Saudi tech envoy meets Iraqi PM to discuss digital cooperation, AI development

Deemah AlYahya, the secretary-general of the Saudi-led Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), held discussions on Monday with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani regarding Iraq’s plans to advance its digital business and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors. The talks centered on Iraq’s digital transformation strategy and the development of a skilled workforce to bolster economic growth, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Although Iraq is not a member of the DCO, Prime Minister Al-Sudani expressed the country’s interest in collaborating with the organization to address its need for a tech-savvy workforce in the business sector. AlYahya praised Iraq’s efforts and investments in human capital to build the digital competencies necessary for fostering a robust digital economy.

Iraq has been actively working on a comprehensive digital transformation strategy aimed at strengthening both the private and public sectors to stimulate economic growth. This month, the country hosted the inaugural Digital Space Iraq Forum, which focused on integrating advanced technologies, including AI, into the development of a cohesive digital economy.

The DCO, established in November 2020, plays a key role in shaping policies and initiatives to support the digital economy across its 16 member states, which include Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, and Oman. The organization also collaborates with 39 observer partner organizations and represents a collective GDP of $3.5 trillion and a market of nearly 800 million people, over 70 percent of whom are under the age of 35.

AlYahya emphasized the importance of collaboration between nations to harness the potential of the digital economy, underlining the role of the DCO in advancing global digital transformation.