The UAE Participates in the 21st Session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Communication & Information

Mobilk - The UAE, represented by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), participated in the 21st Session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Communication & Information, which concluded yesterday in the Egyptian capital Cairo, with the participation of Ministers of Communications of Arab countries or their representatives. 

The TRA delegation was led by H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General. It has been announced during the meeting that Egypt will assume the chairmanship of the meeting in its current session, as the successor of the United Arab Emirates.

In his speech during the meeting, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori said: "The Arab efforts within the communications framework can be considered a model for joint action aimed at achieving regional objectives to serve societies and peoples of the region. This has been reflected in many regional frameworks and structures such as the AREGNET, which is chaired by the UAE, and which we had the honor to host its 15th meeting last September. We look forward to continuing the work in a team spirit, to realize our aspirations that the telecom sector will be the most powerful engine for sustainable development in our countries, and for the benefit of our future generations."

H.E. Al Mansoori added: "As you know, next year the UAE will host the ITU PP-18, which will be held from 29 October to 16 November 2018. I am honored to seize this opportunity to invite you to attend this major global event, which is one of the most important conferences in the telecom sector. We are confident that the next session of the conference will witness greater Arabic presence, reflecting the interest of all of us in this sector, and our confidence in it as a basis of strategic directions in economics, education, health and other areas of life. We have witnessed during the last meeting of the Arab Group in charge of the PP18 preparation, held in the UAE, the readiness of the Arab delegations to take advantage of this important platform , and their interaction with the world in this regard."

H.E. Al Mansoori emphasized that: "In the UAE, under the guidance and diligent follow-up of our wise leadership, we prepared our accumulated expertise, and cooperation with our brothers and friends, to enter the future through active participation in its making, rather than waiting for its changes to surprise us in a way that we cannot cope with. Hence, the decision to introduce a Minister of Artificial Intelligence in the UAE, as well as the adoption of a national strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and other plans, strategies and policies related to innovation and 3D printing, sustainable transport, drones, and others."

The meeting discussed the results of the meetings of the specialized technical teams in the fields of ICT and post, through the results of the 33rd meeting of the Arab Permanent Post Committee, and the 41st meeting of the Arab Permanent ICT Committee. The meeting indicated to the follow-up of the meetings of the Arab work group tasked to prepare for the PP18, which is the highest decision-making authority in the ITU and which will be held next year in the UAE. The meeting also emphasized on the importance of good Arab coordination, the consolidation of positions and the exchange of views with other regional groups in order to achieve maximum benefit of holding a conference in an Arab country, and to ensure that the results of the conference serve the objectives and strategies of the region in the field of ICT.

It is worth to mention that the UAE will host the next session of ITU PP-18, in Dubai, from 29 October to 16 November 2018 at the Dubai World Trade Center, with representatives from 193 countries.