The 22nd meeting of the Telecommunication Development Advisory Group (TDAG) was held from 9 to 12 May 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meeting reviewed preparations for the World Telecommunication Development Conference 2017 (WTDC-17), to be convened in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 9 to 20 October 2017 at the kind invitation of the Government of Argentina, and addressed the implementation of the ITU-D Strategic Plan and Operational Plan 2016 and the ITU-D four-year rolling Operational Plan 2018-2021.
In his opening statement, Mr Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau, highlighted the significant efforts that have been made to engage ITU-D Members at an early stage in the preparations of the key output documents of WTDC-17.
"We have reached a number of important milestones on the way to WTDC-17 by holding the six Regional Preparatory Meetings. In Bishkek, Kigali, Khartoum, Asunción, Bali and Vilnius, all six preparatory meetings have provided a platform for open dialogue, cooperation and partnership," said Mr Sanou.
He added, "the whole world is watching us and placing in us the hope that we will provide it with high-quality telecommunication and ICT services in order to stimulate development. This is the deep meaning of the theme of the Conference, 'ICT for Sustainable Development Goals'."
Mr Sanou said the potential of ICTs to accelerate the attainment of SDGs is vast and that, "WTDC 17 will reinforce the active and driving role of ITU-D in promoting innovation for sustainable development."
"The Telecommunication Development Bureau," he said "continues to strengthen inter-sectoral collaboration with United Nations agencies and promoting inclusive and collaborative dialogue with policy makers, regulators, the private sector, development partners and all stakeholders in the ICT ecosystem with a view to achieving socio-economic development."
TDAG is chaired by Professor Vladimir Minkin.
Mr Sanou's Opening Speech: French
English
