2023) at the General for all by accelerating the inclusive growth economy over the next decade will be
Assembly which was held in Riyadh. The of the digital economy. Thirteen member based on digitally enabled platforms so
meeting was attended by ministers of states have joined DCO to date – Bahrain, it is of critical importance that all nations
telecommunications representing member Cyprus, Djibouti, The Gambia, Ghana, have the same ability to leverage the power
states. Bahrain is one of the first five Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Oman, Nigeria, of digitalization to achieve their goals.
participating countries in the organization, Rwanda, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia – The DCO was formed to accelerate digital
along with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait along with the private sector, academia, and transformation through collaboration and
and Pakistan, said a Bahrain News Agency NGO Observer Members. Deemah AlYahya, knowledge sharing among all stakeholders
report. Minister of Transportation and Secretary-General of the DCO said: "Digital to empower nations to develop strategies
Telecommunications Mohammed bin technologies have immense potential to and programs to drive their own digital
Thamer AlKaabi expressed delighted at transform economies and empower groups development and equally participate in the
the unanimous decision which reflects the including women and entrepreneurs with global digital economy."
confidence of member states in Bahrain's
capabilities. He affirmed Bahrain's support
for the efforts of all member states and
to work in coordination to advance digital
economy and provide real opportunities
based on the digital economy in the region.
High level delegations from the 13 DCO
member states, observer states, as well
as representatives from guest countries
and international organizations took part in
the General Assembly, to discuss the state
of the digital economy and the challenges
facing all nations in achieving equitable
global digital growth and development.
Focused on empowering youth, women, and
entrepreneurs, leveraging the accelerative
power of the digital economy and
leapfrogging with innovation, the DCO is a
global multilateral organization, founded

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