Lebanese Minister of Technology tells 'Al-Siyasa': Wide areas for partnership between Kuwait and Beirut
Lebanon has taken a new step toward strengthening its presence in the global digital economy, by signing the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) Charter and launching the “Digital Prosperity Plan,” in a path aimed at accelerating digital transformation, supporting innovation and artificial intelligence, and attracting high-quality investments.
The Minister of Displaced Persons and State Minister for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Kamal Sha’adeh, signed the DCO Charter and formally handed it over to the Organization’s Secretary-General, Dima bint Yahya Al-Yahya, during a ceremony held at the General Secretariat headquarters.
The plan will enhance Lebanon’s cooperation with DCO member states and partners in areas such as digital policies, infrastructure and connectivity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment. This follows Lebanon’s prior agreement with the US company Oracle to train 50,000 Lebanese in AI and digital skills. This step is expected to open doors to investment and create new opportunities.
Lebanese officials hope to expand cooperation horizons in this regard through future partnership frameworks with leading Kuwaiti, Saudi, and Gulf companies in this field.
Speaking to Al-Siyasa, Minister Sha’adeh emphasized that “signing the DCO Charter represents a strategic step in Lebanon’s path toward building a more competitive digital economy that is open to regional and global opportunities.” He stressed that “we aim to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence, develop national capacities, support startups and entrepreneurs, and attract high-quality investments.” At the same time, he highlighted that “there are wide areas for partnership between Lebanon and Gulf states, particularly Kuwait, in the fields of artificial intelligence and technology, given the commonalities uniting our two brotherly countries. We are fully prepared to develop bilateral relations for the benefit of our two countries and peoples, specifically in areas of cooperation in digital technology and artificial intelligence, and in joint projects that could benefit Lebanon and Arab states, as well as leading Gulf countries and their significant achievements amid recent technological developments and unprecedented accomplishments by these countries.”
Minister Sha’adeh considered that “Gulf and Arab support is an essential part of Lebanon’s safety net. Moreover, this support is a fundamental component of creating a positive environment that protects Lebanon through political and diplomatic means, before the need to use force to defend our country. This gives Lebanon an opportunity to open up economically to sister Arab states.”
