Page 10 - SAMENA Trends - January-February 2025

SAMENA COUNCIL ADVOCACY SAMENA TRENDS

SAMENA Council On

Cross-Regional Knowledge Exchange &
Inter-Governmental Synergies

SAMENA Council to Advance Digital Cooperation-Building
Across Regions to Create New Synergies in Digital Innovations,

Cybersecurity, AI, and Datacenter Development

SAMENA Telecommunications Council is taking steps to advance bringing together governments, businesses, and thought leaders
digital cooperation-building across the regions on key industry to accelerate digital transformation through collaboration.
fronts such as digital innovations, cybersecurity, artificial
intelligence (AI), and datacenter development. SAMENA Council is One of the key areas of cross-regional cooperation-building is
of the view that achieving the 17 SDGs requires fresh, out-of-box cybersecurity, where SAMENA Council is promoting dialogue on
approaches. This includes building cross-regional cooperation and critical topics such as child online protection and fostering the
unearthing potential of new opportunities for Telecom Operators, development of regional cybersecurity frameworks. In particular,
Tech Providers, and the Industry, at large. Bocar BA, CEO & Board one of the ASEAN region’s key evolving digital economies, the
Member of SAMENA Council and the leadership of Philippines’ Philippines, has been at the forefront of driving initiatives related to
DICT, including Undersecretary Ms. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, have had cybersecurity and child online protection, which are of increasing
close exchanges in this regard. BA, following a recent meeting importance to countries such as Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,
with DICT, stated: “We are at a decisive moment in the digital and the UAE. The Philippines has made significant strides in
transformation journey, where regionwide as well as cross-regional enhancing its cybersecurity infrastructure and frameworks,
collaborations are crucial to advancing shared goals in addressing the growing concern of online safety for children and
cybersecurity, AI, and infrastructure development, and the 17 SDGs, other vulnerable groups. These advancements are a key part of the
overall. Digital developments in the Philippines are of great Philippines' broader digital innovation strategy, which aligns with
significance to the ASEAN states and can create new synergies in the priorities of SAMENA Council in creating secure, sustainable,
the broader regional ecosystem that SAMENA Council serves.” and inclusive digital ecosystems. Furthermore, the establishment
SAMENA Council’s cross-regional cooperation-building efforts are of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Digital
aimed at connecting policymakers and businesses across the Innovation Acceleration Center in the Philippines marks a
SA-ME-NA and ASEAN regions, creating pathways for the exchange monumental step in enhancing the country's ability to foster digital
of ideas, best practices, and solutions to shared challenges in transformation. The center is expected to serve as a platform for
areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and Digital innovation. SAMENA the development of innovative solutions and cutting-edge
Council, given its role as an industry advocacy body as well as a technologies in the fields of AI, datacenters, and digital innovations,
key contributor in ITU platforms, such as the IAGDI/CRO Meeting, contributing to cross-regional knowledge exchange and
is engaging with key stakeholders from all around the world, collaboration between the ASEAN and SA-ME-NA regions. The
Philippines is leading the charge in harnessing the potential of AI,
with an increasing focus on AI-based solutions that address
challenges in various sectors, from healthcare to urban
development. The ICT Ministry of the Philippines has been
instrumental in framing policies that encourage private sector
investment in datacenters, providing a clear and supportive
framework for industry players to establish and scale their
operations. This positions the Philippines as a leader in fostering
pan-regional cooperation and providing innovative solutions that
can benefit countries across both the ASEAN and SA-ME-NA
regions. SAMENA Council remains committed to advancing its
mission of fostering a connected and sustainable digital future,
one that is grounded in the principles of collaboration, innovation,
and sustainability of investment as much as of the environment.
By facilitating dialogue, policy advocacy, and collaboration,
SAMENA Council continues to pave the way for a future where
digital innovation can thrive across borders. SAMENA Council’s
next dialogue fostering exercise is expected to take place in May
2025 during its Leaders’ Summit in Dubai.

10 JAN-FEB 2025