The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) Brings Together Member States to New Digital World
|15 member countries collaborate to empower youth, women, and entrepreneurs through digital economy initiatives
Manama, Bahrain - The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) is currently hosting its third general assembly, uniting ministries of communications and information technology from 15 member countries. Founded in November 2020, the DCO is a global multilateral organization with a mission to accelerate inclusive growth and enable digital prosperity for all.
The DCO brings together the Kingdom of Bahrain, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of The Gambia, the Republic of Ghana, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Rwanda, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Collectively, these member countries represent a GDP of nearly $3.3 trillion and a market of almost 800 million people, with over 70% of the population being under the age of 35.
The DCO focuses on empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs while leveraging the transformative potential of the digital economy. Through cooperation, dialogue, and the establishment of mutually beneficial cross-border legislation, the organization aims to create optimal infrastructure and policies that foster inclusive and equitable digital economies. This will provide opportunities for innovation and growth for all individuals, businesses, and societies.
The DCO collaborates with governments, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society to further common interests in digital skills training, data protection, intellectual copyright, regulation, taxation, and entrepreneurship. The organization also plays an active role in promoting cross-border data flows, expanding markets for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), empowering digital entrepreneurs, and enhancing digital inclusion among women, youth, and other underrepresented groups.
To achieve its strategic goals and objectives, the DCO functions through knowledge sharing, policy and regulation development, joint projects, and funding facilitation for high-impact initiatives. These initiatives include responsible cross-border data flows, human capital development and mobility in ICT and digital sectors, the expansion of digital entrepreneurship markets, attracting foreign direct investment to digital industries, fostering inclusion in the digital economy, alignment on digital taxation, and raising awareness of research and development, innovation, and new technologies.
Through its initiatives, the DCO aims to drive inclusive digital transformation, stimulate the growth of digital industries, and support global digital development agendas.
The third general assembly serves as an important platform for member countries to discuss the organization's progress, strategize for the future, and strengthen cooperation in achieving digital prosperity for all. Mediaone TV is covering the event with its delegates both from Saudi and Bahrain.