The ITU Forum on Smart Sustainable Cities: Past, Present, and Future took place during the TIBO 2023 International Exhibition in Minsk, Belarus, on April 19-20, 2023. The Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus, the Belarusian State Academy of Communications, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Department of Information Technologies of Moscow, the St. Petersburg State University of Telecommunications named after Prof. M.A. Bonch-Bruevich, and colleagues from the UN European Economic Commission, the UN Development Program, UNICEF, and the GSMA Association shared their experience of implementing smart cities in the region.
The main topic of the forum was the discussion of key issues related to the development of smart and sustainable cities. Anna Ryabova, Deputy Minister of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus, Natalia Mochu, ITU Regional Director for the CIS Region, and Anton Alekseyev, Director of Giprosvyaz OJSC, launched the event. They emphasized the need to create flexible regulations so that states and companies could quickly and efficiently adapt to new conditions and contribute to successful digital transformation.
The forum's agenda included several sessions discussing how international organizations could help countries create smart and sustainable cities. The forum also presented specific examples of implementation in CIS region countries, including information on how the Smart City 2.0 concept was implemented in Kazakhstan and how smart solutions are being implemented in regions in Belarus. International experts also shared new trends such as green ICT and a closed-loop economy. You can find the speakers'
presentations and a
recording of the event here.
In particular, Johnny Kim, Head of the Northeast Asia Region at GSMA, said, "More than half of the world's population – 4.4 billion people – live in cities, and by 2050 this figure will double, with more than 80% of the world's GDP produced in cities. Therefore, it is necessary to build green, sustainable, and inclusive cities through good governance and investment choices. Authorities must act now to shape the future of their development and create opportunities for all."
The "Smart Sustainable Cities: Past, Present, and Future" Forum is crucial for the development of technological innovations in the urban environment. The event allowed for the discussion of approaches and strategies to improve life in smart and sustainable cities. We thank everyone for their participation and look forward to seeing you all again!
