IsDB 2026: Stakeholders, Experts Explore AI to Advance Regional Digital Economies for Member Countries

Senior stakeholders and experts convened at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss how artificial intelligence and shared digital infrastructure can foster inclusive growth and strengthen digital public infrastructure across member countries. The gathering, titled ‘Harnessing AI for Advancing Regional Digital Economies,’ focused on transitioning from isolated AI experiments to robust, scalable digital platforms.

Anasse Aissami, Director-General of Country Programmes at IsDB, stressed that the bank's AI strategy is not about isolated technology but a shared capability framework. This approach aims to help member countries move beyond fragmented pilot projects towards trusted digital platforms deployable across various sectors and borders. Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport, H.E. Mr. Samaddin Asadov, shared the nation's ambition to become a regional digital hub by expanding innovation ecosystems and digital infrastructure, noting AI's potential to boost productivity and enhance public services.

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The Bank’s approach to artificial intelligence is not as an isolated technology agenda, but as a shared capability framework designed to help MCs transition from fragmented pilots toward scalable and trusted digital platforms that can be deployed across sectors and borders.

The session featured insights from representatives of the United Nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR), the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), Morocco's Digital Development Agency, Indonesia's National ICT Council, Go Telecom, the World Bank Group, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Co-Develop. Participants identified a growing divide in AI readiness and compute infrastructure, despite progress in narrowing connectivity gaps. They emphasized that Digital Public Infrastructure is foundational for inclusive digital economies, with regional cooperation on shared AI infrastructure being the next critical step.

IsDB's current initiatives, such as the Joint MDB AI Use Case Repository, the AI Academy for Country Officials, and the proposed Green AI Compute Corridor in Saudi Arabia, were presented as key components for fostering coordinated, large-scale digital transformation efforts among member nations.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) can serve as a catalyst across these priorities by increasing productivity, enabling new digital markets, improving the competitiveness of enterprises, and enhancing the efficiency of public service delivery.