The Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Governmental Digital Service affiliated with the British prime minister, within the framework of the council's goal to support the Arab economy, particularly in the fields of digital economy and transformation. Mohamed Mohamed Al-Rabie, secretary general of the CAEU at the League of Arab States, said that the agreements target an exchange of international experiences and practices in the field of digital governments and digital economy. He pointed out that the CAEU recently established the Arab Union for Digital Economy, which includes a group of Arab figures with scientific and practical experience in the field of smart digital applications. He added that this union will be assigned to establish scientific foundations and global standards for governmental, administrative, commercial, and economic practices that are based on achieving maximum utilisation of smart and digital technologies, which will change the shape of the world during the next 10 years. The MoU was signed in London by a delegation from the council headed by Mohamed El-Khoury, adviser to the CAEU. He signed the agreement with Kevin Cunnington, director general of the UK's Governmental Digital Service. El-Khoury explained that the agreement focuses on cooperation in the field of research and development of digital economy and transformation, as well as building digital skills in the Arab world and introducing a series of programmes related to the digital government and smart electronic services. The delegation visited the headquarters of the British Governmental Digital Service. It looked at the most important practices and distinct government activities, whether at the level of purchasing methods or government contracts taking place through a unified government platform, or even through the methods of designing, organising, and launching of government services, according to precise standards and specifications. The delegation also looked at ways to qualify employees for the future and increase the levels of digital integration of government employees, leaders, and specialists. The Governmental Digital Service has an academy to qualify employees and support scientific research, as well as a centre for data science to analyse major data to support decision makers and provide correct and accurate information in a timely manner.
