Page 29 - SAMENA ELITE - June-September 2025

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capital firms, and innovation agencies East, and North Africa, the SAMENA for skilled talent also continues to
to support entrepreneurship in Council works to align outpace supply in fields like
emerging markets. The show creates telecommunications policy and cybersecurity, quantum computing,
opportunities for founders to pitch, investment across the region. Earlier and artificial intelligence.
partner, and grow beyond borders. In this year, the Council hosted its
parallel, major corporations and Leaders' Summit in Dubai, focusing on Another major concern remains is
governments use the platform to sustainable digital transformation about balancing growth with
announce strategies, launch and the integration of intelligent responsibility, of which pursuit of
initiatives, and align on shared goals. networks. These priorities resonate sustainability is a key element. From
strongly with the themes of GITEX. To data privacy to carbon emissions,
The broader message of GITEX 2025 is recall, at GITEX 2024, the SAMENA technology providers are being asked
clear: innovation is no longer about Council recognized regulators and to deliver not just performance, but
isolated breakthroughs. It is about telecom operators for their leadership accountability. Regulators are
ecosystems working together— in digital development. Awards were stepping up, but legal frameworks
governments setting smart policies, presented for advancements in 5G, often lag behind technological
businesses scaling responsibly, and IPv6 adoption, and digital inclusion progress. GITEX offers a space for
infrastructure being built with strategies. In 2025, the Council will use these tough conversations to take
sustainability in mind. There is also a GITEX as a stage to spotlight progress place—among technologists,
strong undercurrent of digital and excellence in enabling growth in policymakers, and civil society alike.
sovereignty, where countries and FWA around the regions.
regions aim to build capabilities that In a region investing heavily in digital
reduce dependency on global supply As GITEX 2025 unfolds, several infrastructure, sustainability, and
chains, especially in semiconductors challenges will remain on the surface. innovation, GITEX 2025 is both a mirror
and data infrastructure. For instance, there is growing pressure of current progress and a map for
to ensure that the benefits of future direction. With organizations like
In this context, the role of regional technology reach all segments of the SAMENA Council helping to align
bodies such as the SAMENA society. Digital divides still exist, industry goals with public interest, the
Telecommunications Council particularly in rural and lower-income event is set to play a critical role in
becomes increasingly important. regions. Infrastructure must be both shaping how the next phase of digital
Representing South Asia, the Middle advanced and inclusive. The demand growth unfolds.

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