Page 16 - RIPE NCC PR REPORT - NOVEMBER 2023

11/27/23, 11:59 AM TDRA And RIPE NCC Host The Seventh Government Roundtable For The Middle East Region
sure the basics work but also the overall systems and services. We must speak with one voice to understand the
needs of Internet users worldwide.”

Dr. Khaled Wali, Minister Plenipotentiary and Director of the Directorate of Communications and Information
Technology Development for the League of Arab States, remarked on the progress many Arab countries had
achieved in the digital sphere. He said, “Despite significant challenges with developing sustainable infrastructure,
the Middle East has greatly enhanced its routing security and Internet speeds. Our excellent partnership with the
RIPE NCC has significantly contributed to this success.”

Mr Hans Petter Holen, CEO and Managing Director of the RIPE NCC, thanked speakers for their remarks. In his
speech, he addressed how geopolitical developments had begun to threaten the advancement of Internet
connectivity. He reaffirmed the RIPE NCC’s commitment to neutrality and providing support to all members. He
added: “We believe a reliable Internet cannot be created through regulation, policies or legislation. The promise
of an Internet that will bring innovation, growth and social prosperity will only be met through trust and
collaboration.”

In the concluding remarks of the opening session, Mr. Piotr Strzy?ewski, an Executive Board member of the
RIPE NCC, highlighted the significance of the United Arab Emirates hosting the seventh roundtable meeting. He
emphasised the collaboration with governments and Arab communications and information technology regulatory
bodies as a testament to their dedication to establishing a robust and secure digital infrastructure, which is pivotal
in accelerating the evolution of the Internet across the Middle East.

RIPE NCC experts actively engaged in the roundtable meeting discussions. Dr Chafic Chaya, Regional Public
Policy and Government Affairs Manager for the Middle East, shared more about the RIPE NCC’s efforts in the
Middle East. He explored cooperation with governments, reviewed the challenges identified during the sixth
roundtable meeting, outlined the measures implemented to address these issues and emphasised the
specialised support programmes they provide for each country.

Engineer Jad El-Cham, Regional Program Manager at RIPE NCC, shared important regional statistics and
trends, including IPv6 deployment, Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) and routing security coverage, and
the IXP and peering landscape. Engineer Hisham Ibrahim, Chief Community Officer of the RIPE NCC, also
contributed his thoughts on good policy development in the technical world, stressing the valuable information,
statistics and reports that the RIPE NCC makes available, which are instrumental for policymakers and
regulators.

As the roundtable sessions progressed, participants engaged in deep discussions about the latest trends, shared
success stories and addressed challenges. This roundtable marks another significant step in the collective
journey towards a more connected and secure future for the Internet in the Middle East region.

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