Your Excellency, Huria Ali Mahdi, State Minister to National ICT and Digital Economy Sector, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,
Good morning,
It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you all, both those present here and online, at this ITU Regional Development Forum for Africa (RDF).
It is the first in-person RDF in the region since 2018, although we did conduct a virtual event in 2020.
At the onset, let me thank the Ministry of Innovation and Technology for hosting us all, and in particular, His Excellency, Belete Molla, Minister of Innovation and Technology, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, represented by Her Excellency, Huria Ali Mahdi, State Minister to National ICT and Digital Economy Sector, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
I believe that we have possibilities ahead of us as we all make the effort towards meaningful connectivity and global digital transformation.
The World Telecommunication Development Conference last year decided on ITU-D priorities in the Kigali Action Plan. This is our reference point.
Member States in Africa agreed on four Regional Initiatives, and these will be driving our RDF focus this week. In broad outline, they cover: supporting digital transformation; expansion of broadband; building trust, safety and security in ICTs; and fostering innovation.
Our RDF theme, “Digital transformation for a sustainable and equitable digital future", is in this context. A key component of this Forum is the matchmaking of the pledges and commitments under the banner of the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition, with the connectivity needs of Member States.
In line with the African Union's Agenda 2063, the continent's Digital Transformation Strategy, Regional Initiatives and national priorities of Member States, the P2C matchmaking supports a rolling implementation plan for African countries.
We know that digital can accelerate 70% of the 169 targets of the SDGs as re-affirmed at LDC-5 and UN General Assembly (UNGA) a few weeks ago.
For Africa this is even more important. Out of the 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 33 are in Africa, and 15 out of the 32 Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) are also in Africa. This poses a great challenge.
On the other hand, Africa has a demographic dividend, being a youthful continent with the 15-24 age group being the most active online.
The relationships across this region are the pillar to our work. The progress we have made is through partnerships, and the quest to remove all the bottlenecks for digital transformation.
This resonates in our work and we see potential through our projects: in network and infrastructure development, supporting e-waste policy development, strengthening emergency telecommunications, supporting the establishment of smart cities, digital trade protocols, AI in heath, cybersecurity digital inclusion, capacity building, including advice on broadband mapping in many countries.
The RDF plays an important in exchanging views on technological trends, challenges, and opportunities, but more specifically, we are here to reap concrete results.
In the framework of the P2Connect Digital Coalition launched in 2022, we now have over 31 billion dollars of pledges. Africa has received 257 pledges worth valued at nearly 13 billion US Dollars made by 157 entities from 61 countries.
At this RDF we want to move from pledges to concrete commitments to finance Africa's regional priorities and individual country priorities through match making.
It is a great opportunity for all - for the region and also for partners.
The digital divide is still glaring as we have 2.6 billion people that are offline globally. In Africa 37% use Internet. However about 740 million remain offline.
This is the time to make commitments, to unlock the potential for digital. We need massive action to achieve sustainable, empowering digital transformation so those millions can benefit.
The good news is that, in Africa, the number of Internet users has grown at double digit rates in each of the last three years, far ahead of other regions.
We must however not forget to the existing skills divide. At ITU, we have tools in the toolbox, including the ITU Academy, Digital Transformation Centres, ITU Academy Training Centres, among others.
We also have to keep in mind the need to continuously innovate. I launched the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Digital Development Initiative earlier in the year. We have now selected 17 to be part of our Network of Acceleration Centres to enhance local innovation and entrepreneurship for impact. This is established to help close the innovation gap.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
If we can bring universal and meaningful connectivity to deliver digital transformation, we will be at an inflexion point for the entire continent of Africa.
The time is now, for us to make Africa a continent powered by digital.
We have talked enough.
We can do it!
Thank you.
