Manama, 31 January 2024: The Kingdom of Bahrain hosted the 3rd General Assembly of the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), a multilateral organisation dedicated to promote inclusive digital transformation worldwide. Dr Giulia Ajmone Marsan, ERIA's Director for Strategy and Partnership, represented ERIA at the event.

The meeting was opened by Mohamed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Bahrain's Minister of Transportation and Communication; followed by updates by DCO Secretary General Deemah Al Yahya. Almost 20 high-level delegations from DCO member countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe attended the event, including ministers responsible for digital transformation from Ghana, Rwanda, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Greece – the latest country to join DCO as a member. Kono Taro, Japan's Minister for Digital Transformation, joined online and expressed Japan’s interest in DCO activities.

Dr Ajmone Marsan shared insights about the digital economy in ASEAN during the panel discussion Turbocharging Digital Cooperation Roadmap to the Summit of the Future. She explained how ASEAN’s digital economy is growing at very fast pace, but very large disparities remain among countries: internet connection in Singapore, for example, is 50 times faster than in Timor-Leste. Dr Ajmone Marsan added that many of the challenges and opportunities faced by ASEAN countries are similar to those of many DCO member states in emerging regions of Asia and Africa.

The 3rd DCO General Assembly concluded with the hand-over ceremony of the presidency of the council from Bahrein to Jordan, where the 4th DCO General Assembly will be held.