Latest news with #AlYahya
Al Bawaba
5 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Kuwait diplomat discusses bilateral ties with Sweden
Published June 5th, 2025 - 05:12 GMT KUWAIT, June 4 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Ambassador to Sweden Mohammad Hayati and Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard met in Stockholm on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation covering many areas. During the meeting, the Kuwaiti diplomat handed the Swedish minister a letter from Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya hailing bilateral relations between both friendly countries, which mark, this year, 60 years since they forged their diplomatic relations, the Kuwaiti Embassy in Sweden said in a press release. They also looked into ways of promoting bilateral cooperation in the investment field and trade exchange, and drawing upon Swedish expertise in innovation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, it added. Kuwaiti-Swedish cooperation covering health, pharmaceutical industries, green economy and recycling was also considered during the meeting between the Kuwaiti ambassador and the Swedish foreign minister. (end) Via All KUNA right are reserved � 2022.
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
GCC Reaffirms Support for Kuwait on Khor Abdullah Dispute
Gulf Arab states on Tuesday voiced their full support for Kuwait's position in a maritime border dispute with Iraq, stressing the need for positive progress in demarcation talks and for Baghdad to respect Kuwaiti sovereignty. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said the bloc's 47th extraordinary ministerial meeting was held in Riyadh under the chairmanship of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, whose country holds the rotating presidency. The ministers discussed developments concerning the demarcation of the maritime boundary between Kuwait and Iraq beyond border marker 162. Albudaiwi said Kuwait's foreign minister briefed his counterparts on the latest developments with Iraq and the outcomes of recent discussions on the issue. In a joint statement, GCC foreign ministers expressed 'the full and unwavering support of member states for Kuwait's position on the maritime boundary demarcation with Iraq.' They also called for 'positive progress in the ongoing talks and a firm commitment to all protocols agreed by the joint technical and legal committee' on the demarcation process beyond marker 162. Albudaiwi added that the GCC ministers reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any infringement on Kuwait's sovereignty, including over its territory, islands, highlands, and maritime zones. GCC ministers also reiterated their firm stance on the ownership of the Durra gas field, reaffirming commitment to previous decisions made during the GCC's 45th summit in December 2024. The council emphasized that the entire Durra field lies within Kuwait's maritime territory, underscoring that the natural resources in the submerged area adjacent to the divided zone shared between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia – including the Durra field – are jointly owned by the two countries. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia hold exclusive rights to exploit these resources, in accordance with international law and existing agreements between the two nations. The GCC's statement further stressed its resolute rejection of any claims by other parties to rights over the Durra field or the submerged area bordering the Kuwait-Saudi divided zone.
Arab News
30-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Riyadh-based digital bloc says Pakistan's 2026 presidency to boost country's global tech standing
ISLAMABAD: The Secretary-General of the Riyadh-based Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), Deemah AlYahya, said on Tuesday Pakistan's forthcoming presidency of the multilateral body was part of ongoing efforts to position the country as a regional and global digital leader. Founded in November 2020, the DCO is an intergovernmental organization aimed at accelerating digital transformation and encouraging collaboration among member states. The organization's founding members include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Pakistan, with Nigeria and Oman joining shortly thereafter. Pakistan is scheduled to assume the DCO presidency in 2026, following Kuwait's term in 2025. AlYahya, a Saudi digital economy expert and the organization's Secretary-General since April 2021, is responsible for engaging with heads of state, ministers and private sector leaders to bridge digital divides across member nations. She is currently in Islamabad for a two-day Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) summit, organized by Pakistan's Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in collaboration with the DCO. The event has attracted over 400 delegates and more than 200 IT and telecom companies from over 30 countries. 'The presidency of Pakistan that is planned for 2026 for DCO is a continuous effort for positioning Pakistan as the digital powerhouse for the region and for the globe as well,' the DCO secretary-general told Arab News in an exclusive conversation on the sidelines of the forum in Islamabad. She said Pakistan's leadership role would not only benefit the country in terms of infrastructure and technological advancement but also put it in a position where it will be able to support other countries to grow as well. 'The DCO is working to open markets for enterprises across all member states, enabling smooth and healthy cross-border collaboration, so Pakistan will have a leading role in making such kind of advancement happen,' she added. AlYahya said that seeing the youth and the growth in Pakistan's digital sector gave her a great sense of optimism. 'It gives us a lot of motivation to put hands in hands with all our member countries and utilize the amazing advancement in each and every country,' she added. She noted that DCO believed every country had a unique competitive advantage that can help address challenges faced by others, adding it was her organization's role to identify these imperatives, strengths and areas for improvement. 'The Digital FDI event here in Pakistan … is one example of how can we explore the competitive advantage of the great infrastructure, youth, talent, the advancement in software and hardware here in Pakistan and attract the private sector to harness these opportunities in the land of Pakistan,' she added. Pakistan's IT exports reached a record $3.2 billion in FY2024, reflecting a 24 percent increase from the previous year, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. In the first half of the current fiscal year (FY2025), exports rose further to $1.86 billion, up 28 percent year-on-year, with monthly figures averaging around $310 million. This growth trajectory is underpinned by a number of factors, including an expanding global client base, particularly in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Pakistan is now aiming to cross the $4 billion mark in IT exports by the end of FY2025.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Global South' digital advocate wants a say on AI policy
The Global South should have a stronger voice in global digital policymaking which is currently dominated by major tech firms and giant nations, the head of the Riyadh-based Digital Cooperation Organization — whose 16 members include Bangladesh, Greece, and Nigeria — said in an interview. Artificial intelligence, data flows, and the fight against misinformation are key focus areas, the organization's Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya told Semafor: 'We still don't have harmonized policies or regulations when it comes to tech … There is nobody on a global level that is actually providing that.' The organization is drafting an AI treaty that goes beyond ethical principles to include infrastructure, capacity-building, and practical applications. AlYahya said discussions have already begun with the Council of Europe and the African Union to expand the initiative. Established in 2020, the DCO represents countries with a combined population of 800 million. Most of them can't take on tech giants like Meta — with its 3 billion users and a market cap that rivals their combined GDPs — on issues such as data sovereignty and misinformation, AlYahya said. These countries are often left out of global policy discussions, so the DCO aims to close that gap by offering a platform for coordinating digital strategies and advocating collectively for member interests. One of the DCO's top priorities is curbing misinformation. A ministerial committee led by Kuwait is working with major social media platforms to develop standards and protocols that reflect the values and needs of member states, AlYahya said. The DCO is also helping boost tech investment within and between its member states. It has developed a tool to assess national digital maturity, identifying gaps — such as low internet penetration or weak regulatory frameworks — and offering policy recommendations. Some countries have ambitious plans that aren't properly sequenced, AlYahya said, giving the example of expediting cryptocurrency regulations before securing reliable internet access. The DCO helps its members prioritize its plans, then connects governments with private companies and institutions like the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank to attract foreign direct investment. AlYahya acknowledged the challenge of accelerating digital economy growth in DCO countries while placing some constraints on tech firms. 'You have to be adaptable to everything in the world,' she said. Adopting tech is crucial, but must be done while 'safeguarding the interests of our member states.'
Iraqi News
17-02-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq opens Digital Transformation and Automation Center in Baghdad
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, opened on Monday the Digital Transformation and Automation Center at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said earlier that Iraq's digital transformation is an essential part of the country's plan for digital business and artificial intelligence. During his meeting in November with the Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), Deemah AlYahya, Al-Sudani emphasized that the government has included digital transformation into its economic and administrative reforms, as well as electronic payments. Along with the government's willingness to engage with the DCO to develop initiatives that benefit Iraq and the region within the context of digital transformation and artificial intelligence, the Iraqi Prime Minister also discussed the country's capacity to bring about a qualitative change in this area. In late September, during a meeting with Al-Sudani on the sidelines of their participation in the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York, AlYahya, hailed Iraq's approval to join the DCO. AlYahya explained that several action plans and programs will shortly be implemented in Iraq after it signs the organization's charter, emphasizing that Iraq will be among the countries that gain from the DCO's expertise and training. The Iraqi Prime Minister commended AlYahya for her interest in Iraq's accession to the DCO, highlighting what the organization can offer in terms of knowledge, abilities, instruction, and regulations for all digital enterprises, particularly digital commerce. Additionally, Al-Sudani talked about the comprehensive plan for artificial intelligence and digital companies created by the Supreme Committee for Digital Transformation in Iraq.
