Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) 2021
ITU-USTTI Emerging Technologies Accelerating The Digital Transformation Process
Welcome Remarks
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director
ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
21 June 2021
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening everyone,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the second edition— back by popular demand— of the virtual ITU-USTTI GSR training session on emerging technologies.
I wish to thank Jim O'Connor, a friend and long-standing partner in ICT capacity building development programmes, for bringing together such an esteemed group of speakers to share their knowledge on the latest emerging technology trends and their impact on market developments and regulation.
As you all know very well, COVID-19 has shown the world the power of connectivity and reinforced the need to accelerate digital transformation across all sectors.
While digital is the new normal for many, 49%, nearly half of the world's population, has no internet connectivity.
Digital technologies are increasingly critical for public sector services such as education, transport, and health, and play a vital role for example in monitoring, disease control and medical research, among numerous other uses.
Emerging technologies can be a game-changer especially in the lives of communities in developing and least developed countries. So how can we make that happen and generate those tangible dividends for those communities that need it most?
We urgently need to work together to ensure emerging technologies are trustworthy, inclusive and human-centred, with well-being and safety as primary considerations in their design, development and deployment.
You will hear from Ms Aminata Garba, our Senior Coordinator on Technology matters about our new series on emerging technology trends, which is designed to support policymakers and other stakeholders in developing countries to craft a national AI and data strategy for deployment, as well as on our upcoming event on Emerging Technology for Connectivity, from 5 to 9 July 2021. The focus will be on Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States.
Let's always remember that technology is not an end in itself, but a tool to improve our world.
I look forward to hearing from our experts as we strive to connect the unconnected, work to reduce digital inequalities, and leverage emerging technologies to accelerate digital transformation and close the digital divide.
I wish you a good session!
