World Gov Summit: Israel Abraham Accords can unleash innovation in Mideast, say experts

Dubai - 'After a long era of wars and armed conflicts, the world is now entering a new phase packed with challenges'

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Dhanusha Gokulan

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Published: Tue 9 Mar 2021, 10:22 PM

Last updated: Tue 9 Mar 2021, 10:27 PM

The Abraham Accords can transform the Middle East into an innovative, knowledge-based region with enormous growth opportunities, top speakers at the World Government Summit Dialogue on Tuesday.

In the session moderated by Becky Anderson, CNN’s managing editor in Abu Dhabi, Nechemia Peres, chairman of the Peres Center for Peace, and Maurice Lévy, chairman of Publicis Groupe discussed how the world has entered a new era of peace and innovation following the pandemic.


Peres said: “After a long era of wars and armed conflicts, the world is now entering a new phase packed with challenges, with the pandemic being foremost among them. The pandemic served as a catalyst for many societies to pursue unifying global efforts and use innovation as an instrument of peace in mitigating conflicts.”

He added, “With peace, capital and entrepreneurship, we can unleash a lot of potential - not only for the Middle East but also for the world at large.”


Peres praised the UAE’s role in fostering and promoting peace. He said: “The UAE looks to the future with a positive outlook that embraces peace and innovation. By focusing on these two pivots, we can transform this region -where the largest segment of the population is made up of youth under the age of 30 - into a prosperous region that relies on innovation and entrepreneurship.”

“I see exciting potential in Fintech and AI in the region in the short term. In the long-run, the AI can combine with quantum computing to enter a new age of technology which has the potential to solve all challenges we face – energy, water, healthcare etc spanning so many sectors. This, combined with digital transformation will make nations powerful,” he explained.

Peres also said it is crucial to develop the region’s education sector, and there is a tremendous opportunity in the digital space. “Today we have more than 450 million consumers who can be linked to a single digital platform that brings together entrepreneurs, provides trade and smart financial services, and connects the region’s many zones,” he explained.

New powerhouse

Meanwhile, Lévy said that the Arab world has a deep-rooted history in advanced science and mathematics, and can continue along this path if requisite enablers are present.

“We need to bring innovation and peace together for a better world,” said Lévy. “The combination of the new world of Israel in peaceful co-existence with the Middle East can lead to a new continent of talent, energy, people working together – a region with prosperity and a region rich of promises for the future.”

danushka@khaleejtimes.com

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