RIYADH — Saudi Arabia underscored the importance of enhanced digital cooperation and harnessing all capabilities for digital advancement among the countries of the world. "This will be beneficial for nations and peoples to build a sustainable world dominated by progress and prosperity," said Reem Bint Fahd Al-Omair, chairperson of the Second Economic and Financial Committee at the Kingdom's Permanent Delegation to the United Nations. She made these remarks while addressing the committee's discussions for item 17 titled "Information and Communication Technology for Sustainable Development," held on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Al-Omair said that the pandemic has proven, in light of global isolation, that technology is an essential pillar of people's communication. "Digital transformation has become a requirement to adapt to these challenges and support different sectors during this crisis, and is necessary in facilitating livelihoods. "The remarkable growth witnessed by the Kingdom is supported by a vision that made digital transformation one of its pillars, as it developed a solid digital structure capable of facing challenges, which it has demonstrated during the past two years since the outbreak of coronavirus," she said. She also drew attention to the Kingdom's keenness to develop the sector. She said that the outcome of the Kingdom's development in this sector led to evolving national strategies for digital transformation, data, artificial intelligence, as well as for the growth of the digital economy. "The Kingdom's qualitative leaps in the digital sector helped it to become among the leading nations in the digital realm. It also enabled the Kingdom to score the highest global competitiveness indices in digital progress." "The Kingdom ranked second in digital competitiveness among the G20 countries, according to the Digital Competitiveness Report of the European Center and the World Economic Forum. "The Kingdom has achieved global progress in the quality of the 5th generation Internet speed and the Kingdom has scored the second rank globally in the Global Cybersecurity Index," she pointed out. Al-Omair stated the Kingdom has witnessed a remarkable improvement in the indices of artificial intelligence, as these are some of the achievements that came as a result of developing the digital system in the Kingdom and working to strengthen the infrastructure to support one of the most important pillars of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. "The digital transformation creates opportunities as well as challenges that transcend borders, and digital cooperation is an essential key in facilitating digital transformation at the international level." She stressed the need for concerted global efforts to support countries to build their digital capabilities and bridge the gap that hinders the progress of societies and limits their ability for innovation. "The cooperation among countries contributes to ending the digital divide and assisting the developing and poor countries for their digital advancement in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030." Al-Omair reiterated that the Kingdom played an active role along with a number of countries in establishing the Riyadh-based Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), a global entity that aims to achieve a digital future for all, focus on developing the digital economy, and empowering youth and women in this field. "The work on DCO will lead efforts to exploit opportunities and ensure the sustainability of digital transformation, and build capabilities so that everyone, without exception or discrimination, has equal opportunities to develop technological aspects," she added.
