within"Government summit"/ Politicians, experts and technology pioneers: The next economy is an economy of minds and cross-border innovation

Dubai, 3 February / WAM / Politicians, experts and technology pioneers discussed during sessions focusing on “Next Generation Economies”, as part of the activities of the first day of the World Government Summit 2026, which was launched today in Dubai under the slogan “Foreseeing the Governments of the Future”, and will conclude its work on February 5, how to reformulate global economic structures to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.

The sessions discussed the journey of transformation from traditional politics to the economy of innovation and electronic games, stressing that the next economy is the economy of minds and cross-border innovation.

The 56th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, spoke in an open dialogue in which she stressed that the governments that will succeed in the “next generation economy” are those that have the courage to dismantle and zero carbon, and benefit from the energy of the future represented by artificial intelligence. She pointed out that the UAE presents an impressive global model in quickly adapting to major economic variables and creating competitive environments that attract capital.

She said that she met many Britons who preferred to live in the Emirates instead of London because of taxes.

Terras compared the British and American economies. While the gross domestic product was close in 2000, Washington greatly outperformed thanks to policies to support innovation, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence investments. She pointed out that the new American approach focuses on shifting from “consumption to production” and addressing errors.

Terras highlighted several fundamental points that hinder the growth of the Western economy, including government debts and zero emissions, stressing that they sometimes produced counterproductive results, as vital sectors such as the iron industry declined due to politicians’ desire to “keep up with international climate issues” at the expense of national interests. She explained that relying on cautious policies and excessive focus on climate change commitments and complex standards led to the obstruction of competitiveness.

Terras reviewed its achievements by signing trade agreements with countries from around the world, including the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the Caribbean countries, and stressed that the future of economic stability depends on artificial intelligence as an engine for growth, enhancing engineering and technical cooperation to attract investments, and thinking about policies related to data flow and protecting intellectual property.

Start-up opportunities

In the session “How can governments turn an idea into a billion-dollar value?” A number of experts and technology pioneers reviewed the role of the public sector in stimulating startups to become advanced companies, create job opportunities, and help build sustainable economies.

Guillaume Posaz, CEO of Checkout, stressed the need for entrepreneurs to adopt carbon-neutral policies and build strong relationships with legislators to ensure the growth of financial technology. He stressed that artificial intelligence represents the largest global revolution currently.

He pointed out that enhancing predictability and innovation in licensing new products creates fair opportunities for emerging companies to compete globally.

He explained that the government’s “enabling” role is to build a strong digital infrastructure that allows for seamless payment and financial connectivity, which removes barriers for emerging companies to access global markets, and turns local ideas into global economic assets that support the gross domestic product.

Sitoyo Lobokwet, CEO of M-PESA Africa, also pointed out that the M-PESA experience in Africa would not have been possible without the presence of a regulatory framework that allowed innovation in financial inclusion, stressing that the mission of governments is to provide “legislative laboratories” that allow companies to test their solutions before expanding.

He pointed out that the transformation begins with solving real problems in society using simple and available technology, explaining that the future requires investment in artificial intelligence and digital currencies, indicating that the development and expansion of companies depends on devoting the promotion of digital payments, financial inclusion, transparency, laws and distinguished partnerships based on building bridges of trust and innovation, as the government shifts from the role of observer to the role of a strategic partner that paves the way for the growth of the future economy.

The session, “Why have electronic games become a priority that governments cannot ignore?” discussed the transformation of electronic games from entertainment to the heart of the economy, as it has become a priority that governments cannot ignore.

Participants explained that the gaming sector is no longer just a means of entertainment, but has become a strategic driver of technology, artificial intelligence, and cultural identity.

The discussions indicated that governments that invest in the infrastructure for electronic games and digital sports are investing in “soft power” and in creating jobs that match the skills of Generation Z and beyond, stressing that this sector today represents a fundamental pillar in the economies of the next generation, whose market value exceeds major traditional sectors.

Paul J. explained. Foster, President and CEO of the World Federation of Electronic Sports, said that games today represent a pivotal means for empowering youth and promoting digital diplomacy, indicating the importance of promoting competitive gaming and linking the global e-sports community to enhance technology and innovation.

For his part, Chris Huesch, President of the “Exola” company specializing in video game trading, pointed out the need to simplify financial legislation to support creators, and to continue developing innovation in the field of digital games, which are linked to various sectors, such as protecting children, legislation and laws, and the repercussions that hinder global economic growth.

In the context of linking technology and finance, Tariq Abdullah, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Marketing for the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region at Visa, confirmed that the digital payment system within games creates unprecedented investment opportunities, explaining the entry of social media companies to create exchange and benefits between content creators and their followers through financial tools that develop every day.

Rustin Sotoudeh, co-founder, CEO and creative director of High Ground, focused on the creative aspect, stressing that governments that embrace game developers ensure their leadership in the knowledge economy, and one of its examples is Japan, which considers games a soft cultural force that crosses borders.

The speakers concluded that electronic games are the first laboratory for future technologies, from artificial intelligence to the “metaverse,” which makes it necessary for governments to invest in their infrastructure to ensure their global competitiveness.

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