Digital Cooperation Organization Launches Initiatives to Bridge Global Digital Divide

Manama, Bahrain: the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) held its 3rd General Assembly in Bahrain, where member states called for multilateral, multistakeholder, and multi-sectorial digital cooperation to ensure inclusive and sustainable growth of the global digital economy. The DCO Council unveiled several new initiatives during the assembly, including the GenAI Center of Excellence, Online Content Integrity, and Data Embassy, which aim to address the challenges of the digital divide and promote a unified digital environment.

As part of this milestone event, the DCO welcomed the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Qatar, and Greece as new member states. The Presidency of the DCO was officially transferred from the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Chaired by H.E. Mohamed bin Thamir Al Kaabi, Chairperson of the DCO and Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the General Assembly included ministerial representatives and heads of delegations from 16 DCO Member States, along with guest countries and observers. Key topics of discussion were cross-border market growth, the value of data, human-centric and sustainable digital economy, digital trade, investment, entrepreneurship, and accelerating the digital cooperation agenda.

In the Council Declaration, DCO Member States reiterated their commitment to building an agile and efficient multilateral organization. They recognized the critical juncture in advancing the global digital economy and stressed the importance of multilateral cooperation to drive sustainable and inclusive growth. The declaration emphasized the need to prevent the digital divide from becoming a developmental challenge and highlighted the potential of digital transformation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

To address the evolving digital landscape, DCO Member States launched several initiatives. The GenAI Center of Excellence Initiative will establish state-of-the-art facilities equipped with advanced systems to accelerate the growth of artificial intelligence. Additionally, the Data Embassy Initiative aims to facilitate secure data storage beyond national borders, ensuring the safety and sovereignty of member states' data. The Online Content Integrity Initiative will combat misinformation on social media and streaming platforms while respecting cultural values.

The Assembly also witnessed the addition of 17 new observers from various sectors, demonstrating the global commitment to enhancing digital cooperation among different stakeholders. The DCO continues to strive toward reducing the global digital divide and achieving sustainable development goals through the power of digital transformation.

Speaking at the General Assembly, H.E. Mohamed bin Thamir Al Kaabi expressed his appreciation for the attendees' commitment to the goals of the DCO and their dedication to overcoming challenges in the digital economy. Deemah AlYahya, the Secretary-General of the DCO, emphasized the importance of cooperation among stakeholders to bridge the digital divide and create an inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable digital economy.

The DCO, established in November 2020, focuses on accelerating the inclusive growth of the digital economy and empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs. With its vision of enabling digital prosperity for all, the organization seeks to create a world where every nation, business, and individual has an equal opportunity to thrive in the digital age.

The next General Assembly of the DCO is scheduled to take place in Jordan in February 2025, furthering the organization's commitment to fostering digital cooperation and bridging the global digital divide.