Page 5 - SAMENA Trends - May 2025

EDITORIAL SAMENA TRENDS

Connecting Regional Strengths to Global Digital Progress

As digital integration accelerates worldwide, with homegrown innovation, regional
profound changes are reshaping societies cooperation, and a clear understanding of
and economies. The UAE remains a leader local goals. This approach opens the door to
in this transformation, with several GCC new collaborations—between governments,
countries both driving inspiration from this private companies, and across industries.
transformation as well as contributing to it. Many SAMENA Council members, including
Telecom Operators and Technology
Through institutions such as the Providers, are actively supporting Africa’s
Telecommunications and Digital Government digital progress. These partnerships help
Regulatory Authority (TDRA), the UAE has share knowledge, pool resources, and tackle
truly set an example with forward-thinking shared challenges such as infrastructure
policies, inclusive innovation, and regional funding, regulations, capacity-building, and
leadership in digital development. This aiding transformation of Telecom Operators.
is not to say that other countries have not
set similar policies. The cumulative impact Telecom Operators are evolving into
extends beyond the UAE’s borders. technology companies. Frameworks such as Bocar A. BA
Chief Executive Officer
Huawei’s Techco 1.0 show how telcos can & Board Member
The country’s efforts align with a broader shift from traditional services to integrated SAMENA Telecommunications
vision of building a connected, sustainable, platforms and intelligent solutions—an Council
and inclusive digital ecosystem across essential change to meet the demands of
South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. today’s digital world. Our challenge now
These regions, despite their differences, is to extend new models and industry
share a common goal: to use technology to breakthroughs to help create wider access,
drive growth, achieve resilience, and identify deeper impact, and inclusive growth.
new opportunities that could fulfill greater
global goals. As we pursue new synergies and connect
regional strengths to global digital
Africa, in particular, holds great potential to progress-making, building networks alone
apply digital tools, such as AI, to overcome is not enough; we must also build trust,
longstanding challenges in education, resilience, and shared prosperity, for which
healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure. sustained dialogue is necessary. One of
However, it would have to adapt them to the the key reasons why dialogue is needed is
local needs to truly make a difference. because alignment of local innovation with
global challenges cannot be timely achieved
At SAMENA Council, we believe each without driving collaboration across borders,
country, whether within or outside of the sectors, and stakeholder.
region, should have the ability to shape its
own digital future by developing AI and With strong leadership and shared
digital solutions that reflect local priorities commitment, we can build a digital future
and realities. Global models cannot that benefits everyone within the SA-ME-NA
simply be copied; they must be tailored region and around the world.

5 MAY 2025