Al-Fayez: Jordan is Among the Leading Arab Countries in Digitalization
Al-Amleh:
Innovation is No Longer an Intellectual Luxury but a Prerequisite for Survival
AMMAN – With a wide local and Arab
participation from knowledge-based institutions and entities, the ‘Innovation
in Times of Challenges’ Forum was organized by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global
Digital (TAG.GD), the Arab Network for Creativity and Innovation (ANCI), Arab
Satellite Broadcasting Organization, and Arab Forum for Smart Cities.
During the opening ceremony,
Senate President HE Mr. Faisal Al-Fayez stated that knowledge, creativity, and
innovation represent the foundation of societal development and progress. He further
stressed that Jordan is among the leading Arab countries in the field of
digitalization and has successfully established a dynamic innovation ecosystem
under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Royal Highness Crown
Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II.
He also stressed that every
aspect of human life will increasingly depend on our ability to transition from
the present into the future, pointing out that the Forum will encourage the
youth to explore the world of innovation and praised the continuous initiatives
undertaken by TAG.GD in various fields, especially knowledge-based endeavors
and activities, which represent a model of how the private sector can contribute
to advancing development.
HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, TAG.GD
founder and chairman and chair of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Network for
Creativity and Innovation, stated that investing in the future is the most
valuable investment and the path to success for individuals, institutions, and
nations alike. He affirmed that knowledge and innovation are the cornerstones
of progress.
Furthermore, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh
pointed out that innovation is a limitless field that is equally open to every
individual and institution. He expressed confidence that the Arab world is
capable of reestablishing its position as a global leader, as it did for
centuries in the past.
In this context, he announced the
launch of the Arab Commission for Supporting Investment in Innovation, noting
that TAG.GD is preparing to launch a scientific and technical project aimed at
creating a new educational framework that will ensure graduates are equipped
with the skills demanded by the labor market.
For his part, Mr. Fahd Al-Amleh, ANCI secretary-general, said that the Forum conveys
a clear message that the Arab youth are not a generation living on the margins
of the future, but rather one capable of leading it. He also emphasized that
innovation is no longer an intellectual luxury, but a prerequisite for
survival.
“Nations that do not produce
knowledge will remain dependent on those that do. The Arab nation remains
capable of achieving extraordinary accomplishments and securing its right to
progress and achievement,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s former Minister
of National Defense HE Mr. Yacoub Al-Sarraf presented a political and
intellectual perspective, warning against the diversion of Western innovation
toward the development of instruments of destruction, including military
artificial intelligence (AI), cyber threats, and phone surveillance
technologies. He cautioned against Arab preoccupation with internal disputes at
the expense of addressing existential challenges.
Mr. Al-Sarraf also introduced the
concept of “digital resistance” and preserving authentic collective memory,
citing the efforts of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh in this regard. He called on the Arab
Network for Creativity and Innovation to lay the foundation for the Arabization
of the digital sphere by developing software solutions rooted in the Arabic
language as a primary framework, rather than merely translating or replicating
Western systems and applications.
Additionally, Jordan’s former
Minister of Labor Dr. Nidal Al-Qatamin stated that innovation, while serving as
the primary driver of progress throughout the First, Second, Third, and Fourth
Industrial Revolutions, is now presenting unprecedented challenges to humanity,
particularly in light of the rapid advancement of AI technologies. He noted
that experts widely agree on the seriousness of the coming phase, as its greatest
impact will be felt in employment and traditional markets amid the growing
dominance of a limited number of major technology companies over the global
economy.
Dr. Al-Qatamin pointed out that
only seven companies in the US market are now worth more than one-third of the
total value of the American economy. He predicted that before 2030 the world might
witness the emergence of a company valued at more than USD 10 trillion,
reflecting the scale of the ongoing global economic transformation and its profound
implications for the future of humanity.