Arab Conference in Tunisia Calls for Strengthening Partnership Among Arab States in Artificial Intelligence Investment
Tunis, Sept 10 (KUNA) -- Participants in the second session of the “Artificial Intelligence Towards the Future” conference, held in Tunisia on Thursday, called for strengthening partnerships among Arab countries to facilitate the massive investments required by artificial intelligence, particularly in infrastructure and data centers.
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy, in his address at the conference, emphasized that the League is a key stakeholder in shaping the future, especially by encouraging specialized Arab organizations to enhance their operations and become active contributors to the AI revolution. Fahmy noted that the League faces numerous challenges in addressing current and political issues in the region, stressing its relentless efforts to bolster Arab cooperation. He also highlighted the importance of coordinated joint efforts to build the future of the region’s youth, those under 30, who constitute more than 65 percent of its population.
The Secretary-General referred to a recently launched initiative titled “A Renewed Arab Agenda,” summarized in three pillars: addressing issues, self and institutional development, and sustainable development. He expressed hope that Arab organizations would advance their work to become active participants in defining and shaping the region’s future.
For his part, Mohamed Ben Omar, President of the Arab Organization for Information and Communication Technologies (AOICT), stated that the conference takes place at a time when AI has become intertwined with all aspects of life and sectors. He emphasized that the organization’s role lies in illuminating the path and dispelling challenges to adapt to this transformation. Ben Omar pointed out that the theme of this session, “From Vision to Value,” reflects the desire to enable the Arab and African regions to fully benefit from this modern technology. He called for strengthening partnerships among Arab countries to facilitate the substantial investments required by AI, particularly in infrastructure and data centers, and to share successful experiences.
The conference, organized by the Arab Organization for Information and Communication Technologies under the theme “Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence: From Vision to Value,” features broad, high-level participation including decision-makers, government representatives, and delegates from international and regional organizations, as well as experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, and representatives of innovation ecosystems and startups. They will discuss the transformations driven by AI and their implications for Arab economies and societies.
The event also sees participation from several international and regional organizations and institutions, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Council of Europe, the Smart Africa Alliance, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the International Mobile Telecommunications Association, the Samina Council for Communications, the Arab Digital Economy Federation, and the Arab Internet and Communications Association.
The conference’s proceedings focus on the most prominent challenges associated with the development of AI technologies and ways to convert the technical potential of this technology into economic and social value, amid its accelerating adoption across various sectors. (End) S.B.M. / M.N.F.
