The Digital Cooperation Organization council has approved the candidature of eight new nations to join as member states. This development could expand the entity’s total membership from 16 to 24 countries, representing nearly 980 million people. Furthermore, the organization confirmed plans to admit the Republic of Tajikistan as an associate member.
The eight approved candidate nations include the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Kenya, the Lebanese Republic, the State of Palestine, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Republic of Zambia. Each candidate will officially join after completing national accession procedures and depositing their respective legal instruments.
Expansion Across New Regions
This accession process extends the footprint of the entity into Central Asia for the first time. Consequently, it creates a fresh regional corridor for digital partnerships. In addition, the expansion brings representation to the Caucasus and Western Balkans, connecting fast-growing Eurasian digital markets.
Tajikistan’s upcoming status as an associate member supports its National Development Strategy through 2030. This status provides opportunities to participate in initiatives covering digital skills, public-private partnerships, and digital innovation within the wider digital economy.
Digital Cooperation Organization Strategic Vision
The Digital Cooperation Organization was initially founded in 2020 by five countries. Today, member states represent approximately USD 3.5 trillion in gross domestic product and a combined population exceeding 800 million, with 70 percent under the age of 35.
“Countries are joining for a practical reason; the rules of the digital economy on data, artificial intelligence, and cross-border trade are being written now, and rules written without you are rules you inherit rather than shape.”
Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO
Governance and Technology Initiatives
The organization is executing its strategic 4-Year Agenda for 2025 to 2028. This program targets several key domains, including digital public infrastructure, startup systems, and policies for artificial intelligence governance. Moreover, the roadmap addresses cross-border data flows and digital economic measurement.
These initiatives rely on structured partnerships between governments, private enterprises, civil society, and academic institutions. Through these coordinated programs, member states aim to translate technological strategies into measurable progress across member states.
Future Impact on Global Policy
When these eight candidate nations complete accession, the Digital Cooperation Organization will represent roughly 12 percent of the global population. As a result, member countries will gain greater collective capacity to negotiate rules governing data exchange and emerging technologies.
Holding observer status at the United Nations General Assembly, the entity continues to align cross-border digital policies. This sustained growth establishes a wider platform for coordinated international action in modern tech governance.
