GCC Secretary-General: GCC Countries Place Emphasis on Developing Digital Economy

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi stressed that GCC countries have prioritized the development of the digital economy by adopting global best practices, fostering research and innovation, and enhancing capacity building.

 These efforts have enabled the region to achieve leading global positions in information and communications technology infrastructure, digital government services, and related international benchmarks.

 Albudaiwi participated today in a roundtable titled “Enabling Inclusiveness in the Digital Economy,” organized by the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development. The event took place on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

 He stated that the digital economy is growing faster than global GDP and is projected to reach a value of approximately $24 trillion by 2025, accounting for about 21% of the global economy.

 Currently, around 5.6 billion people, nearly 68% of the world’s population, are connected to the internet. He pointed out that these figures highlight the critical importance of developing the digital economy, which has become an urgent necessity for driving progress worldwide.

 He also added that GCC countries are actively enhancing cooperation in the digital economy through joint initiatives focused on strengthening infrastructure, fostering innovation, and building capacity.