Zain: Innovation crucial in sustainable development

04/02/2016 05:46 AST

Zain Group released its latest thought-leadership report entitled ‘Bringing the Future Closer with Innovation: Pursuing Innovation as a Means to Overcome Challenges in the MENA Region’. The report sets about illustrating the indispensable role of innovation in achieving sustainable development and transitioning towards a knowledge-based economy, from a regional perspective.

The report was revealed and discussed at the annual World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland recently, where Zain Group CEO Scott Gegenheimer, Emre Gurkan, Group Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer; and the Group’s Head of Corporate Sustainability Jennifer Suleiman conveyed the findings of the report liaising with leading political and economic personalities from across the globe.

Importantly the report emphasized the role of innovation in enabling the MENA region to overcome prevalent socioeconomic deficits and promote overall human development. It addresses the question: “How can stakeholders in the region come together to further society’s innovative capacity as a means to driving sustainable, inclusive growth while promoting human development?”

Gegenheimer said “given the high-profile nature of our business, and the profound impact it is able to have on people’s lives across the region, we feel it is our responsibility to publish information that offers insights into how innovation and technology in general can drastically improve living standards.” He added “as with any region in the world, MENA faces specific challenges that we can overcome collectively through our desire of a more enabling environment. From Zain’s perspective, our ties to the region run deep, and we look forward to continuing to render support and inspiration that results in positive outcome to people’s lives even beyond our own customer base.”

Zain believes that by developing the innovative capacity of the region through a multi-stakeholder approach, the MENA can overcome these challenges and achieve sustainable growth solutions.

Saudi Gazette