Multilateral digital cooperation has become critical to ensuring equitable access to artificial intelligence and advanced technologies worldwide, according to Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO). Speaking at the 2025 Global AI Summit, AlYahya said traditional models of multilateralism are no longer sufficient in today’s highly interconnected digital economy.
She emphasized that national economies are now deeply linked through digital infrastructure, making broad international collaboration necessary to reduce policy fragmentation and ensure inclusive growth. AlYahya explained that building digital competitiveness requires transforming investments into shared solutions, strengthening infrastructure, aligning digital policies, and developing human capital.
Addressing concerns around digital sovereignty, she stressed that cooperation does not weaken national interests but instead strengthens states’ ability to protect them. The DCO, which represents 16 member states and nearly 800 million people—70 percent of whom are youth—is advancing new cooperation models such as public-private partnerships and shared intellectual property frameworks to help countries with limited resources access advanced technologies.
AlYahya also highlighted the importance of inclusive digital policymaking, particularly involving youth, women, and local communities. She cited the DCO’s We-Elevate initiative, which supported 127 women-led projects in Rwanda, created 800 jobs, and contributed approximately $40 million to GDP within 18 months.
On digital security, she noted that the DCO recently adopted a four-year resilience strategy focused on safeguarding member states against growing geopolitical, environmental, and economic risks. She referenced recent global disruptions—from submarine cable damage in the Baltic and Red Seas to widespread power outages and airport system failures—as urgent reminders of vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure.
She concluded by calling for a shift from policy discussions to measurable action, underscoring that an inclusive digital economy depends on real-world implementation and impact-driven digital transformation
