Manama, Arab ministers responsible for the telecommunications and information technology (ICT) sector today convened in Bahrain at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Development Forum for the Arab Region (RDF-ARB).
The two-day forum is organised by ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) for Arab States and hosted by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications.
In his speech, Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications said the forum is one of the outcomes of Bahrain’s cooperation with the ITU, aiming to build a sustainable digital economy through digitisation, enhance security and privacy, develop digital infrastructure for smart cities and communities and develop capacity building in digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
He said that the ministry supported global partnership seeking to consolidate the role of communications and information technology in economic development, noting its effective contribution to driving the growth of other sectors.
Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, the Director of BDT expressed his thanks to Bahrain for hosting the forum, highlighting its significance as a platform for cooperation and digital transformation, contributing to sustainable development goals (SDGs) through the Kigali Action Plan and regional initiatives.
The forum discussed the ITU outcomes and regional initiatives for the Arab region, as well as the needs of member states. It also reviewed partner pledges within the Digital Alliance, which has collected over 800 pledges thus far.
The forum includes a special session for the Arab Network of Women (NoW), showcasing ITU’s work and promoting networking opportunities for women in the communications sector.
The Minister met with his Somalia and Sudanese counterparts and discussed opportunities and support mechanisms in ICT fields.
Source: Bahrain News Agency