Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Statements at the
G20 Leaders' Summit, Johannesburg Expo Centre, South Africa
[As prepared for delivery]
Session One: Inclusive and sustainable economic growth leaving no one behind
Excellencies,
In every G20 nation and beyond, the biggest economic gains occur when people can meaningfully access digital tools to learn, do business, and participate safely and confidently in the global economy.
Yet 2.2 billion people remain offline.
Billions more cannot afford to unlock their full economic potential amid tightening budgets and rising debt burdens.
That is why closing the 1.6 trillion USD digital infrastructure investment gap and ensuring universal, meaningful connectivity is essential.
South Africa has put this vision at the heart of its G20 Presidency.
ITU has proudly contributed as a knowledge partner to the Digital Economy Working Group, AI Task Force and Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction, and to the Space Economy Leaders Meeting ꟷ supporting knowledge products on shared priorities, from digital inclusion and digital public infrastructure to AI capacity building, and from space communications to Early Warnings for All.
Because while digital can drive inclusive, sustainable economic growth, it can also save lives.
Excellencies,
Nelson Mandela called technology “the single most powerful tool we have for human progress."
As the UN (United Nations) specialized agency for digital technologies, ITU will continue supporting the G20 in making meaningful connectivity the cornerstone of shared prosperity for all.
Session Three: A fair and just future for all
Excellencies,
AI is fueling a global market worth trillions.
Yet even amid unprecedented economic growth ꟷ too many are being left behind.
Worldwide, including here in unstoppable Africa, youth are brimming with digital ambition and talent.
And yet many countries lack access to high bandwidth connectivity to compute capacity, or to innovation ecosystems driven by education, skilled workers and decent jobs.
Just 16 per cent of nations possess large-scale compute facilities, while entire continents have almost none.
This concentration of resources is defining who benefits from AI and who is left behind.
The risk of a rapidly growing AI divide is real.
A concern I hear over and over in conversations with Member States.
I urge all of you in this room to do more.
Because despite all odds, I believe we can be optimistic.
African-led AI solutions ꟷ from maternal health support ꟷ to precision agriculture, these solutions are delivering life-changing solutions where it matters most.
But they need your support. And in the words of President von der Leyen: Now is the moment.
Guided by the priorities reflected in the Leaders' Declaration of a fair and just AI future for all.
International AI cooperation will be crucial in realizing this vision ꟷ building on momentum from key Summits in Paris, Cape Town, and New Delhi's upcoming AI Impact Summit in February.
Excellencies,
Next year the UN Secretary General's Global Dialogue for AI Governance, happening alongside the ITU AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, is another critical opportunity to transform your vision into reality.
ITU is laser focused on three foundational blocks of that responsible AI future: Capacity development, standards, and multistakeholder dialogue.
In the spirit of “ubun-tu", we stand ready to support your efforts to build an AI economy (and in your words President Ramaphosa) where innovation serves humanity and where technology becomes a bridge for shared prosperity.
