Damascus-Sana
Participants in the first session of the Third International Conference on Digital Transformation emphasized its importance for countries and its implications for economic and societal development, and reviewed the digital strategy of the Syrian experience, measures of current capabilities, obstacles to digital integration, change management, investment opportunities in digital transformation and its implications for the Syrian economy and the purchasing power of the local currency as well as the financial implications of digital transformation. And the obstacles that slow the path of this transformation.
Dr. Nawar Al-Awa, Regional Adviser in Technology for Development at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) gave a presentation from Beirut via the Internet on digital transformation in the Arab region (policies and indicators), indicating the importance of technology as a key element in achieving sustainable development and linking for peace building. Justice, strong, effective and transparent institutions, ensuring a comprehensive, responsive and participatory approach, and ensuring universal access to information in accordance with national legal frameworks and agreements.
In turn, Eng. Fadia Suleiman, Assistant Minister of Communications and Technology indicated that the ministry has started working on a draft transformation for government and electronic services (Syria after the war), which is not only an automation process, but rather a strategy to change the way of thinking and invest in thought and stimulate creativity and innovation that usually affects work models and affects It is affected by other strategies such as combating corruption and administrative reform, pointing out that this draft will be presented to the participants in this conference to seek their views on it and arrive at the best model.
During a dialogue discussion under the supervision of the economist Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh, the Minister of Communications and Technology, Eng. Iyad Al-Khatib, affirmed that the digital transformation must have a will for change and a specific date to implement it and follow up the transformation process through several stages to reach digital Syria in 2030 in addition to the availability of the basic components for that, including finance and the environment The necessary and qualified and trained cadres, and it is necessary during these stages to evaluate the procedures and review what has been achieved.
He emphasized that the basic communication infrastructure in Syria is fine, so we are building on it despite the destructive terrorist war that has been waged on our country, indicating that no date can be set for the transition from non-digitization to digitization, but we will work for that, setting the goal to reach digital transformation in Syria in the year 2030.
In turn, the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Dr. Muhammad Samer Al-Khalil, called for equipping all capabilities to exist in the digital arena, as the digital economy is reflected in all aspects and economic matters, and it is necessary to participate with all public, private and private sectors in order to reach the digital arena, indicating that it is the ministry’s mission to be a sponsor. For innovation, the knowledge economy, and entrepreneurs to join the digital transformation train, in order to collect the benefits from it as soon as possible through several works, the most prominent of which is granting privileges to all related projects.
Minister of Finance, Dr. Kinan Yaghi, for his part, pointed out the difference between fiscal and monetary policy and its impact on digital transformation, explaining that the economy cannot be digitalized without creating conditions for that, explaining the great importance of this transformation on financial matters and the contribution it contributes to the national income.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Dr. Hazem Karfoul indicated that a sound economic environment must be in place so that we can be able to digital transformation and that there are institutions and individuals ready to enter this transformation. He said that if we want to increase economic production, technology must be present, but the precautions must be taken against the transformation. Digital and its risks are taken into consideration, and there must be a balanced digital development that ensures that all individuals and institutions properly access this transformation.
Dr. Rida Saidi, former Tunisian Minister of Economy, pointed out that the existence of a leadership process and horizontal coordination between ministries in Tunisia greatly contributed to the success of many programs to support innovation, invention and youth in the progress of work, stressing the need for coordination between all ministries to achieve the goals optimally.
In turn, Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Fattah Shehata, Secretary-General of the Arab Federation for E-Commerce, praised the ambitious strategy of the Syrian Ministry of Communications that was presented during the session, despite the real conspiracy against the Syrian people.
At the conclusion of the activities of the first day of the conference, Dr. Abu Ghazaleh signed his book entitled (The Inevitable Digital Future .. The World of Smart Cities).
It is scheduled to continue the activities of the conference tomorrow at the Conference Palace in Damascus, which will continue until the 11th of this month.