Pakistan has joined the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) as a founding member which is established under an initiative of Saudi Arabia to enhance international cooperation and collaboration in the digital domain.
The official statement issued on Thursday said that other countries that have been invited to join the DCO as founding members include Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
At a time when the global digital economy is worth over 11T dollars & growing, creation of #DCO and 🇵🇰 joining as founding member propels us into future of cooperation & unity in digital economy. Congratulations to 🇸🇦 and H.E @aalswaha for this historic initiative. #VisionFO pic.twitter.com/STLz73Xddb
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) November 26, 2020
The organisation was launched at a virtual event today, hosted by Abdullah Al-Swaha, the minister of communication and information technology of Saudi Arabia. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi participated in the event via video link.
Lauding the far-sighted initiative of the Saudi minister, FM Qureshi said that at a time when the digital economy is estimated to be worth over $11 trillion and is set to expand further in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the creation of DCO would cater to the growing need of international cooperation and collaboration in the digital domain.
“[The] DCO will offer a platform to promote the global digital agenda in the scientific, health, educational, commercial, social, agricultural, investment and security spheres,” he remarked.
Qureshi said that digital diplomacy has been a core component of his public diplomacy Initiative.
Digital Diplomacy is an integral part of my Public Diplomacy Initiative under #VisionFO: today, i am pleased to announce 🇵🇰 joins multilat Digital Cooperation Organisation as Founding Member, ushering in new era of #digitaldiplomacy w/ long term opp to shape global digital agenda pic.twitter.com/qt4PeN59F5
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) November 26, 2020
“The foreign minister chairs a dedicated digital diplomacy working group comprising some of Pakistan’s brightest IT experts, to bring innovation and enhance Pakistan’s digital diplomacy footprint,” said the communique.
For countries like Pakistan, with a talented and well-trained pool of human resource sought globally, the information revolution presents a unique opportunity to leapfrog the development deficit. Pakistan’s membership of the DCO would contribute to the attainment of that objective, it added.
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