Ihsan Al Qasem
Arab thinker and prominent economist, HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder
and chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global Digital (TAG.GD), reaffirmed the
importance of adopting a national strategy focused on achieving
self-sufficiency in three key areas: food, medicine, and technology, stating
that this represents a primary national duty that governments, businesses, and
citizens must undertake alike.
In an interview broadcast on
Ro’ya TV Channel, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh pointed out that achieving self-sufficiency
in these three sectors effectively contributes to the country’s political and
security independence, as well as prevent external influence over national
decision-making.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, further, warned
against trusting the recommendations of the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), which often encourage countries to depend on imports
rather than domestic production on the basis that they are more cost-effective
than domestic production. He emphasized that national production is essential
even when it comes at a higher cost, as it generates significant job
opportunities, advances production technologies, and safeguards national
currency.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh went on to state
that achieving food self-sufficiency is attainable by any country and is a
shared responsibility between both the country and the citizens alike. “It is unacceptable
to depend on importing food. And if any kind of food cannot be produced, then
it is not necessary to be imported”, he added.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh also said that each country should
produce all necessary medicine. This is not difficult since pharmaceutical
patent registration standards require full disclosure of production details. He
added that intellectual property protection is time-limited to twenty years,
after which the same products may be manufactured by others under a different
trade name.
Concerning achieving self-sufficiency
in technology, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh emphasized that it fundamentally depends on
reforming education to become digital and technology-driven, noting, “our
education system cannot continue in its traditional form as it is today, as
students need an education that motivates creativity and innovation and keeps
pace with today’s knowledge revolution.”
“The unemployment challenge we are
experiencing today is largely rooted in an education system based on rote
memorization, despite the fact that modern knowledge tools now allow instant
access to information at the click of a button,” Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, moreover,
underlined the importance of leveraging opportunities that emerge from crises,
noting that the COVID-19 pandemic represented a missed opportunity to
accelerate digital transformation in education and establish robust digital
infrastructure.
What’s more, he stated that
digital transformation in education can ensure equitable access to quality
education for all citizens across the Kingdom, emphasizing that education must
not be limited to residents of the capital, Amman; it should be delivered to
all with the same quality and efficiency.
In conclusion, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh
pointed out that digital transformation can significantly reduce the costs
associated with printing textbooks and constructing school facilities. He added
that TAG.GD has recently succeeded in registering an invention for a tablet
device designed to replace school bags and textbooks, providing a tool that can
accompany students throughout their academic journey and support self-directed
learning.