Parliamentary Committee Approves Bill to Establish Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence

The subcommittee formed by the joint parliamentary committees and tasked with studying the draft law on establishing the Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence, chaired by MP Tony Frangieh and attended by Minister of Displaced Affairs and Minister of State for Technology Kamal Chahadeh, approved the bill aimed at creating the ministry.

MPs Rami Abu Hamdan, Raji Al-Saad, Hassan Al-Zayn, and Razi Al-Haj also attended the committee session, along with Director General of the Ministry of Displaced Affairs Ahmad Mahmoud, representative of the Ministry of Administrative Development Hala Rashid, and Nadine Shawi from the Ministry of State for Technology.

After the session concluded, the head of the Information Technology Committee, MP Tony Frangieh, announced "the completion of the first phase of the draft law to establish the Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence."

He added: "After three sessions featuring in-depth discussions and an open atmosphere, in cooperation with Minister of Displaced Affairs and Minister of State for Technology Kamal Chahadeh, we submit the draft law for establishing the ministry to the plenary session of the Parliament. We hope it will approve this law, which we drafted taking into account all concerns, with the aim of placing Lebanon on the map of development and modernity."

He noted that "the importance of this step lies in the fact that it is one of the first concrete steps witnessed by the Lebanese state in the path of digital transformation."

He concluded by emphasizing "the importance of Lebanese official administrations and institutions assuming responsibility for this path, which allows consolidating digital transformation within state institutions and enhancing their role in keeping pace with technological development."

In turn, the Minister of Displaced Affairs and Minister of State for Technology expressed great thanks to the head of the Parliamentary Technology Committee and the head of the subcommittee formed by the joint committees, MP Tony Frangieh, and to all MPs who contributed to studying the draft law.

He said: "Today, in the third session, we reached an advanced stage in studying the draft law, which allows us to promise Lebanese citizens that the establishment of this ministry will constitute a launchpad for serious work in the interest of the country and its citizens, starting from building digital infrastructure, passing through developing digital transformation at the level of both public and private sectors, up to building digital capabilities and enabling companies to transition to the digital age and enhance their competitiveness internationally."

He added: "This ministry will continue the work started by the Office of the Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence, whether at the level of legislation, or preparing terms of reference in cooperation with several ministries, or implementing developmental projects and capacity building through the Namaa program, in addition to working to secure the necessary funding for these initiatives."

He indicated that "work will not stop, but will be continued with greater seriousness and faster pace upon the official establishment of the ministry, allowing us to move forward in implementing projects and achieving the desired results for the benefit of Lebanon and the Lebanese people."