Tribune News Network
Doha
The 21st Doha Forum hosted the global launch of the third edition of the ‘Future Readiness Economic Index (FREI) 2023 Report’. The report titled ‘Digital Policies are the Linchpin of Future Readiness’, was commissioned by Google Cloud, and prepared by the Descartes Institute for the Future, in collaboration with Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA).
The report provides a global measurement of future readiness and digital transformation in 124 countries, evaluating key aspects of digital transformation, including relevant policies and regulations.
The FREI Index serves as a crucial resource for governments, businesses, and analysts, offering comprehensive metrics to evaluate digital transformation readiness. The 2023 edition highlights global digital readiness, with Singapore, Denmark, and Switzerland leading the pack, particularly noted for their achievements among smaller, developed economies. The top 10 performers include the United States, Sweden, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Australia, while Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, and Japan feature in the top 25. In Digital Policies, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Estonia stood out for their proficiency in ICT regulations, cybersecurity measures, and emerging technology policies.
During the ‘Building a Digital Economy: Is Your Country Future-Ready?’ session at the Doha Forum, which showcased the unveiling of the Future Readiness Economic Index (FREI) 2023 Report, HE Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, initiated the session with a keynote address. The Minister commended Qatar’s performance in the FREI 2023 Report, notably its eighth ranking in the "Digital Policy” sub-pillar, as well as its standings in the "Physical Capital” and "Competitiveness” indicators. He highlighted how these achievements align with Qatar’s forthcoming Digital Agenda 2030, demonstrating the nation’s commitment to digital governance. Moreover, he recognized the Middle East’s progression as a leading future-ready region.
Moderated by CNBC’s Anchor and Correspondent Dan Murphy, the panel discussion brought together distinguished speakers: Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairperson of the Revolutionary Council; Representing Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania; Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica; Engineer Ahmad Abdulla Al Muslemani, President of CRA; Dr Bruno Lanvin, Founder and President of the Descartes Institute for the Future and author of the report; Keyzom Ngodup Massally, Head of Digital Programmes, Chief Digital Office at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); and Selim Eddé, Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Emerging Markets at Google Cloud.
The panel discussed the report’s findings, focusing on the necessity of combining traditional growth-promoting measures with forward-looking digital initiatives, the impetus for countries to shape their digital future, the link between future readiness and digital technology opportunities, and the crucial role of multilateralism in digital technology.
Engineer Ahmad Abdulla Al Muslemani, President of the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), commended Qatar’s ten-year progress in digital policy, as outlined in the report’s case study. He stated, "Our strong performance in the FREI 2023, particularly in AI regulation, cloud governance, and data privacy, is crucial for our national digital transformation endeavours.”
The full report and its accompanying digital tool are available at https://futurereadinessindex.com/2023, providing invaluable insights into the digital readiness of nations.