Name: WSIS Forum 2026
Start: 2026-07-06T07:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-10T23:00:00+02:00
Location: Palexpo

Ministerial Roundtable

WSIS

Session 479

Ministers only Thursday, 9 July 2026 ∼ 10:00–12:00 (UTC+02:00) Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation Room B, Palexpo Interpretation: EN/FR/AR/ZH/ES/RU Ministerial Round Table

Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin Secretary-General International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Mr. Tomas Lamanauskas Deputy Secretary-General International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Mr. Mario Maniewicz Director, Radiocommunication Bureau International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Mr. Seizo Onoe Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

H.E. Mr. Raafat Hendy Minister Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Egypt WSIS High-Level Event 2026 Chair Designate

H.E. Mr. Sid Ali Zerrouki Minister Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Algeria

H.E. Mr. Alexander Pröll State Secretary, responsible for digitalisation, constitutional affairs, the public service, coordination and combating antisemitism Austrian Federal Chancellery, Austria

H.E. Sh. Ahmed bin Isa bin Duaij Al Khalifa Assistant Undersecretary for Telecommunications Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, Kingdom of Bahrain

Sh. Ahmed bin Isa Al Khalifa serves as Assistant Undersecretary for Telecommunications at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, bringing 16 years of specialized experience in the telecommunications sector and ICT project management.

Sh. Ahmed holds a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University College of Bahrain.

He has progressed through several vital responsibilities, primarily within the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), where he served as an ICT Projects Specialist, Manager of ICT, and Head of External Affairs, leading up to his current senior leadership position.

His professional achievements include leading and supervising strategic initiatives and projects to enhance the telecommunications infrastructure and international cooperation in the sector. His professional activity is also highlighted by his membership on the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Internet Exchange (BIX), where he contributed to the development and strengthening of the Kingdom's digital connectivity.

H.E. Mr. Jonathan Reid Minister Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology, Barbados

H.E. Dr. Vandeth Chea Minister Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Cambodia

H.E. Mr. Lecheng Li Minister Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China

H.E. Mr. Alonso Zeledón Vice Minister Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications, Costa Rica

H.E. Ms. Mayra Arevich Ministra Ministerio de Comunicaciones , Cuba

H.E. Ms. Marie Chatardova Deputy Minister Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Czech Republic

H.E. Mr. Georgios Komodromos Deputy Minister, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Cyprus

H.E. Mr. Honorato Evita Oma Minister Ministerio de Transportes, Correos y Nuevas Tecnologias de Informacion y Comunicacion, Equatorial Guinea

H.E. Ms. Liisa Pakosta Minister Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs of Respublic of Estonia, Estonia

H.E. Mr. Mark-Alexandre Doumba Ministre Ministère de l’Économie Numérique, de la Digitalisation et de l’Innovation, Gabon

H.E. Ms. Tamar Ioseliani Deputy Minister Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia , Georgia

H.E. Mr. Samuel Nartey George Minister Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Ghana

H.E. Mr. Joseph Almathe Pierre-Louis Ministre Ministère Des Travaux Publics, Transports et Communication, Haiti

H.E. Mr. Kirti Vardhan Singh Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Government of India, India

H.E. Ms. Meutya Hafid Minister Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs, Indonesia

H.E. Dr. MohammadMohsen Sadr Deputy Minister of ICT and Head of the Information Technology Organization of Iran (ITO) Information Technology Organization of Iran (ITO), Iran

H.E. Mr. Mustafa Jabbar Sanad Minister of Communications Ministry of Communications of the Republic of Iraq, Iraq

H.E. Ms. Niamh Smyth Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Ireland

H.E. Dr. Takuo IMAGAWA Vice-Minister Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Silver Partner

H.E. Eng. Sami Smeirat Minister Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Jordan

H.E. Mr. Kyeongman Kim Deputy Minister at the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy Ministry of Science and ICT, Korea Supporting Partner

H.E. Dr. Kamal Shehadi Minister of Displaced and Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Ministry of Displaced and Ministry of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence of the Republic of Lebanon, Lebanon

H.E. Mr. Abdlbaset Albaour Chairman General Authority of communication and informatics , Libya

H.E. Mr. Darius Zailskas Vice-Minister of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania Ministry of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania, Lithuania

H.E. Mr. Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil Minister Ministry of Communications, Malaysia Platinum Partner

H.E. Mr. Alhamdou AG Ilyène Ministre Ministre, Ministère de la Communication, de l'Économie numérique et de la Modernisation de l'Administration, Mali

H.E. Ms. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni Minister Delegate to the Head of Government Ministry of Digital Transition and Administation Reform, Morocco

H.E. Dr. Bosun Tijani Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nigeria

H.E. Dr. Ali Al Shidhani Vice Minister Ministry of Transport, Communications & Information Technology, Oman

H.E. Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Pakistan Ministry for Information Technology and Telecommunication

H.E. Mr. Henry Aguda Secretary Department of Information and Communications Technology, Philippines

Mr. Rafał Rosiński Undersecretary of State Ministry of Digital Affairs, Poland

Ms. Mashael Al Hammadi Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Government Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Qatar

H.E. Mr. Grigoriy Borisenko Deputy Minister Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, Russian Federation

H.E. Eng. Haitham Alohaly Governor Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST), Saudi Arabia Gold Partner

H.E. Mr. Samba Diouf Minister Ministère de la Communnication, des Télécommunications et du Numérique, Senegal

Mr. Slaviša Antić State Secretary Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, Serbia

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Adam Moalim Minister Ministry of Communications and Technology, Somalia

H.E. Mr. Solly Malatsi Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), South Africa

H.E. Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny Minister Ministry of Information, Communication Technoogy and Postal Services, South Sudan

H.E. Mr. Óscar López Águeda Minister Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, Spain

Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy Ministry of Digital Economy, Sri Lanka

H.E. Eng. Ahmed Gandour Minister Ministry of Digital Transformation and Telecommunications, Sudan

H.E. Ms. Angellah Jasmine Mbelwa Kairuki Minister Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Tanzania

H.E. Mr. Chaichanok Chidchob Minister Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, Thailand

H.E. Mr. Lord Fakafanua The Prime Minister of Tonga and Minister Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change, Communications and CERT, Tonga

H.E. Mr. Dominic Smith Minister Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, Trinidad and Tobago

H.E. Dr. Mustapha Ferjani Minister of Health of the Republic of Tunisia Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tunisia, Tunisia

H.E. Dr. Ömer Fatih Sayan Deputy Minister Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Türkiye

H.E. Mr. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar Director General Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, United Arab Emirates

Ms. Arielle Roth Administrator National Telecommunications and Information Administration, United States

H.E. Mr. Sherzod Shermatov Minister Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan

H.E. Ms. Raffaella Petrini President Governorate of Vatican City State, Vatican

H.E. Ms. Tatenda Annastacia Mavetera Minister Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Zimbabwe

Mr. Paul Gaskell Deputy Director, Trade, Internet Governance and Digital Standards Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, United Kingdom

Topics

5G Technology Artificial Intelligence Big Data Blockchain Capacity Building Cloud Computing Cultural Diversity Cybersecurity Digital Divide Digital Economy Digital Inclusion Digital Skills Digital Transformation Education Emerging Technologies Environment Ethics Global Digital Compact (GDC) Health Human Rights Infrastructure Machine Learning Media Smart Cities WSIS+20 Review

WSIS Action Lines

C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
C2. Information and communication infrastructure
C3. Access to information and knowledge
C4. Capacity building
C5. Building confidence and security in use of ICTs
C6. Enabling environment
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-government
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-business
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-health
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-employment
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-environment
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-agriculture
C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-science
C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
C9. Media
C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
C11. International and regional cooperation

Sustainable Development Goals

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 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
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 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

GDC Objectives

Objective 1: Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
Objective 2: Expand inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy for all
Objective 3: Foster an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space that respects, protects and promotes human rights
Objective 4: Advance responsible, equitable and interoperable data governance approaches
Objective 5: Enhance international governance of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity