Richie Santosdiaz explores some of the highlights of the fourth annual General Assembly held by the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO) at the Red Sea in Jordan.
A range of governments, companies and international organisations attended the DCO general assembly in Jordan on 19 February 2025. The assembly looked to address several important issues related to strengthening digital cooperation among the 16 member states that make up the DCO, accelerating the growth of the digital economy, supporting technological innovation, and exploring ways to overcome challenges hindering inclusive and sustainable growth in the digital world.
Some of the DCO’s 16 member ministers of communication and technology also attended a closed-door general assembly, alongside other partners across other governmental and international organisations such as the United Nations Office for South South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTFA), as well as partners in the private sector.
This also included invitations from observer members that included delegates from as far as China and Portugal. Jaafar Abdel Fattah Hassan, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Jordan welcomed visitors alongside Her Excellency Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO.
Ensuring change is inclusive
AlYahya welcomed attendees to the Assembly, saying: “The digital economy already accounts for more than 15 per cent of global GDP and is growing 2.5 times faster than the traditional economy. Nearly 70 per cent of new value created in the global economy over the next decade will be driven by digital business models. But without cooperation and collaboration, this value will remain concentrated in a few economies – leaving others struggling to catch up.
“While some nations and industries leap forward with AI-driven innovations and advanced digital finance, others struggle with gaps in infrastructure, outdated policies, and an urgent need for digital skills development. The world is moving forward at a rapid pace – but not everyone is moving forward together.
“This is why the DCO exists – not as a spectator of these challenges, but as an architect of change. We’re here to ensure that digital transformation is inclusive, and that no country or community is left behind.”
Various events centred around the anchor portion of the closed-door general assembly which included an inaugural edition of a more semi-public International Digital Cooperation Forum (IDCF) (gathering of global leaders, innovators, policymakers, and changemakers to accelerate digital economy growth), as well as the Digital Prosperity Awards, an initiative recognising outstanding digital contributions that drive growth, prosperity, and sustainable development.
Signing agreements
First, member states of the DCO endorsed its 2025-2028 Agenda aiming to advance digital maturity. Further discussions will take place at the Fifth General Assembly, set to take place in Kuwait.
Omar Saud Al-Omar, Minister of State for Communication Affairs for Kuwait, said: “We look forward to building on our contributions, including guiding efforts to combat online misinformation by chairing a Ministerial Committee that will oversee the implementation of the Framework for Strengthening National Agendas to Combat Online Misinformation.
“Our Presidency comes at a pivotal time for DCO, with the 2025-2028 Agenda setting a blueprint for the next four years. We are ready to share our expertise so that all nations have an opportunity to prosper in the digital economy.”
DCO member states also welcomed the decision to broaden DCO membership by establishing the Associate Membership mechanism. Member states also endorsed a number of cross-border agreements, including:
- the DCO Entrepreneurship and Innovation Standard of Excellence
- the DCO Interoperability Mechanism for Cross-Border Data Flows
- the AI Ethics Evaluator and the DCO Model Contractual Clauses
Other agreements were also sealed after the Assembly, including a letter of intent between the UNOSSC and the DCO, which aims to strengthen digital collaboration among developing and emerging economies.
Other mentions
The Digital Prosperity Awards awarded several prizes at its dinner ceremony on 18 February. This included two winners of the flagship award – NeuroTech from Jordan and Spark from the Netherlands. The awards aim to develop digital skills among youth and increase the visibility of new digital ecosystems and centres of innovation.
In addition, the IDCF held a number of panel discussions throughout the day. Topics ranged from ‘Tech Diplomacy in a Multilateral World: Shaping Global Cooperation’ to ‘Women Leadership in the Age of AI – AI Business’.
I personally moderated a session focused on ‘Financing for Digital Development in an Era of AI’. The session’s panellists were: Dima AlKhatib, director of the UNOSSC; Barabara Manzi, regional director for Arab States at the UN Development Coordination Office; Courtney Powell, COO and managing partner of 500 Global; Dieter Hampel, chairman and executive board member for the Agency for Economic Cooperation & Development, and His Excellency Wamkele Mene, secretary general of AfCFTA.
Each of the panellists covered different aspects of the wider digital economy. Wamkele discussed the successes Africa has had with its Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and its Digital Trade Protocol.
The DCO, founded in 2020, is the world’s first standalone international intergovernmental organisation focusing on the acceleration of the growth of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. It brings together ministries of communications and information technology in 16 countries: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Djibouti, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Rwanda and Saudi Arabia – representing nearly $3.5trillion in GDP and a market of nearly 800 million people, more than 70 per cent of whom are under the age of 35.
