Bahrain hosts DCO 3rd General Assembly Meeting
Manama, Feb. 1 (BNA): The 3rd General Assembly Meeting of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), was held under the chairmanship of Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Chair of the Council of the DCO, and Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO.
The meeting aimed to discuss the organisation’s plans and initiatives aimed at promoting digital prosperity.
Ministers, ambassadors from Bahrain and other countries, GCC Secretary-General and relevant local and international observers were present.
In the opening session, the minister hailed the guests’ present as it reflects their commitment to achieve DCO’s goals, promote international digital cooperation and combat the challenges that stand in the face of achieving a comprehensive and sustainable digital economy.
Al Kaabi said "Bahrain takes pride in hosting the third general assembly meeting of the Digital Cooperation Organisation, which confirms the Kingdom’s commitment to driving progress and innovation in the digital world for everyone, in line with the goals and aspirations of the organisation in the field of digital economy, with a view to enhancing international cooperation to address global challenges and achieve sustainable development."
He said that Bahrain sets DCO’s goals, in a way that aims to create an inclusive digital future for all, with a focus on empowering women, youth and entrepreneurs, and developing the digital economy by stimulating innovation-based growth.
The minister added that the kingdom also seeks to take the lead regionally in the field of digital economy by launching initiatives and projects that support the growth of the digital sector in its various fields.
These initiatives included establishing an advanced infrastructure, and enhancing the capabilities of national personnel and refining their skills.
He noted the joining of Bangladesh Qatar, and Greece as the new member states during Bahrain’s presidency of the DCO.
The minister highlighted Bahrain's keenness to actively participate in DCO's activities, particularly the Digital Prosperity Awards, which promote digital transformation and cooperation.
He praised the outcome of the General Assembly meeting, which discussed ways to improve digital and economic cooperation and grow the global digital economy.
Al Kaabi affirmed his trust in the upcoming presidency of the DCO's council, wishing Jordan success in promoting digitisation.
AlYahya expressed her appreciation on behalf of the DCO Secretariat, to Bahrain’s government and Minister Al Kaabi for their continuous support.
"We need cooperation among all stakeholders to combat digital inequalities exacerbated by rapidly advancing technologies such as artificial intelligence. By working together, we can ensure that progress is inclusive and sustainable by choice, not chance. "We have the tools, the talent, and the tenacity to bridge the digital divide, empower marginalized groups, and pave the way for a more inclusive future," she added.
The general assembly held discussions on the growth of markets and their impact on the digital economy; the value of data as a strategic resource in the digital age, and how to use it effectively to achieve growth; and ways to achieve a sustainable digital economy contributing to improving the quality of life and emphasising the pivotal role of humans as an essential element in the development process.
New initiatives were announced to advance global digital cooperation towards an inclusive and sustainable digital economy, including the Data Embassy Initiative and the Online Content Integrity Initiative. These DCO initiatives, in collaboration with Member States, Observers, and Partners, aim to achieve a sustainable and inclusive digital economy.
In their Council Declaration, the DCO Member states reaffirmed their commitment to build an agile, efficient, and relevant multilateral organization, acknowledging the critical juncture in the advancement of the global digital economy and emphasizing the importance of multilateral, multistakeholder, and multi-sectorial, digital cooperation to drive and accelerate the sustainable and inclusive growth of the global digital economy.
The DCO Member States affirmed in the declaration their commitment to prevent the global digital divide from becoming a challenge to the development divide, recognizing the potential of digital transformation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. To achieve this potential, they urged all stakeholders in the global digital economy to relentlessly cooperate in a multilateral framework to ensure that every country, business, and individual gets the chance to prosper in the global digital economy.
The Assembly witnessed the announcement of the addition of 17 new Observers from different sectors, reflecting the global determination to enhance digital cooperation among different stakeholders and affirming the commitment of DCO Member States to reduce the global digital divide through the potential offered by digital transformation to achieve sustainable development goals.
On the sidelines, bilateral meetings were held with delegations of participating countries, which included Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Rwanda.
The third DCO General Assembly meeting was held under the sponsorship of stc Bahrain and Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco) as telecommunications sponsors, and Huawei as telecommunications partner, in addition to Benefit Company and Bahrain Airport Services Company as silver sponsors.
