Under the Patronage of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, ‘Innovation in Times of Challenges’ Forum Inaugurated in Amman

Al-Fayez: Jordan is Among the Leading Arab Countries in Digitalization
Al-Amleh: Innovation is No Longer an Intellectual Luxury but a Prerequisite for Survival
AMMAN – With a wide local and Arab participation from knowledge-based institutions and entities, the ‘Innovation in Times of Challenges’ Forum was organized by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global Digital (TAG.GD), the Arab Network for Creativity and Innovation (ANCI), Arab Satellite Broadcasting Organization, and Arab Forum for Smart Cities.

During the opening ceremony, Senate President HE Mr. Faisal Al-Fayez stated that knowledge, creativity, and innovation represent the foundation of societal development and progress. He further stressed that Jordan is among the leading Arab countries in the field of digitalization and has successfully established a dynamic innovation ecosystem under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II.

He also stressed that every aspect of human life will increasingly depend on our ability to transition from the present into the future, pointing out that the Forum will encourage the youth to explore the world of innovation and praised the continuous initiatives undertaken by TAG.GD in various fields, especially knowledge-based endeavors and activities, which represent a model of how the private sector can contribute to advancing development.

HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, TAG.GD founder and chairman and chair of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Network for Creativity and Innovation, stated that investing in the future is the most valuable investment and the path to success for individuals, institutions, and nations alike. He affirmed that knowledge and innovation are the cornerstones of progress.

Furthermore, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh pointed out that innovation is a limitless field that is equally open to every individual and institution. He expressed confidence that the Arab world is capable of reestablishing its position as a global leader, as it did for centuries in the past.

In this context, he announced the launch of the Arab Commission for Supporting Investment in Innovation, noting that TAG.GD is preparing to launch a scientific and technical project aimed at creating a new educational framework that will ensure graduates are equipped with the skills demanded by the labor market.

For his part, Mr. Fahd Al-Amleh, ANCI secretary-general, said that the Forum conveys a clear message that the Arab youth are not a generation living on the margins of the future, but rather one capable of leading it. He also emphasized that innovation is no longer an intellectual luxury, but a prerequisite for survival.

“Nations that do not produce knowledge will remain dependent on those that do. The Arab nation remains capable of achieving extraordinary accomplishments and securing its right to progress and achievement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s former Minister of National Defense HE Mr. Yacoub Al-Sarraf presented a political and intellectual perspective, warning against the diversion of Western innovation toward the development of instruments of destruction, including military artificial intelligence (AI), cyber threats, and phone surveillance technologies. He cautioned against Arab preoccupation with internal disputes at the expense of addressing existential challenges.

Mr. Al-Sarraf also introduced the concept of “digital resistance” and preserving authentic collective memory, citing the efforts of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh in this regard. He called on the Arab Network for Creativity and Innovation to lay the foundation for the Arabization of the digital sphere by developing software solutions rooted in the Arabic language as a primary framework, rather than merely translating or replicating Western systems and applications.

Additionally, Jordan’s former Minister of Labor Dr. Nidal Al-Qatamin stated that innovation, while serving as the primary driver of progress throughout the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Industrial Revolutions, is now presenting unprecedented challenges to humanity, particularly in light of the rapid advancement of AI technologies. He noted that experts widely agree on the seriousness of the coming phase, as its greatest impact will be felt in employment and traditional markets amid the growing dominance of a limited number of major technology companies over the global economy.

Dr. Al-Qatamin pointed out that only seven companies in the US market are now worth more than one-third of the total value of the American economy. He predicted that before 2030 the world might witness the emergence of a company valued at more than USD 10 trillion, reflecting the scale of the ongoing global economic transformation and its profound implications for the future of humanity.