I am honored to stand before you today as a representative of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen, President of the State of Palestine, may Allah protect him, under whose auspices this important and strategic conference is being held. I am honored to address this distinguished audience at the first international digital transformation conference, whether they are participating in this hall, through social networks, on satellite channels.
In the beginning, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Arab American University for their outstanding efforts in organizing this event, to the participating and supporting parties, and to the sisters and brothers speaking at this important conference from Palestine and abroad, especially the guest speakers from outside Palestine who represent active international institutions and companies in the field of digital transformation, economy and digital development. I hope that this conference be successful and comes out with recommendations and outputs that are of great benefit to our societies and public, private and civil sector institutions, not only in Palestine, but all over the world.
Sisters, brothers, and distinguished attendees,
In the dynamic landscape of the digital age, as technology continues to reshape our world, countries must adapt and embrace digital transformation. The State of Palestine is firm in its commitment to support digital transformation efforts and the strategies, policies and projects associated with it at all levels, in a way that contributes to facilitating the lives of our citizens, developing the economy, creating a stimulating environment for investment and exploitation of resources, developing human capabilities, increasing transparency and efficiency in work, increasing speed in completing transactions and reducing bureaucracy in institutions. With our full conviction that we have the enormous potential to achieve this in terms of minds, human crews, technical innovations, tremendous educational capabilities, and competition at the regional and possibly global levels that can achieve this and contribute to its completion in the fullest way. This stems from our absolute belief that the rapid development in the world of technology in various sectors has become a motive for the modernization of the state, and development in it at all levels has become a necessity, not a a luxury.
Sisters, brothers, and distinguished attendees,
Despite the many obstacles, the lack of fourth and fifth generation frequencies for mobile phone networks, and the lack of complete freedom for us to extend fiber optic networks and infrastructure networks in Palestine, we have been able, with the efforts of the loyal sons of this great people and its public, private and civil institutions, to develop the infrastructure of communications and information technology. We also managed to provide many electronic systems and services for individuals and institutions using the latest international technologies. We were able to introduce technology in school and university education, the health sector, services and others. One of our main priorities in the State of Palestine is to complete of the e-government project, which represents an important cornerstone in the development of government services for citizens and companies with the aim of revolutionizing our administrative and institutional processes, enhancing access to services, digital inclusion, and promoting more transparency and accountability. Through easy-to-use digital platforms, we will enable our citizens to engage in the decision-making processes that shape the future of our people.
Moreover, we believe that the role of education, schools and universities is essential in driving digital transformation, and we recognize the importance of providing our students with the digital skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the digital age. Therefore, we have invested and will continue to invest in promoting programs and projects to employ technology in school and university education and develop curricula accordingly, ensuring that our young generations are well prepared to navigate the digital landscape and contribute to the growth and development of our country, and reduce brain drain.
In this context, we call on our universities and educational institutions to adopt strategies and policies for digital transformation and innovation in all their activities, programs and future projects, by integrating advanced technologies into their curricula and research endeavors, which will enable them to advance scientific and cognitive development forward, inspire creativity, and produce well-prepared graduates to meet the challenges of the digital age. We urge them to invest in the latest digital infrastructure technologies, establish research centers specializing in digital innovation, and strengthen cooperation with industry and market partners to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Together, we must create a system and environment to encourage and foster the exchange of ideas, innovation and lifelong learning. It is by nurturing a culture of digital transformation in our educational institutions that we can unleash the full potential of our human capital and position Palestine as a regional leader in digital innovation and knowledge creation.
Sisters, brothers and distinguished attendees,
We stand at a critical crossroads when it comes to digital transformation, as this technological revolution represents a huge opportunity for progress and growth in various fields. In order to make optimal use of this opportunity, we must all join hands as relevant parties. Achieving successful digital transformation requires effective cooperation and coordination between the private sector, the public sector, civil institutions and all components of society.
Digital technology has become a critical tool in fostering innovation, enhancing productivity, and improving services to citizens. In order to fully benefit from this technology, we must have a collaborative environment and strong partnerships among all relevant parties.
Hence, we encourage the private sector to adopt leading roles in directing investments, developing innovative digital solutions, and providing the financing, technology and technical expertise required to support digital transformation strategies. In addition, the private sector should have an active role in providing training and professional development for workers to ensure that they acquire the skills needed for the digital age.
On the other hand, I call on government and official agencies to make efforts to establish the necessary policies and regulatory frameworks to encourage and enable digital transformation. Additionally, the government should strengthen and increase investments in digital infrastructure and promote directives and initiatives related to digital transformation.
Of course, the local community and NGOs must participate in this joint effort, because enabling the local community to actively participate in the digital transformation process will enhance sustainable development and deepen social inclusion.
In the end, digital transformation strategies can only be effectively achieved through cooperation and solidarity among all components of society and various sectors. Therefore, we must all do our part and work together, hand in hand to build a thriving digital society that takes advantage of the opportunities and faces the challenges in this digital era which is full of possibilities.
Sisters, brothers, and distinguished attendees,
In conclusion, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Arab American University for their dedication and careful planning in organizing this wonderful conference. The shared visions and mutual knowledge within these walls will undoubtedly move us forward on our shared path of digital transformation. As we navigate this transformative journey, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to building a resilient and inclusive State of Palestine in the digital age. Together, we will make use of the power of digital technologies to shape our nation's future, empower our citizens, and create a prosperous and sustainable society.
Thank you for your efforts, and may this conference serve as a beacon of inspiration and cooperation for all of us.