Bahrain will host the 3rd General Assembly of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) on Wednesday.
Chaired by Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and DCO Chair of the Council Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, the event will discuss the organization's plans and initiatives aimed at promoting digital prosperity.
In a statement, DCO said ministers and officials representing the 15 DCO Member States and DCO's Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya, high-level delegations from partners and observers, representatives from guest countries and international organizations will attend the event.
They are expected to discuss strategic initiatives to foster global digital cooperation, shed light on the status of the digital economy and ways to overcome challenges faced in achieving inclusive and sustainable growth in this vital sector.
Bharani Minister Mohammed Al Kaabi said: "We are honored to host the 3rd General Assembly of the DCO, bringing together Member States and distinguished guests to discuss achievements and kick off new initiatives that aim to achieve digital prosperity and growth."
Through joint international action and fruitful cooperation, the General Assembly will seek to promote inclusive and sustainable growth of digital transformation and maximize all countries' gains from the opportunities and initiatives available to develop the digital economy, he added.
As a founding member of the DCO, Bahrain is committed to sharing its knowledge and expertise that has contributed to enhancing its economic growth, he stated.
During Bahrain's 2023 presidency, Qatar and Bangladesh joined the DCO as new Member States. Manama also launched the Digital Prosperity Awards to encourage cooperation and facilitate innovation and digital transformation among Member States.
Secretary-General AlYahya emphasized the importance of holding the General Assembly in Manama, saying: "Digital cooperation is essential for harnessing the benefits arising from the opportunities presented by the digital economy.”
“The 3rd General Assembly will serve as a strategic platform for the participation of Member State governments, the private sector, and civil society in drawing a roadmap for the current year. This includes addressing growing challenges and exploiting opportunities to facilitate digital prosperity for all,” she stated.
She added that she was looking forward to meeting with all representatives from DCO members observers, partners, and guests in Manama to review 2023 DCO achievements and to discuss 2024 initiatives, serving to propel the organization toward accomplishing the goals outlined in its 2030 Strategic Roadmap.
The General Assembly will explore 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 emphasizing the pivotal role of humans as an essential element in the development process.
The General Assembly will discuss the DCO's plan for 2024 and new initiatives that it will implement as part of its 2030 Strategic Roadmap to advance global digital cooperation towards an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. It will also discuss financial and administrative reports submitted by the organization's General Secretariat.
The previous DCO General Assembly was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February 2023. The DCO brings together ministries of communications and information technology from 15 countries: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Djibouti, Gambia, Ghana, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and Rwanda.
Together, DCO Member States represent more than $3.3 trillion in GDP and a market of nearly 800 million people, more than 70% of whom are under the age of 35.
