Page 54 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Pakistan, DCO Agree to Enhance Cooperation in IT, Telecom

Pakistan and Digital Cooperation enable market opportunities from their and companies in the member countries.
Organization (DCO) formally agreed to collective populations of 500 million people. “The Pakistan government is committed
enhance cooperation and collaboration The 17-20 November visit reinforced to providing all our citizens with the skills
in the field of information technology and the importance of Pakistan as member to benefit from our vision of a knowledge-
telecommunication. Both sides announced state of the DCO, taking place within the based digital economy. The Pakistan
to provide one million Pakistani students first year of the DCO’s establishment. Innovation Challenge is a great example of
to learn digital skills by 2022. Pakistan’s The DCO progressed several strategic how we are partnering globally to support
Ministry of IT & Telecommunication priorities of Pakistan, including enabling our children and Pakistan’s future,” added
and Digital Cooperation Organization inward investment, digital economy skills Minister Ul Haque. DCO Secretary General
(DCO) formally agreed to enhance and infrastructure development, export Ms. Deema Al-Yahya stated that Pakistan’s
cooperation and collaboration in the development support for digital companies contribution to the global digital economy
field of Information Technology and and entrepreneurs, and inclusion of young is significant, and the progress achieved
telecommunication between member people and women in the digital economy. together during the visit reinforced how
countries, and to joint efforts that promote In a joint statement, Federal Minister for IT important the Pakistan-DCO partnership is
public-private partnership, enhance the Syed Aminul Haq thanked DCO Secretary- to enabling digital prosperity for all. “This
role of women in information technology, General Ms. Deemah AlYahya for her visit visit has generated significant energy
provide digital facilities in urban and rural to Pakistan and said that this visit would and a renewed focus on the inclusion of
areas, to provide investment opportunities be an important milestone in the goals of young people, women and entrepreneurs
for IT professionals and start-ups to the organization and in the world of digital in Pakistan’s digital economy. The DCO
meet the challenges of the digital work. economy. Every day new values are added is committed to enabling Pakistan’s
Both organizations announced the and the demand for the digital economy is progress in these areas, and I commend
"Pakistan Innovation Challenge" which increasing globally. In this regard, Pakistan President Dr. Arif Alvi, the government
will enable one million Pakistan K-12 is always ready to provide all kinds of ministers and digital economy leaders that
students to learn digital skills by 2022. facilities to all member countries and for we have worked with during the visit for
The Pakistan Innovation Challenge was joint efforts. Syed Aminul Haq said that the their impact in enabling digital prosperity
announced by the Federal Minister for IT reforms and initiatives under the Digital for all. We look forward to supporting
and Telecommunications, Syed Aminul Pakistan Vision could set an example Pakistan as a valued member state of the
Haq, and the Secretary General of the for the member countries. Pakistan can DCO for years to come.” The visit provided
Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) be a great hub not only for the world an opportunity to take a closer look at
Ms. Dima AlYahya in a joint statement but also for the DCO countries due to its the various ministries and institutions
at the end of the three-day inaugural time zone, world class IT professionals, leading the digital economy in Pakistan,
visit to Pakistan. The DCO, consisting excellent English accent and Tax savvy with the infrastructure of the Universal
of seven founding member countries, conditions. He said that the member Service Fund (USF) and Ignite of Ministry
including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, countries could benefit from the expertise of IT being examples of public-private
Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman and Jordan, aims of start-ups in Pakistan by investing in partnerships that can provide facilities
to benefit from each other's experiences, them while highlighting their creativity, and support creativity skills by leveraging
and observations, provide technology while joint efforts were also required for private sector investment.
requirements for their citizens, and to the free movement of IT professionals

54 NOV-DEC 2021