At ITU Telecom World Bangkok 2016, leaders underlined the role played by digital technologies in empowering economies.
Today’s discussions highlighted the role played by the small and medium enterprises (SME) in the digital ecosystem and discussed the need to collaborate effectively with specific focus on SME.
Houlin Zhao, secretary-general, ITU, said, “Within the ICT industry, it is the innovative small and medium enterprises – tech SMEs – that are key to industry disruption, to job creation, and to the technological innovations that are taking the industry forward.”
Event video highlights:
Accelerating digital innovation for social impact
Integrating digital markets: new building blocks to regional integration
Connectivity goals: the reality of reaching everyone by 2020 – and why it matters so much
Korea Telecom: Paving the road to 5G era
Scaling ICT entrepreneurship for social impact: nurturing high-growth firms in the ICT sector
Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister, Luxembourg, spoke of the transformation currently underway in this digital era, and the tremendous potential impact which we cannot afford to miss. “None of us can afford to miss the train. In Luxembourg we consider impact of digital as a huge opportunity to create value and make the world a better place.”
Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, Prime Minister and Minister responsible for ICT and Telecommunications, Vanuat, added “We value learning from experiences of other countries, and note synergies and cost efficiencies that could be achieved in designing, implementing, or advocating certain initiatives on a regional or international level.”
Crown Prince Tupoutoʻaʻ Ulukalala of the Kingdom of Tonga outlined the importance of inspiring collaboration, saying, “This annual flagship event has inspired Tonga as the first Pacific country to liberalize its telecoms sector in 2002. In a short time the benefits were realized.”
Prajin Juntong, Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Kingdom of Thailand, spoke of taking inspiration from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s many innovative ICT projects and legacy, ensuring that “ICT is not for those who can afford it but we must allow those who are most in need to benefit from it to not be left behind.”
Mukhisa Kituyi, secretary-general, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) commended the unique strengths of the event, providing dialogue between international organizations and the private sector to “collectively identify opportunities and challenges.”
Commending ITU as a “platform to manage the emerging digital ecosystem,” Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, director general of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), United Arab Emirates, challenged delegates, with questions such as, “Can we ignore the value of collaboration?” or “Are we making sure we are applying enough innovation?”
