‘Collaborative, human approach’ key to digital transformation: Saudi DCO’s Dimah Al-Yahya
Davos: Promoting cooperation and a human-centred approach to the digital economy is key to the future transformation of the sector, Dimah Al-Yahya, secretary-general of Saudi Arabia’s Organization for Digital Cooperation, has told a Davos panel.
With such a large portion of the global population still lacking internet access, Al-Yahya told a World Economic Forum panel on Tuesday that the world could no longer afford the “digital divide between nations” and the disparity between the rich and the underprivileged.
“Given the pace of digital transformation and the rapid growth of the digital economy, which is expected to account for 70 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, if we do not act together and collaborate now, we Will miss out on a great opportunity,” she said.
Al-Yahya warned that often, even in places where connectivity is available, issues of affordability prevent people from engaging in the digital economy – an issue that cannot be addressed by a nation, a government or the private sector alone. cannot be resolved by
“We need to create the right ways of collaboration within the digital ecosystem to create a global inclusive digital economy, and DCO is creating that space,” she said.
“Why should we believe we can prosper without the digital economy? It is a necessity – it is enhancing the quality of life of human beings, improving the way we do business and allowing us to become more efficient. helping.
“Instead of imagining a life without it (the digital economy), we should focus on better use of technology to create more jobs and increase GDP,” he said.
Putting humanity at the forefront of the development of new technologies and the investments that fund them are also important, Al-Yahya said. It’s not about using technology for technology’s sake.”
Through visits to DCO member states, Al-Yahya has learned the priorities of each state. He said that only 20 percent of the population of one member state was connected to an acceptable internet standard, but that it was in the process of creating a cryptocurrency policy.
This, he warned, is the wrong approach.
“Where should we place our bets? As much as we obsess over these technologies and follow the hype, we are missing out on the real infrastructure that enables the youth in these countries to create innovation that will serve their countries.
Al-Yahya said the DCO and other organizations are helping to ensure that government regulation on new technologies within the digital economy is encouraging rather than stifling innovation.
“The narrative and mindset must change,” she said. “The more technologies that are created, and because governments don’t understand them, the more they are regulated in a way that doesn’t help them thrive, so we try to make sure that the private sector co- involved in the formulation and design of policy and regulations,” she said.