Our host, Clinical Professor Sarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, Chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand,
Dr. Masanori Kondo, Secretary General of the APT,
Our partners,
Distinguished delegates,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is my honour to welcome you to the Regional Development Forum for Asia and the Pacific 2026.
On behalf of ITU, I extend our profound gratitude to the Royal Thai Government and the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission for hosting this Forum with their characteristic warmth, hospitality, and professionalism. I also acknowledge our colleagues from the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, whose Forum preceded ours, demonstrating our shared commitment to regional collaboration.
We gather in Bangkok at a pivotal moment. The Baku Action Plan, adopted at WTDC-25, charts our course through 2029 with five Regional Initiatives that address this region's most pressing needs:
- Addressing the special needs of LDCs, SIDS, and LLDCs
- Harnessing ICTs for inclusive and sustainable digital transformation
- Fostering infrastructure development to connect the unconnected
- Enabling an innovative and sustainable ICT sector
- Supporting a safe, secure, and resilient digital environment
These are not merely aspirations. They are our collective commitments to the 2.2 billion people worldwide who remain offline—and to the millions across this region still waiting for meaningful connectivity.
The theme of this Forum—"Universal, meaningful, and affordable connectivity for an inclusive and sustainable digital future"—reflects our shared understanding. Connectivity is no longer a luxury. It is the foundation upon which we build resilient economies, inclusive societies, and sustainable development.
The 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development recently reminded us of our progress on SDG 9—Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure—and the work that remains. We must accelerate our efforts to ensure that digital transformation leaves no one behind.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Partner2Connect Digital Coalition remains our most powerful mechanism for turning commitments into concrete outcomes.
This Forum features dedicated matchmaking sessions designed to connect specific country and regional needs with partners who can deliver. I call upon all stakeholders—Member States, private sector, development partners, and academia—to move beyond pledges into action. The time for dialogue has passed; the time for delivery is now.
Over the next two days, we will discuss, deliberate, and decide. We will share best practices, forge new partnerships, and reaffirm our collective resolve to build a digitally inclusive Asia-Pacific.
Let us make this Forum a milestone on our journey toward a future where every person—regardless of geography, gender, or circumstance—can participate in and benefit from the digital revolution.
I must add that it is significant that this region leads when it comes to triangular cooperation. We have forged sustainable partnerships with countries and Sector members in this region for the betterment of lives across developing countries and in particular in the LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS.
I thank you.
