Page 68 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

TRA Organizes 3rd Roundtable Program for Arab Ministers of

Telecommunications

The 3rd Roundtable Program for Arab Ministers of
Telecommunications and Heads of Arab Telecommunications
Regulatory and Information Technology Regulators discussed the
latest developments and challenges and how to stay protected
against cyber threats and risks faced by governments in the
Arab world. Organized by the Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority, TRA, in cooperation with the Ripe Network Coordination
Centre, RIPE NCC, in Dubai today, the meeting focused on the
important role of governments and regulators to develop the
Internet sector. In his opening speech, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori,
TRA Director-General, said, “We have important strategic issues to
examine and discuss and we have a lot of headlines that represent
opportunities and challenges at the same time. These include the
future of the Internet in light of the growing scope of users across
the region, prospects for the implementation of Internet Protocol
version 6, IPv6, and the consequent necessities of coordination and its economic importance. Participants also discussed ways
and mutual benefit from expertise and experience.” He added, to enhance cooperation and technical support with security and
“We also have the challenge of cybersecurity, especially in light government entities. The agenda of the meeting also included an
of the uncertainty surrounding the digital future. We are heading open discussion on the most important issues and developments
into a world that is completely different from what humanity has related to the Internet. The event is part of a Memorandum of
known in recent decades. This requires assessing the challenges Understanding signed between the TRA and RIPE NCC, aimed
in a holistic approach, to serve the region and the world.” at enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise in the
The program’s activities discussed the results of the second various sectors of Internet development. The UAE achieved the
roundtable meeting in Riyadh in 2018. The participants debated first position in the Middle East for its transformation to IPv6,
over cooperation with governments and regulators in support of according to statistics issued by Ripe NCC, Akamai Technologies,
the Internet-enabling environment, the risks of running out of IPv6 and Google.

Polish Firms Keen to Invest in Pakistan’s Telecom Sector

Poland is interested in further enhancing IT sector as Polish companies wanted to country while more Pakistani investors
bilateral trade with Pakistan as the two contribute to the growth of 5G and telecom could invest in the country. He suggested
countries have good potential to trade infrastructure in Pakistan. The envoy said that the Pakistani business community
many goods with each other, said Poland Poland was located in central Europe and should develop contacts with the Polish
Ambassador to Pakistan Piotr A Opalinski. could become a hub for Pakistan’s exports Investment Agency and Polish National
Speaking to the business community to the EU. He also highlighted that Polish Chamber of Commerce to explore business
during his visit to the Islamabad Chamber companies had been doing business opportunities in his country. Speaking on
of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Opalinski in Pakistan’s oil and gas sector for the the occasion, ICCI President Muhammad
said the bilateral trade volume between past 20 years and more could invest in Ahmed Waheed said there was a vast
Poland and Pakistan had increased to over the country. Talking about the China- scope for bilateral cooperation between
half a billion euros but there was a vast Pakistan Economic Corridor, Opalinski the two countries, which could be realised
scope for further enhancing it. He pointed said the project was a game changer for with more efforts by both sides. He said
out that around 90% of Pakistan’s exports Pakistan and Polish companies had also both countries should encourage regular
to Poland comprised textile products and been encouraged to pour money into the exchange of trade delegations to explore
stressed that Pakistan should focus on project. He shared that Poland had created all untapped areas of mutual collaboration.
diversification of exports in order to achieve good conditions for foreign investors and Waheed stressed that Polish investors
better results. He said both countries a Pakistani businessman had opened should set up joint ventures in Pakistan in
had good potential to cooperate in the the first Halal restaurant in the European textile and other sectors.

68 NOVEMBER 2019