Page 72 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Bahrain Becomes 1st Country in MENA to Ratify United Nations Treaty on

Electronic Communications

Bahrain has become the first country part of a series of sweeping reforms aimed Trade Law (UNCITRAL), noted: “The
in MENA to ratify a key United Nations at bolstering the digital readiness of the accession of Bahrain to this treaty
convention on electronic communications, GGC region’s US$1.5 trillion economy. completes the significant work that the
helping to enable a new wave of digital Commenting on the announcement, Khalid Government of Bahrain and the UNCITRAL
business across the region and enhance Humaidan, Chief Executive of Bahrain Secretariat have carried out together to
investor protections. The United Nations Economic Development Board, said: “To provide Bahrain with a modern, efficient
Convention on the Use of Electronic build a truly digital economy in the GCC, it and effective enabling legal framework
Communications in International Contracts is essential that our regulation keeps pace for the digital economy. I am confident
(2005) aims to enhance commercial with the latest developments – particularly that this will encourage more countries
certainty by ensuring that contracts at a time when more and more business in the region and worldwide to adopt the
concluded and other communications is being conducted in the virtual realm. latest UNCITRAL texts in the field.” Stefano
exchanged electronically are as valid and “Bahrain is leading the way on tech-driven Pettinato, Resident Representative of the
enforceable as their traditional paper- reforms and is committed to supporting United Nations Development Program
based equivalents and by introducing the needs of entrepreneurs and investors said: “By ratifying the UN Convention
specific principles surrounding the use as they work to build long-term growth in on electronic communications, the
of technology during signing processes. our thriving e-commerce landscape. “We Kingdom of Bahrain sets an example on
This will enter into force for Bahrain look forward to continuing to work closely how digital technology, international law,
on January 1 2021. The principles of with the United Nations as we stay on the and multilateralism are enabling factors
the treaty include defining terminology cutting edge of legislative developments.” for the promotion of international trade
such as ‘writing’ and ‘signature’ so that Luca Castellani, Secretary of Working Group and the achievement of the Sustainable
all parties are legally protected when IV (Electronic Commerce) of the United Development Goals through greener and
entering into a contract. The convention Nations Commission on International more efficient protocols.”
also aims to remove legal obstacles to
the use of electronic communications in
enacting previous treaties that were first
created before the widespread use of
modern technology. Bahrain became the
14th country globally to join the treaty,
alongside major economies such as
Singapore and Russia. Countries that have
signed, but not yet ratified, the convention
include China, the Republic of Korea and
Saudi Arabia. It comes after Bahrain made
history in November 2018 by becoming
the first nation to enact legislation based
on the United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
e-commerce model laws. The move was

Morocco Wants to Use Digital Technology to Attract US$1 Billion Plus in FDI

The Moroccan Minister of Digital Economy meeting of the National Committee for the Elalamy stressed that Morocco's renewed
Moulay Hafid Elalamy announced on June Business Environment (CNEA). According investment in the digital sector would
that the government wants to make use of to the official, the aim is to make the involve supporting digital companies,
digital technology to attract MAD10 billion country the first regional and continental accelerating the digitization of public
(about $1.04 billion) in Foreign Direct digital hub; an ambition spurred by the administrations, improving the governance
Investments and create more than 120,000 recent digital dynamism stemming from of the sector and strengthening digital
direct and indirect jobs across the country. the coronavirus context. He also revealed sovereignty.
This was during his presentation on that his department is currently studying a
digital development on the sidelines of a series of projects to this end. Moulay Hafid

72 JUNE-JULY 2020