Connectivity, Meaningful Access and Inclusive Growth in Developing Countries

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS) in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

Session 236

09:00–10:45, Monday, 12 June 2017 Room C2, ITU Tower Thematic Workshop

Remote Participation

Virtual Meeting Room Recording Webcast

Remote Participation Information

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Whether it’s in the underpinning infrastructure for economic and social progress or in providing tools for programmes in sectors such as health, safety and disaster relief or education, the value of ICTs and the Internet cannot be understated. This value has only grown with time, due to ongoing innovations that continue to improve technology, increase bandwidth, and enable new services, business models, and investments. These developments are transforming every organization, institution, community, and help to accelerate the achievement of the development agenda for 2030, and further the WSIS Action lines for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

This workshop seeks to provide speakers and attendees with an integrated view of the lessons learned from local and regional projects aimed at advancing the development agenda by enhancing connectivity, adopting digital technologies, and encouraging public/private partnerships and investments. By exploring the opportunities and challenges developing countries face while implementing these projects, participants will exchange experiences and share perspectives on related dialogues taken up in various policy arenas.

A number of representatives of governments, business, civil society and technical community, especially from developing countries, will participate in an interactive panel discussion on furthering the WSIS Action Lines. Panelists will share their experience in leading / cooperating on projects to expand connectivity and adopt digital technologies. Discussion will outline creative and collaborative solutions to social and economic issues that foster inclusive growth and ensure deployment and development of digital technologies that address developing country needs.

Moderator

Mr Virat Bhatia, Vice-Chair, ICC Commission on the Digital Economy and President IEA, South Asia Region, AT&T

Speakers/Panellists

Ms Veronica Boateng, Director of Applications, National Information Technology Agency, Ghana
Mr Michael Ilishebo, Cybersecurity Expert (Law Enforcement Officer), Zambia Police Service
Distinguished representative of the Government of India
Ms Carolina Rossini, Public Policy Manager, Global Public Policy, Facebook
Mr Mongi Marzoug, Vice President, Internet and Sustainable Energy Governance, Orange
Ms Ritu Srivastava, Assistant General Manager, Research & Advocacy, Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF)
Ms Jennifer Chung, Director of Corporate Knowledge, DotAsia Organization
Mr Torbjörn Fredriksson, Chief, ICT Analysis Section, UNCTAD

Session's link to WSIS Action Lines

C1. The role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
C2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-government
C7. ICT Applications: E-business
C7. ICT Applications: E-learning
C7. ICT Applications: E-health
C7. ICT Applications: E-employment
C7. ICT Applications: E-environment
C7. ICT Applications: E-agriculture
C7. ICT Applications: E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C11. International and regional cooperation

The workshop is directly related to a number of WSIS Action Lines, especially on access to ICT and ICT applications.

The workshop will contribute to the WSIS forum mandate of taking stock of the progress made on the WSIS Action Lines since their adoption in 2005 by convening an interactive discussion where speakers and attendees can have an integrated view of the lessons learned from local and regional projects aimed at advancing the above-mentioned Action Lines by enhancing connectivity, adopting digital technologies, and encouraging public/private partnerships and investments.

Session's link to Sustainable Development Process

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

This workshop will be directly related to the sustainable development process as it will provide an important discussion on how the use of ICT can support development and highlight the ways in which stakeholders can work together to advance progress on action lines to expand connectivity and further adoption of digital technologies.

Discussion will outline creative and collaborative solutions to social and economic issues that foster inclusive growth and facilitate deployment and development of digital technologies that are responsive to developing country needs.

Links

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WSIS Forum 2017

Session 236 — Connectivity, Meaningful Access and Inclusive Growth in Developing Countries | Monday 12 June, 09:00–10:45