Page 19 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2024

LEADERS' SUMMIT 2024 SAMENA TRENDS

AI’s role in enhancing network efficiency,
improving customer service, and driving
new business models was a key point of
discussion at the Leaders' Summit 2024,
reflecting a broader industry shift towards
intelligent, data-driven decision-making,
and how digital technologies can support
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The discussion explored how innovations
in ICT could help manage resources
more efficiently, reduce environmental
impact, and create inclusive economic
opportunities. The discourse extended
to the role of green technologies in the
telecom industry, emphasizing the need
for an eco-friendly approach to network
expansion and management.

Advancing Sustainable Development in the Arab Region

The SAMENA Council Leaders’ Summit
2024 served as a platform for the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
and the Arab Information and Communica-
tion Technology Organization (AICTO) to
enter a strategic partnership for harnessing
digital technologies to drive sustainable
development across the Arab region. The
agreement outlines key areas of cooper-
ation where UNDP and AICTO will jointly
leverage their expertise and resources to
pioneer sustainable development through
digital innovation in the Arab region—as
part of the Digital for Sustainable Devel-
opment (D4SD) initiative that UNDP is pi-
oneering with many partners in the region.

“Leveraging digital technologies can ac-
celerate progress towards achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals, while leav-
ing no one behind," highlighted Susanne tively sharing knowledge, best practices, advancing Digital for Sustainable Develop-
Dam-Hansen, acting Director of the UNDP and research findings to foster a culture of ment (D4SD) initiative in the Arab region.
Regional Hub for Arab States in Amman. innovation and progress. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the
"The partnership that we are formalizing Arab States Digital Day during MWC Barce-
with AICTO represents a significant mile- Through this partnership agreement, UNDP lona, marking a significant milestone in fos-
stone in our efforts to harness the transfor- and AICTO will also collaborate on estab- tering digital innovation for sustainable de-
mative potential of digital technologies for lishing standards for responsible data gov- velopment. The partnership between UNDP
sustainable development in the Arab States ernance, recognizing the pivotal role data and SAMENA Telecommunications Council
region.” plays in digital transformation and the need under the D4SD initiative aims to leverage
for ethical and secure practices to drive digital technologies to address key sustain-
The collaboration between AICTO and sustainable development forward. The able development challenges in the Arab
UNDP extends to capacity-building efforts partnership represents a significant step region. Through this collaboration, both
aimed at enhancing skills and understand- towards building a more inclusive, resilient, organizations are committed to working to-
ing related to sustainable development and and prosperous future for all. wards promoting digital inclusion, advocat-
digitalization. Additionally, both organiza- ing for sustainable development goals, and
tions will collaborate on the development This agreement between UNDP and AIC- enhancing connectivity and digitalization
and implementation of digital policies TO follows the earlier signing of an MoU initiatives in the region.
aligned with the D4SD initiative, while ac- between UNDP and SAMENA Council on

19 MAY-JUNE 2024