Meetings of the General Assembly of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) kick off today in the State of Kuwait, running over Wednesday and Thursday, with the participation of ministers and senior officials representing member states. The gathering focuses on strengthening digital cooperation and advancing digital economy pathways amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies.
The DCO General Assembly is the organization’s annual statutory meeting, bringing together ministers from 16 member states. It serves as a key platform for cooperation, dialogue, and the adoption of strategic decisions aimed at achieving inclusive and sustainable digital prosperity at both regional and international levels.
Kuwait Strengthens Its Leadership Role in Digital Transformation
Kuwait’s Minister of State for Communications Affairs, Omar Al-Omar, said that hosting the fifth General Assembly of the Digital Cooperation Organization marks a significant international milestone that reflects the global community’s confidence in Kuwait’s advanced role in supporting the digital economy and its active contribution to shaping digital trends and policies regionally and internationally.
In press statements, Al-Omar added that the General Assembly’s agenda reflects Kuwait’s vision, under its current presidency of the organization, to enhance international cooperation in digital fields and strengthen joint coordination on issues related to artificial intelligence governance, digital trade, and the building of more inclusive and sustainable digital economies.
He explained that the two-day meetings will be attended by 16 ministers of communications, information technology, and digital economy from DCO member states, alongside senior government and international leaders, underscoring the importance of the event on both regional and global levels.
Reviewing Achievements and Launching New Digital Initiatives
Al-Omar noted that the DCO General Assembly represents a central platform for reviewing the organization’s journey, highlighting its achievements, and discussing its strategic directions for the coming phase, in addition to launching qualitative initiatives that enhance cooperation and partnerships in the digital domain.
He also pointed out that, alongside the General Assembly meetings, Kuwait is hosting the Second International Digital Cooperation Forum under the theme “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The forum brings together leading policymakers, innovators, and international experts, contributing to the expansion of partnerships and the exploration of opportunities to advance global digital cooperation.
Al-Omar emphasized that these events come at a time of rapid developments in artificial intelligence technologies and profound transformations related to the digital economy and international digital trade. He expressed Kuwait’s warm welcome to all delegations and participants, voicing hope that the hosting of these meetings will strengthen joint action, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and produce practical visions that support digital cooperation pathways and consolidate the foundations of a more inclusive and sustainable digital economy worldwide.
International Cooperation Is No Longer Optional
Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, said that convening the fifth session of the DCO General Assembly in Kuwait highlights a fundamental reality: individual action in the digital economy is no longer a strategic option, but rather a real risk.
She explained that cooperation was previously viewed as an additional or supportive option—useful at times but not essential—but that this phase has completely ended. AlYahya stressed that the global digital economy is undergoing a fundamental transformation that has made international cooperation an unavoidable necessity, particularly given that digital systems do not recognize geographical borders. Data flows, cybersecurity risks, digital trade, and cross-border platforms now move virtually across multiple jurisdictions.
She underlined that digital fragmentation has begun to impose tangible economic and social costs, at a time when the pace of technological development is accelerating faster than regulatory frameworks can keep up. She noted that artificial intelligence, digital finance, and data-driven systems expand within months, while policy harmonization often takes years.
The DCO Secretary-General affirmed that international cooperation is no longer merely a regulatory choice, but the only responsible and balanced way to bridge this gap. She stressed that trust in the digital environment has become a shared pillar on which all stakeholders depend and cannot be built or sustained through unilateral efforts.
Broad International Participation
The General Assembly meetings are
attended by ministers and senior government officials, as well as high-level representatives from all 16 member states, in addition to participation from a number of international organizations, including the United Nations, the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, the International Labour Organization, and the Islamic Development Bank, among others. These organizations are contributing global perspectives on key digital issues.
The meetings also bring together chief executives of major global technology companies, DCO observers, as well as thought leaders and experts from non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and think tanks, ensuring diverse viewpoints and a comprehensive dialogue on the future of digital cooperation.
About the Digital Cooperation Organization
The Digital Cooperation Organization focuses on accelerating the development of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. Established in November 2020, the organization aims to enable digital prosperity worldwide. Each year, the General Assembly brings together member states, observers, partners, invited countries, and international organizations to discuss the evolving landscape of the global digital economy and address challenges related to ensuring fair and sustainable digital growth.
The fifth edition of the Digital Cooperation Organization Global Assembly (DCOGA) serves as a global platform contributing to the shaping of policies, partnerships, and priorities that will define the next phase of digital cooperation. By convening global leaders under the theme “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” the fifth DCOGA reinforces the organization’s role as a catalyst for inclusive, secure, and sustainable digital transformation across member states and beyond.
