Who is Deemah Al-Yahya?
Deemah Al-Yahya is a Saudi digital-policy expert who currently serves her second term as Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO).
Her experience includes digital economy, innovation, international cooperation, policymaking and digital transformation.
🌍 What UN panel has she joined?
Guterres appointed her as a member of the UN High-Level Panel on Freedom of Transit for Landlocked Developing Countries.
The panel focuses on the difficulties faced by the world's 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), which do not have direct access to the sea.
🚢 What does “freedom of transit” mean?
A landlocked country needs to transport its goods through neighboring countries to reach:
- 🚢 international ports;
- 🌍 global markets;
- 🚛 regional transport networks.
This can be expensive and complicated because these countries depend on transit routes through other states.
The panel will therefore examine obstacles such as inefficient transport systems, border procedures and other barriers that make international trade more difficult.
💻 Why was Al-Yahya selected?
Her background in digital cooperation and the digital economy is particularly relevant because technologies can help make international trade and customs procedures more efficient.
For example:
Digital customs systems
→ faster processing at borders
→ fewer administrative delays
→ more efficient movement of goods
→ better access to international markets.
The DCO says Al-Yahya will bring a digital-economy perspective to the panel's work.
🎯 What will the panel do?
The panel will:
- Examine the obstacles faced by landlocked developing countries.
- Identify gaps and problems in existing transit systems.
- Develop practical recommendations to improve connectivity and access to global markets.
- Present its final recommendations to UN Member States during the 82nd session of the UN General Assembly.
🧠 In simple terms
The story is about Saudi Arabia's Deemah Al-Yahya joining a senior UN panel working on international trade and transportation problems affecting countries without direct access to the sea.
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