Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Johnny Corm delivers a speech at a conference on cyber security in Beirut, Lebanon, on June 16, 2022. Chairman of the Arab Internet & Telecom Union Feras Bakour on Thursday urged the Arab world to invest more in cyber technology, as digital transformation contributes to only 4 percent of the region's GDP growth. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
BEIRUT, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Arab Internet & Telecom Union Feras Bakour on Thursday urged the Arab world to invest more in cyber technology, as digital transformation contributes to only 4 percent of the region's GDP growth.
Bakour made the remarks during a conference in Beirut, which was sponsored by China's telecom giant Huawei and hosted by Lebanon's Professional Computer Association. The two-day conference features discussions on challenges and opportunities of cyber security in the Middle East region.
"The Arab world should invest in advanced technology, and study all aspects of cyber threats to build trust in the Arab world's systems," he said.
Such achievement won't take place, unless funds are allocated for human resources with the required abilities, said Bakour.
He said the private sector is encouraged to establish centers for technology development and research, and a safe cyber environment should be established.
Because more people are using the Internet globally, Bakour believed there would be an increase in cyber threats in the future.
"Cybercrimes used to threaten only individuals in the past, but they now have a significant impact on countries and companies and could cause disasters," he warned.
For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Qian Minjian said that the Global Initiative on Data Security launched by China in September 2020 with the goal of providing Chinese solutions to global cyber security and digital governance rules, has been well received and praised by the international community.
The China-Arab Cooperation Initiative on Data Security, jointly announced by China and member states of the Arab League (AL) last year as a result of the initiative, makes the Arab world the first region in the world to do so, he said.
Lebanon, a member state of the AL, welcomed the initiative in the first instance, "which demonstrates the high degree of consensus on cyber security and digital governance between China and Lebanon as well as Arab nations," the Chinese envoy said.
"It also symbolizes a significant step forward for developing countries to join hands to promote global digital governance," he added. ■
Chairman of the Arab Internet & Telecom Union Feras Bakour (Front) attends a conference on cyber security in Beirut, Lebanon, on June 16, 2022. Bakour on Thursday urged the Arab world to invest more in cyber technology, as digital transformation contributes to only 4 percent of the region's GDP growth. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Qian Minjian (Rear) delivers a speech at a conference on cyber security in Beirut, Lebanon, on June 16, 2022. Chairman of the Arab Internet & Telecom Union Feras Bakour on Thursday urged the Arab world to invest more in cyber technology, as digital transformation contributes to only 4 percent of the region's GDP growth. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)
