Good afternoon,
It is my great pleasure to join you here at this Peer Learning Roundtable, on behalf of ITU, the UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies.
I want to thank UNECE for putting together this regional forum and the steadfast commitment to sustainable development.
ITU is strongly committed to connecting the world and accelerating sustainable digital transformation globally to help achieve the SDGs in this Decade of Action.
Over the past decade, the connectivity challenge has become more complex and demanding. Bringing everyone online is no longer enough. Meaningful connectivity is now essential for everyone, everywhere, to achieve their full potential in the digital age. Our goal is to see everyone enjoy a safe, satisfying, enriching, productive and affordable online experience.
Development of the digital economy is inextricably linked to the achievement of the SDG goals.
Digital transformation has to take place across the whole society, from digitalizing economic sectors, digital public infrastructure, building innovation ecosystems, creating digital government, developing digital public platforms, just to name a few.
ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau, through, among others, impactful partnerships, actively develops programmes that help countries nurture enabling policy and regulatory frameworks, build their capabilities in innovation and entrepreneurship, accelerate the impact of their digital ecosystems, to ultimately help unlock their digital potential.
Let's look at connectivity in the regions in this light.
ITU studies show that in the CIS region, an increase of 10% in fixed broadband penetration would yield an increase in 0.63% in GDP per capita. An increase of 10% in mobile broadband penetration in the Europe region would yield an increase of 2.1% in GDP per capita.
However, some gaps impacting SDG 9 and SDG 17 targets are evident.
On our research, Eastern European and Central Asian countries still have a 10% gap in 4G coverage. About 2% of the population is not covered by mobile networks.
13%, and 18%, usage gaps in the Western and Eastern parts of the region, respectively, also exists.
How do we close these regional gaps?
We need new thinking.
The focus on SDG9 and SDG17 reflects ITU's core mandate.
In this region, we need connectivity to power digital transformation for sustainable economic development, job creation, and world-class educational outcomes.
But, we also need to develop ecosystems that nurture innovation and entrepreneurship.
This is one of the motivations behind the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development which I launched in January. The alliance focuses on both demands. The Alliance helps countries use digital transformation to spur national development agendas and build sustainable human and institutional capabilities nationally.
The Alliance provides support through a system of Digital Transformation Labs, Acceleration Center networks and a Digital Innovation Board.
It aims to assemble all the pieces needed to kickstart effective and sustainable digital transformation here and globally.
What about investment in partnerships?
ITU, in close cooperation with the UN Tech Envoy Office, established the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, P2C, in short. P2C aims to advance digital development all over the world, but especially in LDCs, through partnerships and the mobilization of pledges.
Under P2C, as of today, over 600 pledges, worth approximately USD 30 billion have been made from 118 countries.
We will be sharing the P2C journey at the Regional Development Forums scheduled in each of the six regions of ITU. The European Regional Development Forum will kick off the series on 22-23 May 2023 in Timisoara, Romania. I invite you to attend this important event.
We can harness from strengthened UN partnerships.
Members of the UN Digital Transformation Group for Europe and Central Asia have jointly produced the Digital Development Toolbox highlighting UN expertise—frameworks, guidelines, capacity-building tools—in building sustainable digital development.
I am convinced that the Toolbox, together with the UN Digital Development Country Profiles, which provide overall digital diagnostics on countries (such as the recently launched one on Bosnia and Herzegovina), will significantly accelerate partnership development.
Digital transformation matters here
The co-chair of the 2023 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development,
Mr Reubi, indicated that 2023—the mid-point of the SDG process —is pivotal.
As we reaffirm our commitment to the SDGs, engagement is key to help us map how we can move forward.
A digital society is fundamental to the achievement of SDGs.
Thank you.
