Digital Economy And AI Innovation: DCO Ministers Meet To Strengthen International Partnerships

Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, met several counterparts during the fifth General Assembly of the Digital Cooperation Organization. The discussions focused on deepening cooperation in the digital economy, expanding digital services, building technical skills, and using emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to support national and cross-border development goals.

The meetings were part of wider Saudi efforts to strengthen international digital partnerships with member states of the Digital Cooperation Organization. Topics included joint work on technological innovation, alignment of digital policies, and frameworks to support safe and effective adoption of artificial intelligence, while encouraging investment and knowledge exchange between public and private sectors.

Alswaha met Kuwaiti Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Omar Al-Omar to review cooperation under the Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council. Both sides discussed strategic technology projects, support for innovation programmes, capacity building for digital skills, and measures to encourage entrepreneurship ecosystems that link Saudi and Kuwaiti start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises.

With Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Eng. Sami Smirat, Alswaha explored joint initiatives to grow the digital economy and promote technology entrepreneurship. The two ministers examined ways to adopt emerging technologies in government and business, support start-up financing environments, and share experience in regulatory sandboxes and digital infrastructure development.

Alswaha also held talks with Lebanese Minister of the Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, focusing on cooperation in the digital economy and innovation in the era of artificial intelligence. Further discussions with Pakistani Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Gambian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Lamin Jabbi covered artificial intelligence projects, technical capacity building, digital services development, and broader technology partnerships.

With inputs from SPA