Mr Masanori Kondo Secretary-General, APT,
Dr. Ahmad Reza Sharafat, Chair of APT WTDC-21,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me immense pleasure to address you at this first meeting of the APT Preparatory Working Group for the 2025 World Telecommunication Development Conference.
Let me at the outset thank the Government of Thailand for hosting us in this beautiful city of Chiang Mai.
Implementation of WTDC-22 Outcomes
It has been a year and a half of implementing the Kigali Action Plan. So far, we have made considerable progress.
In the Asia and Pacific region, we have been implementing projects and activities to accelerate digital transformation through assessments of national digital infrastructure network resilience and preparedness; infrastructure mapping; e-waste; cybersecurity; emergency telecommunications, capacity building; inclusion and accessibility; Early Warnings for All, smart villages, and smart islands, among others.
To support countries more effectively in natural hazard response, we have now pre-positioned satellite terminals closer or within the regions for faster deployment to save lives when disasters strike.
Other key projects and initiatives in the region include digital skills development with the establishment of 2 Academy Training Centres and 4 Digital Transformation Centres in Asia and the Pacific.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Asia and the Pacific is one of the fastest growing economies with a high percentage of global internet user base, leading in 3G and 4G coverage accounting for 97% of the population. It is however also a remarkably diverse region with 12 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 15 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and a number of Land Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
This requires particular attention if we are to address the unique needs of these countries. In this region, addressing special needs of least developed countries, small island developing states, including Pacific Island countries, and landlocked developing states was identified as one of the Regional Initiatives. In response to that, I have re-established a Special Division that is focusing on addressing the unique needs of these countries without adding any additional financial burden. In May, I led the ITU delegation to Antigua & Barbuda to attend and contribute to the 4th United Nations International Conference on SIDS.
To respond to country needs, we are focusing on forging partnerships and mobilizing resources to finance large-scale projects. Since January 2023, the BDT has raised over 36 million CHF with a 15 million Euros project on mapping broadband infrastructure currently going through final signatures. I want to thank all our donors and partners.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In this same vein, you may recall that in September 2023, here in Thailand, we held the Regional Development Forum. As BDT we organized and conducted Partner2Connect matchmaking roundtables to concretize and operationalize the over fifty billion worth of pledges received on our platform.
To date, over 252 pledges are targeted to benefit this region with a value of over 16 billion US Dollars. Following the matchmaking, I asked my team in the region to support the operationalization of the pledges and some of the initiatives are ongoing implementation.
Regional initiatives are iconic in the outcomes of the WTDC-22. I am pleased to inform you that we are in the process of implementing all the regional initiatives through projects. You may recall that almost all the regions identified Innovation and Entrepreneurship as a Regional Initiative. In response to that and to optimize the use of resources, last year I launched the Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Digital Development Alliance initiative. Under this initiative we have established 17 Acceleration Centres, four of which are in the ASP region. This is in addition to the ITU Global Innovation Centre hosted in our Area Office for South Asia in New Delhi, India. I also established an Advisory Board under this initiative. Of the 23 members, five are from the Asia and Pacific Region. The Board's inaugural meeting took place in March and the second meeting will be held in October on the sidelines of our Global Innovation Forum in Malta. We are doing amazing things to promote innovation acceleration, and support startups. It is my hope that you will continue to leverage these tools and initiatives to take digital transformation to new heights and help reduce technological inequalities.
I want to add that when I was in the Philippines in April this year, we launched a new Digital Transformation Centre where innovation is also promoted. I thank the Governments of the Philippines and Japan for their contribution to this effort. With respect to fostering development of infrastructure, my team is mapping broadband infrastructure to identify gaps for bridging the information gap on the part of governments and investors. With respect to providing secure and resilient ICT environment, I am pleased to note that we have been doing a lot of work in cybersecurity and have received a number of Guiness Book World records in 2023 and 2024, including for the highest number of country teams actively involved in cyberdrills at the same time. The last one was held in Dubai with the participation of 104 countries. We have also been implementing a host of projects in this area.
Worthy noting is our work in enabling policy and regulatory environments. Our GSR-23 and GSR-24 recorded the highest number of participants. We have advanced in agile and collaborative regulation. We now run a high-level segment that provides dialogue between Ministers, Heads of Regulatory Authority, and Captains of Industry. For the first time, at GSR-24, we introduced new topics on regulating in an AI environment, space economy, and space sustainability.
Our flagship Smart Villages and Smart Islands initiative has received interest from around 15 countries in Asia-Pacific. We are seeing transformation of lives in rural and remote island communities through the enabled access to digital services, facilitation of affordable and resilient connectivity and increased digital skills. From Gokina in Pakistan to South Malekula in Vanuatu, the initiative has enabled access to a range of services customized to meet their socio-economic challenges. It is an epitome of partnerships and a great learning point for enhancing sustainability through adoption, replication and scale-out.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Looking ahead to WTDC-25
As we look forward to the next World Telecommunication Development Conference in 2025, let us build on our successes and draw lessons from our current experiences.
Let me speak about our preparatory work to WTDC-25.
We started consultations with Regional Telecommunication Organizations and Member States on the hosting of the upcoming Regional Telecommunication Preparatory meetings which will be held back-to-back with the Regional Development Forums from February to May 2025. For this region, I wish to thank NBTC and the Government of Thailand who will host the RDF/RPM in March next year. Within the Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG) we have already established virtual and open Working Groups on WTDC namely, Future Study Questions for Study Groups, Streamlining Resolutions, Declaration, Thematic Priorities, and ITU-D Priorities. I call upon the region to actively participate in these discussions so that we may accelerate the work at the WTDC-25. During the Regional Development Forums, we intend to have another round of matchmaking pledges and country as well as regional needs.
You may recall that the 2024 ITU Council in June unanimously welcomed the offer of Azerbaijan to host the next WTDC in Baku. In accordance with the rules of procedure, we await the results of the consultation with all member states on this offer. The consultations will end on 31 August 2024.
Before I conclude, please note that details of our work in this region will be presented to you by Atsuko Okuda, our Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Region.
Through joint work with ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Telecommunication Association (PITA) and others, we will continue to respond to the needs of this region.
I want to thank the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), and Kondo-san for your role and partnership with ITU in the region. Finally, we welcome Palau as the newest Member State of the ITU. At the 2024 session of the Council, Member States unanimously welcomed Palau and recently, ITU received the instruments of accession. We look forward to working and engaging with Palau in ITU-D activities.
Let me now wish you productive discussions as we prepare for the next WTDC in 2025 which I am optimistic will be efficiently run, productive and successful.
Thank you.
