Amman, February 3 (Petra) – The Regional Development Forum for the Arab States Region and the Regional Preparatory Meeting in the Arab Region for the 25th World Telecommunication Development Conference began in Amman on Monday.

The event is hosted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRA), in cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the ITU Regional Office for the Arab States.

The three-day forum aims to facilitate dialogue, cooperation, and partnership-building among policymakers, regulators, industry representatives, academic institutions, and regional and international development agencies and organizations.

A report on the progress of implementing the recommendations from the ITU Development Conference and the advancement of regional initiatives for Arab countries will be presented during the forum.

Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Smeirat emphasized Jordan’s commitment to advancing digital transformation. He highlighted a comprehensive national plan to improve digital infrastructure, foster innovation, and create a sustainable business environment.

Smeirat noted that Jordan continues to strengthen its ecosystem to support innovation, attracting global IT companies to establish operations in the Kingdom. He also noted that Jordan has been a regional leader in entrepreneurship since the 1980s, producing successful projects at both regional and global levels.

Bassam Sarhan, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, stated that the forum’s theme underscores the need to leverage digital technology to tackle global and regional challenges. He highlighted the role of information and communications technology (ICT) as a vital pillar of sustainable development, emphasizing Jordan’s ongoing investment in the ICT sector over the past decade to improve citizens’ lives.

Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the ITU, noted that Arab countries have made remarkable progress in the ICT sector in recent years. He emphasized the forum’s crucial role in fostering partnerships and cooperation, laying the foundation for the 25th World Telecommunication Development Conference.

Barbara Manzi, Regional Director of the United Nations Development Coordination Office for Arab States, emphasized the transformative power of technology in improving global well-being and called for unified efforts to harness the benefits of modern technologies.

Khaled Wali, Director of the Department of Telecommunication Development and Information Technology at the Arab League, stressed the importance of ICT across sectors like education, health, economy, transportation, disaster risk reduction, and climate change mitigation.

He called for increased investments to develop infrastructure, bridge the digital gap, and support the completion of digital transformation efforts.

//Petra// AJ
03/02/2025 16:44:43