Ms Regina Fleur Assoumou Bessou, Chair of Study Group 1,
Vice Chairs of Study Group 1,
Rapporteurs and Vice Rapporteurs of Study Group 1,
Ms Roxanne McElvane Webber, Chairperson of TDAG
Distinguished delegates, ladies, and gentlemen.
Welcome to the fourth meeting of ITU-D Study Group 1 for the 2022-2025 period and the last before you report to WTDC-25.
It's just six months since I last spoke to you in November but I know you have been hard at work advancing the work of your Study Group.
Study Group 1's mandate concerns “the enabling environment for meaningful connectivity". It is key to the ITU's goal of universal and meaningful connectivity for all.
I congratulate you on your positive achievements.
Those achievements include a total number of 609 unique contributions received between 2022 and 2025, up from 511 in the previous study-period, participation has also been exceptional. You have been a very productive group!
Ladies and gentlemen, we are here this week for four main reasons.
First, to take stock of the work done by management teams on the seven study questions in the current study period.
Secondly, to discuss the contributions to be presented during this week and approve the final output reports for each of the seven questions.
Thirdly, we'll share the results of the end-of-study-period questionnaire, as well as on the work of the TDAG working group on the Future of Study Group Questions.
Finally, we're here to network.
There are 255 participants here, representing 66 countries. Let's make the most of that!
Allow me to also take this opportunity to review some of the progress made so far on the Kigali Action Plan.
An extraordinary session of TDAG was held in January to advance work pertaining to the Global Youth Summit 2025 and to hear updates on the progress of the TDAG working groups.
The ITU Global Youth Summit 2025 was duly held in Varadero, Cuba in March.
The aim was to amplify youth voices on the tech-driven future and identify their priorities above all, ensuring information and communication technologies are safe, affordable and accessible. It was a great success.
More recently, I have just returned from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan where I took part in the Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Commonwealth of Independent States all the six RPMs have now been successfully completed. Another remarkable success.
While in Bishkek, I also participated in Global Girls in ICT Day celebrations, which was co-hosted by the CIS region and the Arab States region as a hybrid event. Yet another great success.
By its nature, the work of the study groups attracts less fanfare, but the membership greatly appreciates your efforts.
I am delighted that all expected outputs for ITU-D Study Group 1 have been delivered on time and to a remarkably high standard.
The four deliverables agreed in November have been published free of charge in all UN official languages and some have been featured as Digital Impact stories that I encourage you all to share far and wide.
I also look forward to your contributions to the final meeting of the TDAG working group on the Future of Study Group Questions at the TDAG 2025 taking place in the next few days, and of course at WTDC-25 in November.
Finally, I would like to share my great appreciation for the work of the entire ITU-D Study Group 1 management team and our Vice Chairs, Rapporteurs and Vice Rapporteurs.
The expertise you have all contributed is of the utmost significance in our joint effort to meaningfully connect the world.
Thank you!
