The Lebanese Republic has signed the DCO Charter to become a Signatory Member of the Digital Cooperation Organization during an official ceremony held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This milestone initiates the formal completion of Lebanon’s accession process to full Member State status while opening new avenues for multilateral technological collaboration and policy alignment.
Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Minister of Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence of Lebanon, signed the document at the headquarters of the Digital Cooperation Organization. He formally delivered the signed charter to Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the organization, setting the groundwork for collaborative digital initiatives and joint technical programs.
Impact of the DCO Charter on Regional Technological Cooperation
By adhering to the DCO Charter, Lebanon gains access to international partnerships, digital knowledge exchange, and technical expertise across emerging technology sectors. Deemah AlYahya highlighted that accession broadens market access for tech enterprises and connects Lebanon’s skilled workforce to an expanding network of member states across regions.
“With every country that joins, the point becomes clearer: digital prosperity is work that nations share and through which they write their own future.”
Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization
Launch of the Lebanon Digital Prosperity Plan
Alongside the formal accession agreement, both parties introduced the Lebanon Digital Prosperity Plan to translate strategic national objectives into concrete operational programs. The plan outlines targeted interventions in critical development pillars, including telecommunications infrastructure, modern regulatory frameworks, workforce upskilling, and private-sector investments across artificial intelligence ecosystems.
“Signing the DCO Charter represents a strategic step in Lebanon’s journey toward building a more competitive digital economy that is increasingly connected to regional and global opportunities.”
Dr. Kamal Shehadi, Lebanese Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence
Lebanon Digital Economy and Multilateral Growth
Lebanon maintains solid structural fundamentals for digital development, recording an internet penetration rate of roughly 91% in 2024. Furthermore, the country hosts approximately 550 companies active in the information and telecommunications sector, offering a rich pool of specialized software engineering and entrepreneurial talent poised to engage in international tech projects.
This development follows the DCO Council’s recent approval to accept eight additional candidate nations into the organization. Consequently, the full accession of these member states will expand total organization membership from 16 to 24 countries, representing a combined population of nearly 980 million people globally and fostering substantial collaborative opportunities within the broader digital economy.
