Page 18 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

SAMENA COUNCIL ACTIVITY SAMENA TRENDS

SAMENA COUNCIL ACTIVITY

Microsoft Joins SAMENA Council to Advance Digital

Transformation Efforts in the Region in Collaboration with

Industry Stakeholders

journey.” said Khaleelo Khan, MEA Industry Director - Telecoms
and Media at Microsoft. “In line with this, Microsoft has recently
announced two cloud regions in the country to provide the
Middle East governments and businesses with enterprise-
grade reliability and performance, combined with data residency
and the broadest compliance. With our participation in the
SAMENA Council, we look forward to working closely with all
the stakeholders and advance the region’s digitization journey,
empowering everyone to achieve more. “As a major player in
the global digital space, Microsoft will be able to leverage the
Council’s regional and international reach, as well as stakeholder
SAMENA Telecommunications Council has announced that relationship-building platforms and activities in its mission to
Microsoft, a global leader in technological innovation, has empower humans and organizations, to its strategic advantage
joined its membership as an enabler of digital transformation, within the SAMENA region. As an important part of SAMENA
innovation, and accessibility, in the wake of fifth-generation Council’s membership, Microsoft is well placed to help SAMENA
technology. Expressing his warm welcome to Microsoft on having create new synergies among local, regional, and international
joined SAMENA Council’s community of global ICT players, stakeholders on tackling multiple challenge areas, including
operators from and within the SA-ME-NA (South Asia - Middle digital transformation, cross-border data flows, development of
East - North Africa) region, Mr. Bocar BA, CEO & Board Member digital economy, and digital content, while also fostering AI and
stated, “SAMENA Council’s community of stakeholders in the IoT-driven approaches in the region. SAMENA Council believes
digital space would not be complete without Microsoft. Like policies and co-operative approaches can help develop new
SAMENA Council, Microsoft believes in open dialogue and active methods and models of engagement, help frame future-friendly
participation on a wide array of critical issues and challenges, regulations and policies, and cross-stakeholder involvement
understanding which is not only important for our industry’s should be fostered to incentivize and influence more investment
future but also for the ultimate stakeholders - the consumers and in digital development. The digital ecosystem’s sustainability
our future generations. We are truly delighted by this pledge of challenges and the need for making better use of digital
industry involvement from Microsoft, and strongly feel that this technologies, therefore, demand that all stakeholders collectively
association between SAMENA Council and Microsoft would serve communicate on common issues and needs, while providing
to further both organization’s missions.” “UAE’s telecom sector SAMENA Council the opportunity to provide advocacy support
is setting an example to lead the country’s digital transformation and build communication bridges with regional governments.
agenda and technology will act as a significant enabler in this

18 SEPTEMBER 2019