World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium 2015
Closing Ceremony
Wednesday 2 December 2015
Hiroshima, Japan
Closing Speech
Brahima Sanou
Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
H.E. Mr. Yasuo Sakamoto, Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, Japan
Kiyoshi Mori San, Director-General for International Affairs, Global ICT Strategy Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication and Chair of WTIS-15,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
This successful edition of WTIS-15 has come to an end.
I would like to thank all of you for coming to this event and I would like to extend, on behalf of all of you, our deepest appreciation to the Government of Japan for hosting the Symposium this year.
This week, we have welcomed a record number of more than 600 participants from 88 countries, including Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, Vice-Ministers, Director-Generals. This reflects the importance and relevance of this gathering. I thank you all.
During the past three days, we spoke a lot about the crucial role that ICTs play in achieving the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals.
As we also heard this week, the emergence of the Internet of Things and big data will lead to an ever increasing amount of data which could be explored to address pressing development needs and overcome the current lack of information.
The presentations and discussions during the three days have shown how the process of deciding the indicators is open and dynamic but more importantly contribution driven.
Let me repeat again and eco the appeal of the chairmen of the Expert groups that you are all invited to participate in these groups in order to strengthen your ownership of the indicators the methodology and the IDI.
The UN has called for a consolidated effort to mobilize the data revolution for sustainable development, including by fostering and promoting innovation.
At ITU, we are taking concrete steps to respond to this call by creating a multi-stakeholder partnership for big data and Internet of Things data.
I would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to the Governement of Kuwait for its support through financial contribution.
I would like to invite other countries and partners to follow the food step of Kuwait in order to support our common effort to continue strengthening the international agreed framework for data collection and processing to support the Sustainable Developments Goals.
Ladies and gentlemen:
As we are about to close WTIS-15, I would like to extend my appreciation to the Expert Group on Telecommunication/ICT Indicators and the Expert Group on ICT Household Indicators and their Chairmen for the work done before and during 2015.
I would also like to thank all participants, panelists and moderators for their inspiring contributions.
To the interpreters, our friends from the ITU-Association of Japan - thank you for your patience and hard work. I thank also all those who worked behind the scenes (day and night), to make this event possible.
Allow me to thank all the ITU staff, those present here in Hiroshima and those in Geneva, who have worked tirelessly to make this event a success.
Dear Kiyoshi Mori San,
We all raise our hands to say that you are a true leader. You led us over the three days with a smile. This contributed to the great success of this Symposium. We really enjoyed your chairmanship. Thank you
In conclusion, Let me reiterate again that we have been very privileged to be hosted by the Government of Japan and be provided with such excellent facilities and support.
Thank you Sakamoto San, Thank you authorities of Hiroshima, Thank you the Government and the people of Japan.
Let me thank Botswana on behalf of all of us for graciously offering to host WTIS-16.
I wish you all Safe travels home and see you in Botswana at WTIS-16!
I thank you.
