اختتام المؤتمر الثاني للتحول الرقمي في اليمن والمعرض المصاحب له2023

The Second Digital Transformation Conference in Yemen and its Accompanying Exhibition Conclude 2023

he second conference on digital transformation in Yemen and its accompanying exhibition concluded today in Sana’a. The conference was organized by the “We Are All Creative Technology Development” organization in partnership with the Technology Community Center for Training and Consulting. The conference was officially sponsored by the Prime Minister, the Executive Office of the National Vision for State-Building, and the Central Bank of Yemen, with media sponsorship from the Technology Community Magazine

The three-day conference, held under the theme “Building and Strengthening a Culture of Digital Institutions,” discussed topics including the national strategy for digital transformation and financial inclusion, community awareness of digital transformation and financial inclusion to achieve sustainable development, infrastructure related to digital transformation, financial services, investment in digital transformation and financial inclusion, and legislation, laws, and regulations governing digital services, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.
At the conclusion, Deputy Prime Minister for National Vision Affairs Mahmoud Al-Junaid and Minister of State for Parliamentary and Shura Council Affairs Ali Abu Hulaika honored the conference and exhibition’s sponsors and participants, as well as the creative and innovative youth in the digital field.

:The conference concluded with a number of recommendations

1. The necessity for the state and government to embrace digital transformation and commit to it to advance the country’s digital reality in all fields.

2. Establish a platform to study best practices and successful experiences in digital transformation to leverage opportunities and challenges with the participation and support of relevant stakeholders.
3. Implement the recommendations of the first conference on digital transformation in Yemen, as they include key points that represent the core of digital transformation in Yemen.

1. Developing a national strategy for financial inclusion and digital transformation by the government, with the participation of the private sector and civil society organizations, within a specific timeframe and with performance indicators to monitor the level of implementation and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This will be achieved through:

a. Establishing a national committee to prepare a financial inclusion and digital transformation strategy in Yemen, including all relevant stakeholders.

b. Adopting the digital transformation and financial inclusion process within government agencies’ strategic vision and objectives.

c. Activating joint work between all relevant ministries and agencies to establish the foundations and stages of transformation in a harmonious and coordinated manner.

d. Establishing regulatory frameworks that achieve integration between information and communications technology (ICT) and the financial and banking sectors.

f. Developing a regulatory vision for banks to assist them in their digital transformation, competitiveness, and sustainability in the digital technology market.

g. Conducting periodic or annual evaluations to measure progress in digital transformation based on performance indicators.

2. Preparing legislation, laws, and regulations that regulate digital services and financial inclusion services. In this regard, the conference recommends the following:

a. Promptly issuing a law regulating e-commerce.

b. Expediting the issuance of the Anti-Cybercrime Law, which has been submitted to the House of Representatives for approval.

c. Preparing and issuing cyber legislation and regulations that guarantee the protection of personal data, bank accounts, and electronic transactions.

d. Adapting the Yemeni law regulating e-commerce to the legislation of other countries that adopt a digital approach in their commercial transactions, given the international dimension of e-commerce.

f. Regulating the provisions for the protection of personal data for users of electronic transactions, whether commercial or non-commercial. Without these provisions, Yemeni law will be incompatible with the laws of other countries adopting a digital transformation approach.

3.Developing the infrastructure for various sectors related to digital services and financial inclusion, through:

a. Focusing on developing the infrastructure for the communications, technology, and information security sector in accordance with the latest international standards, through:

1. Establishing and allocating the infrastructure for data centers designed to host servers and systems for financial inclusion services, with hosting provided by local data centers.
2. Providing high-speed internet (such as 4G and 5G) to all users at reasonable prices.
3. Expanding and expanding fiber optic connections to cover all regions of Yemen.
4. Providing access through Wi-Fi networks.

b.Providing all modern digital services and developing financial products that meet the needs of all segments.

c. Selecting the appropriate technological operating environment, prioritizing localization to benefit from the advantages offered by local cloud hosting.

4.Raising community awareness of digital transformation and financial inclusion, through:

a. Spreading awareness and knowledge among citizens to facilitate their entry into the financial technology market.

b. Spreading awareness of the importance of digital transformation and cybersecurity.

c. Working to adopt specialized curricula and programs to qualify cadres in all areas of digital transformation, financial inclusion, and cybersecurity, funded by the public and private sectors, as well as local and international civil society organizations.

d. Targeting universities and specialized institutes with training and awareness programs, ranging from general education to university education.

f. Establishing national and regional forums, unions, and coalitions to promote digital transformation and achieve financial inclusion.

g. Raising awareness among boards of directors, building their capacities, and disseminating knowledge about the importance of embracing digital transformation issues to ensure support for transformation processes within organizations, institutions, and companies.

h. Supporting studies and research addressing financial inclusion and digital transformation.

i. Building trust between financial units and beneficiaries through various practical, cognitive, and legal tools and methods, etc.

5.Encouraging investment in the field of digital transformation and financial inclusion through the following:

a. Adopting an investment policy to expand and develop digital infrastructure capabilities.

b. Stimulating the role of specialized bodies in planning and mobilizing various investments to build a technological knowledge society.

c. Encouraging and facilitating the effective participation of local investors and companies in the digital industry and in developing the information technology sector.

d. Supporting innovations in financial products by stimulating investments therein.

f. Attracting specialized and professional expertise and increasing cooperation and coordination with private, regional, and international organizations.

g. Enhancing support for small and micro enterprises and enabling them to benefit from digital transformation and financial inclusion.

At the conclusion of its proceedings, the conference witnessed two sessions to discuss several working papers, attended by Abdul Fattah Al-Dhuwaid, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the Business Services Sector, and Yahya Al-Khatib, Director General of Payment Systems at the Central Bank of Yemen. The first session, chaired by Dr. Abdul Basit Al-Darasi, lawyer and legal advisor, addressed the topic of legislation, laws, and regulations governing digital services. The conference included several working papers that addressed the importance of legislation and laws in the digital transformation process, the role of legislative and regulatory frameworks in supporting and combating digital cybercrimes, and the protection of intellectual property rights in digital programs and content.

The second session, chaired by Dr. Sharaf Al-Kabsi, General Manager of Impact Consulting, discussed the theme of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. It included several working papers that addressed the concept of artificial intelligence, its requirements, and applications, and the importance of using innovative digital technologies and solutions to improve production processes and increase resource efficiency. The papers also addressed the importance of leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance customer services.

In conclusion, Engineer Wafaa Al-Ariqi, Executive Director of the We Are All Creative Organization for Development Technology, expressed her gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the conference, including organizers, supporters, and paper authors.

She emphasized the importance of working to implement the recommendations of the second conference, which will lead to a gradual transition towards a strong national digital economy. The “We Are All Creatives” organization honored the development technology in the presence of Mr. Mahmoud Al-Junaid, Deputy Prime Minister for National Vision Affairs and Chairman of the Executive Office of the National Vision Management, who honored all official and private entities sponsoring and participating in the conference and exhibition with shields for their active participation in the success of the conference and exhibition.