WSIS Forum 2023 Hackathon - Digital GovHack

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Good morning, good afternoon, good evening and welcome to this High-Level Dialogue to prepare for the WSIS Forum 2023 hackathon- DigitalGovHack. Let me start by thanking Mr Almadhi, CEO of Innovation & Emerging Technology Center of the Digital Government Authority of Saudi Arabia, for his collaboration on this worldwide online hackathon to advance the digital economy by leveraging emerging technologies. I am pleased that since its start on 23rd of October, the DigitalGovHack has gathered more than 750 registered participants from around the world!

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been a great supporter of the WSIS process, since its inception, for which we are extremely grateful.

Digital Transformation is a strategic focus now for most public and private organizations. Countries are looking to digital government strategies and technologies to “transform" themselves and the way they do business, to improve how to operate, how to deliver public services, how to engage stakeholders and how to provide impactful citizen centric solutions leaving no one behind. 

To help these efforts, the ITU GovStack initiative​ aims to develop specifications for reusable software components called “building blocks” that can inform design in various e-government services. Successful e-government requires public, private, and civil society organizations to work together and so the initiative is open to all stakeholders. Information can be found on the ITU website.

Following the request from WSIS stakeholders, this year’s WSIS Forum 2023, starting on 13 March, will include in addition to the DigitalGov hackathon, a series of initiatives around digital public services, including:

I invite all you to contribute to these efforts to make government services more citizen orientated, and good luck to all the hackathon participants!

Thank you.​