Manama, September 08, 2021: A new multi-million regional data centre is set to be built in the Kingdom of Bahrain to promote collective digital transformation with the aim of evolving local economies and enriching the lives of common people in the Arab nations. The Arab League’s Arab Federation for Digital Economy (AFDE) has entered into an MOU with ATDXT LLC, a digital transformation company, headquartered in United Arab Emirates, to launch the first of its kind collaboration to enable digital transformation hub in the new data centre in Bahrain focused on localised, data protection, enhancing security, and rendering digital transformation solutions. The agreement was signed on September 01.
The initiative’s main hub in Bahrain will serve all member states of the Arab League. All member countries partaking in the initiative can leverage these solutions hosted in Bahrain, which is a key driver behind the Gulf’s overall digital economy transformation efforts. These solutions will be focused on supporting both government and private sector entities in Arab League member states, with the aim of improving the competitiveness of Arab economies and fostering their integration into the global economy.
ATDXT’s eco-friendly, green, in-country, data centre in Bahrain is designed as a technology solution hub to host advanced technologies and digital transformation solutions, which will be servicing Arab league states. These solutions will be extended to also be hosted locally in Arab league member nations such as the UAE, Oman, KSA, Morocco, Kuwait, and Jordan in the first phase with other states to follow soon after.
These simple, secure and affordable technology solutions will cover e-government services, e-commerce services; e-health solutions; secure digital tokens and fintech solutions; transportation solutions; digital identity solutions; telecommunication transformation systems; governance, crime management and cyber security systems; e-agriculture platforms; solar and renewable energy; and other business solutions.
GS Murthy, Founder & Executive Chairman, ATDXT Group, said: “We are delighted to partner with the Arab League and incubate the first of its many multi-million-dollar regional hubs, in Bahrain. The focus of this initiative will remain to be on digital transformation enablement, that will improve competitiveness of the Arab nations, and foster their integration into the global economy. We are confident that our best-in-class skill development initiative, focused on cutting edge technologies, will create immense job opportunities and future technology leaders across the Arab nations”.
H.E Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain, said: “I congratulate and appreciate the ATDXT Group, to choose the Kingdom of Bahrain to be the Digital Transformation solutions hub, reflecting the excellence of the investment environment in Bahrain, and the care and support provided by the competent authorities concerned with attracting investments and capital in the Kingdom, and the many facilities they provide to investors. This partnership will enable us to contribute to the transformation of the digital outlook of the countries of the Middle-East and to continue to provide leading services to our citizens, residents and region as a whole”.
H.E Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Asst. Secretary General of the Arab League, said: “The League of Arab States along with the Arab Union is actively promoting the joint Arab strategic vision for the digital economy. Digital transformation and related topics, such as artificial intelligence and digital data are becoming the basic resource of this era. I’m confident that this partnership will contribute to strengthening Arab cooperation in the digital world. On behalf of the representatives of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and the Secretary-General wishing all success”.
H.E Dr. Ali M. Al-khouri, The Advisor of the Council for Arab Economic Unity, and the Chairman of the, Arab Federation for Digital Economy in the Arab League, said: “The Arab world is evolving at a rapid pace and our digital transformation is at the heart of this exciting development. Increasingly, Arab states are collaborating on digital economies for the benefit of the region’s population. This digital transformation initiative with ATDXT, is a leap forward in the digital space, and we look forward to all member states making the best use of this new offering in service of our wider collective prosperity”.
H.E. Khalid Humaidan, Chief Executive at Bahrain’s Economic Development Board, said: “We are delighted Bahrain has been chosen as the central location for this initiative and we look forward to serving the Arab world’s digital transformation goals across multiple sectors. Bahrain is well positioned to act as the main hub for the project. Its digital infrastructure, forward-thinking regulatory framework and its highly educated and tech-savvy population make it a favourable environment for projects like this”.
The MoU agreement was signed at a virtual event was patronized by HE Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani with a virtual video message from HE Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Asst. Secretary General of Arab League, attended by HE Dr Ali-Alkhouri, The Advisor of the Arab Economic Unity Council, and Chairman of the Arab Federation for Digital Economy in the Arab League, Varghese Kurian, Chairman of Al Namal & VKL Group, ATDXT-Bahrain, the Arab League, AFDE, CAEU and ATDXT teams, eminent industry leaders and investors.
