Page 6 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

FEATURED SAMENA TRENDS

Cross-Sector Collaboration

First Cross-Sector Alliance Launched to Help Close the Digital Divide

around the Globe

Almost half of the world's population Verizon, will serve as Chair of the Alliance and Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman
remains offline and broadband services are and Board. He is joined by Paula Ingabire, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners. The
too expensive for 50% of the population in Rwanda’s Minister for ICT and Innovation; World Economic Forum will serve as the
developed countries. These “connectivity Ajay Banga, Mastercard Executive Chair; secretariat and platform for the Alliance.
deserts” hamper access to health, Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice- From SAMENA Council, Bocar BA is among
education and economic inclusion. Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Group; the Champions of the EDISON Alliance.

To ensure global and equitable access to
the digital economy, the World Economic "I consider the EDISON ALLIANCE
Forum has launched the Essential Digital as a source of much-needed sup-
Infrastructure and Services Network
or "EDISON" Alliance. The Alliance will port for fostering synergistic co-
work with governments and industries ordination and innovation among
to accelerate digital inclusion. Its goal
is to ensure an unprecedented level of the ICT Industry and the Health-
cross-sectoral collaboration between care, Education, and Financial
the technology industry and other critical
sectors of the economy. sectors. This open-ecosystem of
change-makers, created by the
A wider group of Champion Leaders will WEF, has the potential to unearth
advise and support the EDISON Alliance,
which is an open-ecosystem of change- some excellent new opportunities
makers, mobilizing joint effort and to support digital development
aligning priorities to enhance the case for
digital investment. A multi-sector Board goals and visions for sustainabil-
is steering the Alliance. Hans Vestberg, ity across various interconnected
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
ecosystems."
Bocar BA

6 JANUARY 2021