On December 3–4, StrategEast President Anatoly Motkin took part in the AI Forward Summit in Tunisia, contributing to two high-level discussions focused on the future of AI governance and the development of regional innovation ecosystems.
On December 3, Motkin spoke at the Policy Roundtable “AI Governance: Interoperability Towards Regional and Global Vision,” joining an expert panel that included Dr. Nibal Idelbi, Senior Advisor on Digital Transformation and Innovation Policies and former Director at UN-ESCWA; Hadi Kobeissi, Partner for Technology & Digital Consulting at PwC; Dr. Mohamad Nawar Al-Awa, Regional Advisor on Technology for Development at UN-ESCWA; Daniel Pap, Legal Advisor to the Council of Europe’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI); and Adnane Ben Halima, Vice President for Public Relations at Huawei Northern Africa.
This strategic discussion brought together leading policymakers and AI experts to examine the pressing challenge of creating interoperable, harmonized AI governance frameworks. The roundtable focused on aligning national AI strategies with regional priorities and global standards, strengthening cross-border collaboration in areas such as data governance and infrastructure security, and developing unified, principles-based regulatory systems to support ethical and effective AI deployment across the Arab region. The ultimate objective was to move beyond fragmented national approaches and build a trusted, competitive, and integrated regional AI innovation ecosystem.
On December 4, Motkin moderated the high-profile Plenary Session “Building the Intelligence Society: Innovating for Regional Leadership.” The panel featured Michel Rogy, Regional Director at the World Bank; Lucky La Riccia, Vice President and Head of Cloud Software & Services at Ericsson Europe, Middle East & Africa; Nadia Brahmi, Technology Director at GSMA; Karim Ahres, CEO of Netcom Tunisia; and Moez Kamoun, Partner and Consulting Leader at PwC Tunisia.
This session explored the practical steps required to advance an Intelligence Society across the Arab region, emphasizing the pivotal roles of policymakers, industry, academia, and the broader innovation ecosystem. Panelists highlighted key initiatives transforming the region’s AI landscape and underscored the importance of robust governance, ethical safeguards, interoperable standards, accountable data practices, inclusive design, and strong stakeholder cooperation.
Across both days, discussions emphasized the need for visionary and coordinated AI strategies as the Arab region seeks to position itself as a global leader in innovation. The AI Forward Summit reinforced the region’s ambition to embed ethical, social, and human-centric values at the core of digital and economic development.
This milestone event served as a vital platform for regional and global dialogue, advancing a shared vision for AI-driven innovation, economic transformation, and sustainable, human-centered digital futures based on trust, integration, and long-term prosperity.
