NEW YORK: Member states of the Riyadh-headquartered Digital Cooperation Organization have adopted a joint statement calling for radical cooperation on bridging the global digital divide.
The multilateral body convened its first high-level dialogue on digital cooperation on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly.
The 16-member organization, since launching in 2020, has accepted 11 new member states and observer positions for world-leading firms including Nvidia, TikTok and Deloitte.
Combined, its members have a population of 800 million people and a gross domestic product of almost $3.5 trillion.
Member states’ adoption of the joint statement builds on the momentum of the UN Global Digital Compact adopted a year earlier, a press release said.
The organization is also unilaterally pursuing a four-year agenda for digital resilience and prosperity.
“DCO member states were united around a clear purpose: To ensure that digital transformation becomes a force for prosperity and peace, not for exclusion and fragmentation,” the press release said.
“In their deliberations, representatives of the DCO member states recognized the urgency of overcoming digital fragmentation and strengthening cooperation across countries and organizations.
“They pledged to support the expansion of innovative cooperation models for digital transformation, including through south-south and triangular cooperation.
“They also committed to aligning national efforts with shared principles on digital inclusion, responsible innovation, and resilient digital ecosystems.”
The DCO is in the midst of launching an array of schemes to support its member states. This includes DEN 2.0, the updated version of the Digital Economy Navigator tool, which guides member states using vast access to data on digital transformation.
Members “further welcomed the expansion of the UN Group of Friends for Digital Cooperation, co-chaired by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as a vital mechanism to sustain momentum and multilateral dialogue in the UN headquarters,” the press release added.
“The announcement positions the DCO as a catalyst for a new era of multilateral digital cooperation, committed to working alongside the UN, international organizations, and partners to build a digital future that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient.”
