Latest news with #DeemahAlYahya
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia's Deemah AlYahya Reappointed as DCO Chief
The Digital Cooperation Organization announced the reappointment of Deemah AlYahya as secretary-general for a new four-year term, following a nomination by the Kingdom and the approval of member states during the DCO council meeting held virtually in Kuwait. AlYahya's reappointment paves the way for implementing the organization's agenda over the next four years, as announced in February 2025 during the DCO's fourth annual general assembly. The agenda focuses on supporting collaborative efforts to enhance the resilience of the digital economy and promote social prosperity by advancing digital maturity levels across member states. On behalf of the DCO council, Kuwaiti Minister of State for Communication Affairs and chairman of the DCO council's current session Omar Al-Omar congratulated AlYahya on her reappointment as secretary-general. He noted that the decision reflects her exemplary leadership during her first term and expressed optimism about the continued success of the DCO over the next four years. Under AlYahya's leadership, the DCO has expanded its membership from five founding nations to 16 member states, solidifying its position as a multilateral international organization. The DCO focuses on empowering nations to shape policies and develop digital infrastructure that fosters economic opportunities, supports youth and entrepreneurs, and advances alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Korea Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Digital Investment Milestone: Pakistan Becomes First to Host DCO's DFDI Forum
ISLAMABAD, May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, today celebrated the successful conclusion of the inaugural Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum 2025 (DFDI) held in Islamabad. The two-day Forum, hosted 29-30 April 2025, served as a strategic platform, convening 700 delegates spanning Heads of State, ministers, global investors, policy makers and tech leaders from DCO Member States and beyond, as they explored ways to redefine digital investment frameworks and unlock new investment opportunities. A centerpiece of the Forum was the launch of the Digital FDI Pakistan Insight Report, which outlined the pioneering blueprint pursued by Pakistan in its digital development. Building on the Digital FDI Initiative, the report recognizes Pakistan as the first nation to implement the initiative across its four pillars and identified six strategic priority actions to attract sustained digital investment. Commenting on the conclusion of DFDI, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif said, "Pakistan is proud to lead the way in digital transformation, and the success of DFDI is a testament to our commitment to fostering a thriving, investment-friendly digitally enabled economy through a multistakeholder approach. With the support of DCO, fellow DCO Member States and partners, we are creating a blueprint for sustainable development that will benefit not only Pakistan and our digital ecosystem, but all nations undergoing a digital transformation". At DFDI, Prime Minister Sharif also recognized the leadership of Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya and the DCO for their role in advancing Pakistan's digital foreign investment ecosystem, which has already attracted over $700 million in digital economy inflows. The event saw participation from more than 45 countries, with over 40 international companies and startups showcasing their products. Around 35 ministers and official delegations from various countries attended, along with over 30 global speakers and more than 50 CEOs from leading IT firms. "On behalf of the Digital Cooperation Organization, I wish to express our deep appreciation to the Government of Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their stellar efforts in enabling the success of the first DFDI," said Deemah AlYahya. "This forum has demonstrated the transformative power of investment in bridging digital divides and accelerating sustainable growth," she added, The DCO remains committed to building a global investment environment where all nations can harness digital innovation to drive inclusive and sustainable growth. Pakistan is one of five founding members of the DCO, which was established in November 2020 on the sidelines of the G20 in Riyadh. With its 2026 presidency on the horizon, the country is strategically positioning itself as a leader in the digital economy, poised to drive global conversations, partnerships, and innovations that will shape the future of digital investment. About the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) The Digital Cooperation Organization is the world's first standalone international intergovernmental organization focusing on the acceleration of the growth of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. It is a global multilateral organization founded in November 2020 that aims to enable digital prosperity for all. The DCO brings together the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology of its Member States, and is focused on empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs, leveraging the accelerative power of the digital economy, and leapfrogging with innovation to drive economic growth and increase social prosperity. The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) brings together ministries of communications and information technology in 16 countries: the Kingdom of Bahrain, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of The Gambia, the Republic of Ghana, the Hellenic Republic (Greece), the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Rwanda, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - collectively representing nearly $3.5 trillion in GDP and a market of nearly 800 million people, more than 70% of whom are under the age of 35. Through cooperation and strategic dialogue, we drive the facilitation of mutually advantageous cross-border legislation. The DCO seeks to establish within its Member States the optimal infrastructure and policies for the rapid creation of inclusive and equitable digital economies within which all people, businesses, and societies can innovate and thrive. The DCO's vision is to work towards a world in which every nation, business, and person has a fair opportunity to prosper in the digital economy. In pursuit of the Member States' common interests, the DCO works collaboratively with governments, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society to enable more inclusive digital transformation and the growth of the digital economy. The DCO's key initiatives include programs to enhance cross-border data flows, promote market expansion for SMEs, empower digital entrepreneurs, and advance digital inclusion among women, and the youth, and other underrepresented populations.
Cision Canada
08-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Digital Investment Milestone: Pakistan Becomes First to Host DCO's DFDI Forum
The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the Government of Pakistan successfully conclude inaugural Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum 2025, convening 700 global leaders. Pakistan launches the first national implementation of the DCO Digital FDI Initiative, with $700M in digital investment to date. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif a nd DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya affirm multistakeholder leadership in driving digital transformation, with Pakistan Prime Minister personally recognizing DCO Secretary-General for advancing Pakistan's Digital FDI ecosystem. ISLAMABAD, May 8, 2025 /CNW/ -- The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, today celebrated the successful conclusion of the inaugural Digital Foreign Direct Investment Forum 2025 (DFDI) held in Islamabad. The two-day Forum, hosted 29-30 April 2025, served as a strategic platform, convening 700 delegates spanning Heads of State, ministers, global investors, policy makers and tech leaders from DCO Member States and beyond, as they explored ways to redefine digital investment frameworks and unlock new investment opportunities. A centerpiece of the Forum was the launch of the Digital FDI Pakistan Insight Report, which outlined the pioneering blueprint pursued by Pakistan in its digital development. Building on the Digital FDI Initiative, the report recognizes Pakistan as the first nation to implement the initiative across its four pillars and identified six strategic priority actions to attract sustained digital investment. Commenting on the conclusion of DFDI, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif said, "Pakistan is proud to lead the way in digital transformation, and the success of DFDI is a testament to our commitment to fostering a thriving, investment-friendly digitally enabled economy through a multistakeholder approach. With the support of DCO, fellow DCO Member States and partners, we are creating a blueprint for sustainable development that will benefit not only Pakistan and our digital ecosystem, but all nations undergoing a digital transformation". At DFDI, Prime Minister Sharif also recognized the leadership of Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya and the DCO for their role in advancing Pakistan's digital foreign investment ecosystem, which has already attracted over $700 million in digital economy inflows. The event saw participation from more than 45 countries, with over 40 international companies and startups showcasing their products. Around 35 ministers and official delegations from various countries attended, along with over 30 global speakers and more than 50 CEOs from leading IT firms. "On behalf of the Digital Cooperation Organization, I wish to express our deep appreciation to the Government of Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their stellar efforts in enabling the success of the first DFDI," said Deemah AlYahya. "This forum has demonstrated the transformative power of investment in bridging digital divides and accelerating sustainable growth," she added, The DCO remains committed to building a global investment environment where all nations can harness digital innovation to drive inclusive and sustainable growth. Pakistan is one of five founding members of the DCO, which was established in November 2020 on the sidelines of the G20 in Riyadh. With its 2026 presidency on the horizon, the country is strategically positioning itself as a leader in the digital economy, poised to drive global conversations, partnerships, and innovations that will shape the future of digital investment. About the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) The Digital Cooperation Organization is the world's first standalone international intergovernmental organization focusing on the acceleration of the growth of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. It is a global multilateral organization founded in November 2020 that aims to enable digital prosperity for all. The DCO brings together the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology of its Member States, and is focused on empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs, leveraging the accelerative power of the digital economy, and leapfrogging with innovation to drive economic growth and increase social prosperity. The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) brings together ministries of communications and information technology in 16 countries: the Kingdom of Bahrain, the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of The Gambia, the Republic of Ghana, the Hellenic Republic (Greece), the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Rwanda, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - collectively representing nearly $3.5 trillion in GDP and a market of nearly 800 million people, more than 70% of whom are under the age of 35. Through cooperation and strategic dialogue, we drive the facilitation of mutually advantageous cross-border legislation. The DCO seeks to establish within its Member States the optimal infrastructure and policies for the rapid creation of inclusive and equitable digital economies within which all people, businesses, and societies can innovate and thrive. The DCO's vision is to work towards a world in which every nation, business, and person has a fair opportunity to prosper in the digital economy. In pursuit of the Member States' common interests, the DCO works collaboratively with governments, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society to enable more inclusive digital transformation and the growth of the digital economy. The DCO's key initiatives include programs to enhance cross-border data flows, promote market expansion for SMEs, empower digital entrepreneurs, and advance digital inclusion among women, and the youth, and other underrepresented populations.
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
IT sector eyes $15b boom as DFDI spurs momentum
Listen to article Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, on Wednesday, reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to accelerating digital transformation, highlighting significant progress in IT exports and investment pledges during the Digital Direct Investment Forum (DDIF). Addressing a press conference alongside Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) Secretary General Deemah AlYahya, Khawaja said government policies have already delivered a 25% increase in IT exports. Pakistan is projected to reach $4 billion in IT exports in the current fiscal year (July 2024-June 2025), up from $3.2 billion last year — marking 27% growth. The minister announced ambitious targets of generating $15 billion in direct IT exports and products, along with an additional $10 billion in economic impact through the National Digitalisation Programme. "Participants at the forum have pledged nearly $700 million in Pakistan's digital sector," she noted, calling the DDIF a vital platform for attracting international partners and investment. DCO Secretary General AlYahya praised Pakistan's digital efforts and thanked the Ministry of IT, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and partners for organising the successful forum. "We congratulate Pakistan on such an impactful event," she said. Meanwhile, on World Password Day, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky issued a warning about the risks of using AI-generated passwords. The company found that many passwords created by large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Llama, and DeepSeek were still vulnerable. According to Kaspersky's data science team lead Alexey Antonov, up to 32% of LLM-generated passwords lacked required elements like special characters or digits. Nearly 60% of the 1,000 passwords tested could be cracked in under an hour using modern GPUs or cloud-based tools. Kaspersky recommends using dedicated password management tools rather than relying on AI. "All of the models are aware that a good password consists of at least 12 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols," says Antonov, adding that, "In practice, though, the algorithms often neglect these instructions."
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.
