2nd edition of the Digital Cooperation and Development Forum: Digital transformation is a key pillar of sustainable development in the region

—Under the theme of Our Vision… Our World… Our Future,” the second edition of the Digital Cooperation and Development Forum (DCDF2.0) kicked off this morning, in the presence of ministers and senior officials and decision makers from across the Arab region.

Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the League of Arab States (LAS) and partner organizations, and in cooperation with the Jordanian Government represented by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MODEE), the forum highlights the critical role of digital transformation in driving sustainable development in the region.

The forum was inaugurated by Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship in Jordan Sami Smeirat, LAS Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti, and UN Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies Amandeep Singh Gill.

“The forum reflects the ambitious vision of ESCWA and LAS to bolster digital cooperation and optimize the use of technology and innovation for advancing economic and social sustainable development,” Smeirat underscored. “Jordan has been working closely with ESCWA to develop the innovation environment and digital policies, and to build national capacities that enable individuals and enterprises to benefit from the digital revolution,” he added.

For his part, Aboul Gheit urged Arab Governments to establish the infrastructure and legislative frameworks needed for ensuring data protection, and adopt policies that support investment and business entrepreneurs. “Allocating more funds to technology would bolster internal and external investments in the Arab region, allowing it to shift from tech consumption to tech production and development and close the digital gap,” he stressed.

The forum brings together high-level policymakers, government officials, technical experts, academics, private sector representatives, and civil society actors, alongside international organizations working on advancing digital cooperation and promoting sustainable development in the region.

In her remarks, Dashti confirmed that the Arab Digital Agenda provided a clear road map to make technology a lever for economic strength and social advancement. “However, this hinges in our ability to translate policies into tangible outcomes, achieve sustainable benefits from investments, and leave no one behind throughout the path towards digital transformation,” she emphasized, adding that merging the World Summit on the Information Society and the Arab Internet Governance Forum highlighted the need for digital transformation governance to be inclusive and transparent.

“Artificial intelligence (AI) is going to transform our economies, and each country has to be engaged,” Amandeep Singh Gill pointed out, stressing the importance of holding dialogue on AI governance with an inclusive setting. “There is a lot of untapped potential in the Arab region in terms of digital technology,” he said, calling for establishing a common digital market, working closely between the private and public sectors, and talent pooling.

The forum spans four days and includes a variety of key events. On the first day, the first High-level Partners Conference on the Arab Digital Agenda 2023-2033 will be held, aiming to set the digital priorities of Arab countries for the next decade. It will be followed by the Fourth Arab High-Level Forum on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with the Seventh Arab Internet Governance Forum.

Additionally, the forum will feature specialized sessions, high-level dialogues, interactive workshops, and side events designed to foster collaboration among the public and private sectors, academia, the technical community, civil society, youth, and global institutions.

This forum marks a significant milestone in advancing digital cooperation within and beyond the Arab region. Aligned with the Global Digital Compact and the resolutions of the Council of Arab Ministers of Communications and Information, it serves as a vital platform for shaping digital development priorities, setting standards for the next decade, and building regional consensus on digital issues within global and regional frameworks.