UAE participates in the 23rd session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Communications and Information

18/12/2019

The UAE, represented by the General Authority for Regulating the Telecommunications Sector (aka TRA),  participated in the 23rd session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Communications and Information hosted by the Saudi capital Riyadh on December 17-18, under the theme “An Arab ambition for a Digital Generation”, in the presence of a number of telecommunications and information ministers from Arab countries. The UAE delegation was headed by H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, TRA Director General, and included a number of TRA managers and staff.

The meeting discussed the future of joint Arab action in ICT, its global developments and implications for the Arab world in the domains of economy, health, education and others. The meeting also discussed the proposal of the joint Arab Digital Declaration “Building a prosperous and sustainable Arab digital society”, which reflects the wish of Arab countries to work on building a prosperous, sustainable and harmonious Arab digital society where individuals can grow towards development; a society in which individuals, communities and nations can unlock their full potential to advance their sustainable development and improve their quality of life, based on the purposes and principles of the Arab League Charter.

In his speech during the meeting, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri stressed that the importance of such event stems from the importance of the ICT sector, as every development witnessed in the world has become correlated to how advanced the telecommunications infrastructure is, adding: "I hope that the Arab Digital Declaration, in letter and spirit, will be the title of a new Arab era, an era in which potentials of Arab youth will be unleashed from the ocean to the Gulf, and in which their creative ideas will sprout to contribute to making a bright sustainable digital future.”

He added: "We have 100 million youth in the Arab world aged between 15 to 29. These men and women have immense potential. Either we leave them exposed to darkness and obscurantism, or we take their hands into enlightenment and development by investing their energy in moving forward and making the future. This announcement is the junction between the two paths. If we are to succeed in making it part of our children's thinking and interests, we will have made the right choice, and this is what we all wish for.“

The Arab Digital Declaration included five common Arab principles for building a prosperous and sustainable Arab digital society, with the first principle ensuring a digital economy as a new way to promote community growth and stability. Overcoming any obstacle to maximize benefits of such economy. In addition to reflecting on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), being the greatest economic multiplier, and the largest social equivalent.

As for the second principle, it provides for reliance on youth as a drive for progress and construction in the digital world, as they are the means to tackle future challenges and the cyberspace, and the key to transforming the Arab digital world into an icon of the world. The third principle stated the importance of Arab data as a fundamental factor for digital development and future leadership, and as a key enabler for the 4IR and digital economy.

The fourth principle of the Declaration stipulates activating innovation, since it is the best way to realize aspirations. Striving to support innovators, creators and leaders by providing a nurturing environment to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in all sectors. Lastly, the fifth principle mentions the importance of the union of Arab forces, as military blocs and groupings are of utmost necessity. Concerted efforts and stances are required to make the Arab region a regional and global power in the digital world.