The Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) for the Asia-Pacific region was held from 21 to 23 March in Bali, Indonesia. Participants at the meeting assessed the ongoing implementation of the Dubai Action Plan adopted at ITU's last World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-14) and proposed priority areas for information and communication technology (ICT) development strategies in the Asia and the Pacific region.
The Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) was the fifth of a series of RPMs that are taking place across the world to help identify priorities in each region in preparation for the next World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-17). Previous RPMs were held in the Commonwealth of Independent States (9-11 November 2016); Africa (6-8 December 2016); Arab States (30 January-1 February 2017) and the Americas (22-24 February 2017).
WTDC-17, which will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 9 to 20 October 2017, will forge a global plan for telecommunication and ICT development over the next four years.
"I believe that our ultimate aim is crystal clear," said Hasan Kleib, Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and Ambassador and Permanent Representative-Designate of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations, WTO, and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland. "We have to enhance the capacity of the developing world in bridging the digital divide and use ICT as a solution as well as a tool to increase human development and achievements," he said, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Communication and Information Technology.
"The Regional Preparatory Meeting helps to achieve regional coordination in preparation for WTDC-17 and identify issues at the regional level that need to be addressed, taking into account the needs of the Member States and Sector Members of the region," said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.
Five draft regional initiatives for Asia and the Pacific Region for the years 2018-2021 were proposed. They include:
- Addressing special needs of least developed countries, small island developing states, including Pacific island countries, and landlocked developing countries
- Harnessing ICTs to support the digital economy and an inclusive digital society
- Fostering development of infrastructure to enhance digital connectivity
- Enabling policy and regulatory environments
- Contributing to a secure and resilient ICT ecosystem
Farida Dwi Cahyarini, Secretary-General, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) of the Republic of Indonesia and Chairman of the RPM, stressed the importance of the meeting and said that "Indonesia is committed to support ITU's goals to proliferation of access to connectivity, bridging digital divide, and Regional Initiatives."
"The Regional Initiatives proposed at this RPM will be crucial drivers to the attainment of sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific Region," said Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. "I look forward to the next WTDC, when we will review our results and accomplishments and define our way forward with new and innovative ways to meet our objectives and accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals."
The RPM for Asia and the Pacific Region was preceded by the Regional Development Forum (RDF). Speakers at the opening ceremony included Douglas Broderick, Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia, and Brahima Sanou.
At the RDF, participants shared their experiences and insights on the role that ICTs play in achieving the SDGs, with a focus on the Regional Initiatives, the importance of research and innovation and ways to stimulate innovation for the digital economy.
The next Regional Preparatory Meeting will be for the Europe Region and will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania from 27 to 28 April 2017. It will be preceded by the Regional Development Forum for Europe on 26 April 2017.
