Government and business need to work together on ICT economies says HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi

H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE Minister of Economy, has called for greater co-operation between government and business to help build digital economies in the region.

Speaking at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) conference in Dubai, Sheikha Lubna said that the while ICT offers a great deal of opportunity for the region, public and private needed to do more to create the infrastructure and environment for growth.

"Information and Communication Technologies are powerful enablers of development, as they promote foreign investments and help to capture economic opportunities by increasing process efficiency, encouraging participation in expanded economic networks and creating opportunities for employment," Sheika Lubna said.

"We need to realize that regional governments and business sectors need to work hand-in-hand to ensure the necessary enabling environment for greater investments in the ICT sector, to foster entrepreneurship and to stimulate innovation. Together they can play a larger role as innovators, investors and job creators, to effectively address various issues that hinder the spread of information technologies and eventually create the right environment for the creation and subsistence of a digitally-enabled economy," she added.

The Conference, which was held under the banner of ‘Driving development with ICTs and the Internet', was held under the patronage of HE Sheikha Lubna, and organized by the International Chamber of Commerce Commission on E-Business, IT and Telecoms (EBITT); Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS); Talal Abu-Ghazaleh & Co. International (TAGI); Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Information Technology International (TAGITI); and the Union of Arab Chambers of Commerce.