(Interactive Dialogue 3) Summit of the Future – General Assembly, 79th session

Summary

This interactive dialogue focused on shaping a common digital future and bridging digital divides through inclusive innovation and cooperation. Participants emphasized the transformative potential of digital technologies in achieving sustainable development goals, while also acknowledging the challenges of unequal access and potential risks.

Key themes included the need to expand digital infrastructure and connectivity, especially in underserved areas and developing countries. Many speakers stressed the importance of digital skills training and education to ensure populations can fully participate in and benefit from the digital economy. The gender digital divide was highlighted as a particular concern requiring targeted efforts.

Discussions touched on the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence, with calls for ethical governance frameworks and international cooperation on AI development. Cybersecurity and online safety, particularly for vulnerable groups like women and children, were identified as critical issues requiring policy attention.

Several speakers emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, involving governments, private sector, civil society, and international organizations in shaping digital policies and initiatives. The need for flexible financing mechanisms to support digital development in low-resource settings was also noted.

The Global Digital Compact, adopted as part of the Pact for the Future, was welcomed as a landmark agreement providing a framework for digital cooperation. Participants stressed the importance of moving from commitments to concrete implementation actions to realize an inclusive, rights-based digital future that leaves no one behind.

Keypoints

Major discussion points:

– Bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to digital technologies

– Leveraging digital technologies and AI to accelerate sustainable development

– Promoting digital literacy, skills development, and capacity building

– Ensuring online safety, security, and human rights protections in the digital space

– Fostering international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships on digital issues

The overall purpose of this discussion was to explore ways to create an inclusive, sustainable and equitable digital future for all, in line with the newly adopted Global Digital Compact. Participants shared perspectives on leveraging digital technologies to advance sustainable development while addressing challenges like the digital divide.

The tone of the discussion was largely optimistic and forward-looking, with speakers emphasizing the transformative potential of digital technologies. However, there was also a sense of urgency in addressing digital inequalities and risks. The tone became more action-oriented towards the end, with calls to translate the Global Digital Compact into concrete implementation.

Speakers

Moderators/Facilitators:

– Mohamed Muizzu (President of Maldives) – Co-chair

– Alar Karis (President of Estonia) – Co-chair

Speakers:

– Doreen Bogdan-Martin (Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union)

– Juan M. Lavista Ferres (Corporate VP and Chief Data Scientist, AI for Good Lab at Microsoft)

– Linda Bonyo (Founder of Lawyers Hub)

– Dimitar Glavchev (Bulgaria)

– Xavier Espot Zamora (Andorra)

– Edi Rama (Albania)

– Patrice Emery Trovoada (Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe)

– Jonas Gahr Støre (Prime Minister of Norway)

– Micheál Martin (Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Ireland)

– Saleumxay Kommasith (Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos)

– Esther Dweck (Minister of Management and Innovation in Public Services of Brazil)

– Pavel Isa Contreras (Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Dominican Republic)

– D.N. Dhungyel (Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Bhutan)

РAminata Zerbo-Saban̩ (Minister of Digital Transition, Post and Electronic Communications, Burkina Faso)

– Ville Tavio (Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Finland)

– Abdullah Alswaha (Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Saudi Arabia)

– Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (Minister of Communication and Digitalization, Ghana)

– Savannah Maziya (Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Eswatini)

РMaria da Gra̤a Carvalho (Minister of Environment and Energy, Portugal)

– Omran Sharaf (Assistant Minister for Science and Advanced Technology Affairs, UAE)

– Alexey Borisov (Representative of Russian Federation)

– Charlotta Schlyter (ECOSOC Ambassador, Sweden)

– Amanuel Giorgio (Councillor, Deputy PM Representative, Eritrea)

– Ismaila Ceesay (Minister of Information, Communication and Digital Economy, Gambia)

– Birgit Stevens (Director for UN and Francophone, Belgium Ministry for Foreign Affairs)

Representatives from various international organizations and NGOs also spoke.

Closing Remarks:

– Amandeep Singh Gill (UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology)

The speakers represented a diverse range of expertise including government leadership, technology, telecommunications, law, economics, foreign affairs, and various aspects of digital development and policy.

Expanded Summary of Interactive Dialogue on Shaping a Common Digital Future

Introduction

This interactive dialogue, co-chaired by Mohamed Muizzu, President of Maldives, and Alar Karis, President of Estonia, brought together a diverse group of participants including government leaders, technology experts, representatives from international organisations, and civil society to discuss shaping a common digital future and bridging digital divides through inclusive innovation and cooperation. The dialogue was framed by the recently adopted Global Digital Compact, which provides a framework for digital cooperation and development.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Bridging the Digital Divide

A central focus of the dialogue was the urgent need to address the digital divide, with President Muizzu highlighting that over one-third of the global population remains disconnected from the internet, particularly in developing countries. Speakers emphasised various approaches to tackle this issue:

– Expanding connectivity infrastructure (Mohamed Muizzu)

– Investing in digital skills and literacy, such as Ghana’s Girls in ICT Trust (Ursula Owusu-Ekuful)

– Promoting inclusive innovation for underserved areas (Ismaila Ceesay)

– Leveraging public-private partnerships (Abdullah Alswaha)

– Addressing gender gaps in technology access and skills (Birgit Stevens)

2. Harnessing Digital Technologies for Sustainable Development

Participants highlighted the transformative potential of digital technologies in achieving sustainable development goals. Key areas of focus included:

– Using AI and digital tools to address climate change (Jonas Gahr Støre)

– Digitalisation of public services for efficiency and transparency (Edi Rama)

– Leveraging digital finance for financial inclusion (Esther Dweck)

– Adopting digital solutions for agriculture and food security (Juan M. Lavista Ferres)

– Implementing digital health solutions, such as Saudi Arabia’s virtual hospital model (Abdullah Alswaha)

3. Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

Speakers discussed the potential of AI and other emerging technologies to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, while also acknowledging associated challenges:

– Developing ethical frameworks for AI governance (UNESCO)

– Balancing innovation with responsible AI development (Charlotta Schlyter)

– Addressing potential risks and unintended consequences of AI deployment

– Ensuring AI benefits are equitably distributed across societies

4. Ensuring a Safe and Inclusive Digital Space

Speakers emphasised the importance of creating a secure and inclusive digital environment, addressing concerns such as:

РProtecting against online harms, especially for women and children (Aminata Zerbo-Saban̩)

– Combating misinformation and promoting information integrity, including the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity (United Nations Department of Global Communications)

– Safeguarding privacy and data protection (Dimitar Glavchev)

– Promoting digital rights and freedoms (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance)

5. Fostering Digital Innovation and Cooperation

Participants stressed the importance of international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships in addressing digital challenges. Key points included:

– Developing digital public infrastructure and goods, such as Bhutan’s national digital identity initiative (D.N. Dhungyel)

– Promoting open source and interoperable solutions (Alar Karis)

– Enhancing international cooperation on digital issues (Charlotta Schlyter)

– Supporting digital entrepreneurship and startups (Linda Bonyo)

– Facilitating knowledge sharing and technology transfer (D.N. Dhungyel)

The Global Digital Compact

Many speakers highlighted the significance of the Global Digital Compact as a framework for addressing digital challenges and opportunities. Key aspects of the GDC discussed included:

– Its holistic approach to digital development and governance

– Focus on bending technology to serve the public interest

– Emphasis on multi-stakeholder cooperation and implementation

– Potential to accelerate progress towards the SDGs through digital means

Key Takeaways and Action Items

The dialogue resulted in several key takeaways and action items:

– Adoption of the Global Digital Compact as a framework for digital cooperation and AI governance

– Establishment of a Global Digital Dialogue on AI Governance

– Creation of a Scientific Panel on AI

– Launch of an AI Capacity Building Fund

– Commitment to develop digital skills training programs, particularly for underserved communities

– Pledge to invest in digital infrastructure to expand connectivity in developing countries

– Emphasis on creating inclusive AI development processes

Unresolved Issues and Future Considerations

Despite the progress made, several issues remain unresolved and require further attention:

– Specific mechanisms for financing digital infrastructure development in low-income countries

– Detailed frameworks for ethical AI development and deployment across different contexts

– Concrete measures to address the gender gap in technology access and skills

– Strategies to ensure AI benefits are equitably distributed and do not exacerbate existing inequalities

– Methods to effectively combat online misinformation and protect information integrity globally

– Balancing innovation with data protection and privacy concerns in diverse cultural contexts

Conclusion

In his closing remarks, Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, emphasised that the Global Digital Compact represents a breakthrough for implementation. He stressed the need to go beyond silos and institutions, working across geography, levels, sectors, and actors to implement the GDC effectively. Gill highlighted the GDC’s holistic approach and its focus on bending technology to the public interest as key strengths. This call for a new threshold of multi-stakeholder cooperation set the stage for future action and continued collaboration in realising an inclusive, sustainable, and equitable digital future for all.

Mohamed Muizzu: Excellencies, distinguished delegates, distinguished participants, I call to order Interactive Dialogue 3, entitled Towards a Common Digital Future, Strengthening Inclusive Innovation and Cooperation to Bridge the Digital Divides. I’m delighted and honoured to co-chair this interactive dialogue together with my esteemed co-chair, His Excellency Alar Karis , President of Estonia, and we warmly welcome all of you participating in this dialogue this morning. This dialogue brings together member states and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the theme, Towards a Common Digital Future, Strengthening Inclusive Innovation and Cooperation to Bridge the Digital Divides, in accordance with the concept note circulated online on 14 August by the President of the General Assembly, and in keeping with the terms of Assembly Resolution 76, Oblique 307, on the modalities for the summit of the future, and Decision 77, Oblique 568, on the scope of the summit. Joining us on the podium today are Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union, Mr. Juan M. Lavista Ferres, Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist of the AI for Good Lab at Microsoft, and Ms. Linda Bonyo, Founder of the Lawyers Hub, who will join the co-chairs in setting the scene for this dialogue. Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill, United Nations Secretary-General’s envoy on technology, will deliver closing remarks. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, distinguished participants, I now have the pleasure to invite my fellow co-chair, His Excellency Alar Karis, President of Estonia, to make some introductory remarks.

Alar Karis: Thank you, Chair. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, distinguished participants, the theme of this dialogue resonates deeply with my country’s journey and our deep commitment to exploiting digital technologies for the betterment of society. Estonia has focused on digital innovation to accelerate the fulfillment of sustainable development goals, to bridge digital divides, and to empower all individuals. Our success story, if I can humbly say, is a great reminder of how digital technologies can transform a society, any society. Because of our difficult history, we are now fully committed to transparency, openness, and innovation. It has allowed our economy, especially our start-up ecosystem, to flourish, made our public governance more efficient, accessible, and reliable. And it has certainly put our education, health care, tax, and election systems quality to a new level. All of this can be copied or shared if you embrace open source and interoperable solutions to make digital options adaptable and scalable. So that all countries can benefit. Estonia’s approach has been to build holistic digital public infrastructure that benefits both public and private sectors. One example of this is our data exchange platform, what we call X-Road. It enables us to securely exchange data between different actors, from private banks to public offices. Today, X-Road is implemented in over 20 countries around the world. X-Road, being developed and managed by the Nordic Institute of Interoperability Solutions, is also a great example of cross-border cooperation among states. It enables data exchange between Estonia, Finland, and Iceland. We believe in the benefit of co-creating, reusing, and co-developing already existing solutions to save resources and avoid duplication. It should be our common guiding principle to bridge the divides, whilst multistakeholder cooperation and partnerships, both domestically and globally, are the foundation of an open digital society. Cooperation is important to mobilize resources and to engage in capacity building. It is the fastest way to ensure that no one is left behind, especially in developing countries. And this is especially true when it comes to artificial intelligence that holds immense potential for accelerating the sustainable development goals. But we can all only leverage the benefits if all stakeholders are around the table. In conclusion, the journey towards a common digital future is something we must take together. And luckily, we now have a global digital compact to guide us. guide us on that journey. Estonia stands ready to continue sharing its experiences and working to ensure that digital technologies are exploited for the benefit of all. Thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank my esteemed co-chair for his statement. Allow me at this point to make a few personal national remarks as it relates to the theme of this dialogue. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, at the fourth international conference on seats earlier this year, I said the future is intelligence-driven. Since then, artificial intelligence has advanced at a pace that even experts struggle to keep up with. Yet, the pressing reality is that over one-third of the global population remains disconnected from the internet, particularly in developing countries. This digital divide is not only about access to internet. It is a profound barrier to development, opportunity, and justice. For SEADs, LDCs, and LLDCs, the digital divide exacerbates existing vulnerabilities. To bridge this divide and achieve the objectives of the Global Digital Compact, I urge all participants in this interactive dialogue to identify policies and actions that ensure no country, no one, is left behind. I would like to offer three suggestions. First, we must prioritize initiatives that empower young people to participate in the digital economy. In the Maldives, we are committed to investing in digital skilling and re-skilling to fuel local innovation and drive economic diversification, supporting MSMEs and freelance workers to gain access to global workforce and marketplaces. We believe that this will enable the youth to take the lead in digital transformation. Second, we must build the necessary digital infrastructure. Digital technologies and innovation are necessary to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We can achieve the SDGs by adopting best practices from both developing and developed countries. This includes investing in expanding high-speed Internet coverage, enhancing digital access to essential services, and integrating AI to boost productive capacity. In the Maldives, the National Center for Information Technology is undertaking several initiatives in these areas. We must also invest in capacity building, encourage technology transfer, and boost investment and financing towards these efforts. Third, as we embrace digitalization, we must safeguard consumer rights. Challenges related to unauthorized access, account hijacking, and data privacy are real. To address challenges in the Maldives, we have established the National Cyber Security Agency to address security concerns that arise in digitalization. We of course need resources for a resilient cybersecurity infrastructure to complement and support our own efforts. Ambitious actions in this area demand international cooperation, investment, and genuine partnerships. The Maldives is committed to building a digital world that is inclusive, resilient, and just. I look forward to hearing countries’ experiences, best practices, and challenges in this dialogue today. Together, we can harness the digital revolution towards our common future. Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I now have the pleasure to invite our distinguished special invitees to make some scene-setting remarks before we proceed to the list of speakers for this dialogue. I kindly remind them of the time limit of three minutes for statements. I first invite Ms. Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. We live in a world of unprecedented digital opportunities, a world where AI can mitigate 10% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, where about 60 satellites take to the skies on average each week, where digital ID can unlock economic value equivalent to up to 13% of GDP. In this world, game-changing digital solutions can accelerate 70% of the SDG targets. But it’s also a world where 2.6 billion people are still offline, where cyber attacks surge by 80% every year, where many, in particular women, can’t afford a smartphone because entry-level handsets exceed 70% of their monthly incomes in many countries, where only 24% of digital waste is formally collected, where 85% of ITU member states don’t yet have an AI policy. Ladies and gentlemen, behind these statistics are real people, like Luis, a young ALS patient who joined the AI for Good Global Summit last year. Luis lost his ability to speak, but not his voice, thanks to AI. And Brianna, who said that all children have the same rights when the Giga Initiative helped to connect her school to the Internet. Yesterday, the UNSG challenged us. He challenged us all to put humanity’s best interests front and center in new technologies. He reminded us that we will be judged not by our agreements but by our actions. ITU, as the UN Agency for Digital Technologies, stands ready to support the implementation of the Global Digital Compact. We back our words with actions, bold and collective actions. From the Giga Initiative, ITU and UNICEF, to connect every school to the Internet by 2030, to the early warnings for all initiative protecting the most vulnerable from climate change, to our new collaboration on standards to stop the spread of AI-driven misinformation and deepfakes. Excellencies, we are in a race against time. Let’s align digital inclusion with the pace of digital transformation. Let’s balance regulation with innovation. Let’s give everyone a seat and a voice at the table. This is the test before us, our greatest test ever. Our destiny is in our hands, and the digital future is now. Thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union. We will now hear from Mr. Juan Lavista-Ferres, Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist of the AI for Good Lab at Microsoft.

Juan M. Lavista Ferres: Thank you, Co-Chairs, Mr. Presidents, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, for the opportunity to join this important dialogue, All Protocols Observed. The challenges we face today are global and complex. No single government or organization can solve them alone. International cooperation is crucial. but equally important is the participation of civil society and the private sector. At Microsoft, we have seen how digital technology can drive progress towards sustainable development goals. But technology must be more than just powerful. It must be trustworthy, safe, and inclusive. It’s only when technology empowers everyone, especially the most vulnerable, that we can fully unlock its potential. These beliefs drive our efforts. This is why we have developed an open-source map of agricultural land to improve food security, offering vital insights into where food is grown and what crops are cultivated. In some areas, AI isn’t just a solution, but it’s the only solution. For instance, diabetic leuropathy is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. With 450 million people suffering from diabetes, but only 200,000 ophthalmologists globally, it’s impossible for doctors to diagnose every case. Here, AI offers a scalable solution that can transform healthcare and lives. We’re also proud to partner with the United Nations on early warning for all initiative. In natural disasters, every minute counts. Timely information can mean the difference between life and death. By combining satellite, AI, and human expertise, we have supported real-time relief efforts with partners like University of Washington, Institute of Health Metrics, and Planet Labs. But no early warning system can help the 2.6 billion people who remained unconnected. That’s why we have partnered with Doreen and her team at the ITU to map vulnerable, unconnected communities, ensuring everyone has access to emergency notifications. At Microsoft, we believe that benefits of AI and technology should extend to every part of the world. We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of the past, where general-purpose technology took too long to reach those who need it the most. Nearly 150 years after electricity was first introduced in New York, 750 million people still lack access to it, and a third of the world remains offline, including up to two-thirds of Africa. In the digital age, these delays are unacceptable. That’s why Microsoft is committed to making AI and technology accessible to all, especially in the global south. As part of our pledge to the ITU’s Partner to Connect initiative, we will bring high-speed Internet to 250 million people by 2025, including 100 million in Africa. This will connect more people to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities while promoting safe digital practice and fundamental rights. But connectivity alone isn’t enough. People need the skills to use AI effectively. That’s why, by 2025, we are committed to equipping 25 million people with AI skills, with a special focus on underserved communities, including 5 million women and individuals in the global south. As connectivity grows, we must also strengthen cybersecurity. Governments and tech companies must work together to create a safer digital world. Looking ahead, I hope the summit lays the foundation for a global framework for AI governance, with human rights as its core. At Microsoft, we remain committed to expanding access to digital infrastructure and skills, ensuring the benefits of AI reach everyone. Thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the Corporate Vice President and Chief Data Scientist of the AI for Good Lab at Microsoft. I now invite Ms. Linda Bonyo, founder of the Lawyers’ Hub, to make a statement.

Linda Bonyo: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Africa’s innovation performance has been amazing. We power content moderation online. If you have followed the news on artificial intelligence, Africa has constantly powered the very low-value chain on artificial intelligence. But no African country was ranked in the top 40 of the Global Innovation Index. Actually, the bottom 10 least innovative countries are all African. We still struggle with electricity, and this has been mentioned by Microsoft. But I would want to highlight today two matters that I think really should concern us. One is on the startup ecosystem. There’s a constant tussle and divide between big tech companies and startup ecosystems, and how to power local startup ecosystems to grow within our countries. At the Lawyers’ Hub, we welcome the global digital compact, especially on the commitments on empowering young people, empowering micro and small businesses within the digital economy. Secondly, in pursuit of this common digital future, we face the great issue of global mobility. Despite representing the vast majority of the world’s populations, professionals from Africa, Latin America, and Asia really face barriers when attempting to engage or participate in such global forums. We must confront the issue of visa regimes and mobility. Data cannot travel faster than human beings. I want to suggest today that, by contrast, if we look at the amount of monies that we are losing, especially for startup founders from the Global South who are looking to set up businesses, looking to fundraise, are losing all these monies in visa regimes and visa applications. This is something that we need to talk about. So what must we do to close the digital divide? Number one, we must close the data gap. Data has to be representative. It has to be black, it has to be white, it has to be Global North, and it has to be Global South. We recognize that the common data standards and interoperable data exchanges can increase the sharing of data and help close these data divides. Number two, we must have a holistic approach towards coordination to avoid duplicity, which is something that has been mentioned in the Global Digital Compact and hopeful that the UN institutions will be able to guide us in these policy dialogues. But then finally, on fostering open and inclusive non-discriminatory digital environments, we must be able to engage with small and medium businesses, especially start-ups, to look at how to deploy this. We also must deploy digital public infrastructure to close the digital divide, especially in the Global South. We have a youth bonus. Let us raise these digital natives that spar the continent, especially those in the Global South, out of poverty. And we also must avoid tokenism. When we talk about digital divide, we do not see commitments. There must be commitments that ensure that we do not have tokenisms. At the Lawyers’ Hub, we are working to bridge this divide, especially the digital policy divide, by running the Africa Digital Policy Institute and building the capacity of policymakers, lawyers, and bar associations to ensure that they ably participate and make regulations that close this digital divide. And finally, recently, we launched Africa’s first AI Policy Lab, with support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and this is geared towards ensuring that there is no data gap that will help us to get into policymaking. We are committed to developing digital policy talent across the African continent, and it is time for us to show up and ensure that we close the digital divide by actual commitments in digital policy. Thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the founder of the Lawyers’ Hub. At this point, I would like to invite my fellow co-chair to take over the chair.

Alar Karis: I thank my eminent co-chair, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, for his efficient manner in which he has guided our proceedings during the opening segment of this dialogue. Excellencies and distinguished delegates, before I open the floor, I would like to inform that all the statements are to be made from your seat. The time limit for statements is three minutes. minutes, and due to a limited time available, this will be strictly implemented through the automatic microphone cutoff when the speaker’s allotted time elapses. The red light on the speaker’s microphone will start to blink 30 seconds before the end of the allotted speaker’s time of three minutes, and the microphone will be automatically shut down. I thank all speakers in advance for their cooperation. In the interest of time, delegations with long statements are strongly encouraged to deliver summarized versions of a statement and to submit the full text to estatements at UN.org to be posted in the UN journal as part of a record of our proceedings. I now open the floor for statements by delegations inscribed on the list of speakers for this meeting. I give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Dimitar Glavchev, from Bulgaria. The floor is yours.

Dimitar Glavchev: Honorable Mr. Co-Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, today we stand at an important moment in history as we explore how to harness digital technologies to promote sustainable development, enhance inclusion, and ensure a secure digital space for everyone. Digital technologies, when leveraged effectively, offer transformative potential for fostering sustainable development of a balanced and inclusive manner. These technologies tackle challenges like climate change and financial inclusion by boosting efficiency and innovation and resource management and poverty alleviation. They enhance resilience and economic empowerment by by expanding financial inclusion and job opportunities, especially in underserved areas. Governments should invest in regional digital infrastructure and promote engagement through a whole-of-government approach for effective policy development. In Bulgaria, in 2022, launched the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technologies at Sofia University in collaboration with Swiss universities, which highlights our commitment to technological innovation and attracts for all talents. Achieving these goals demands robust multi-stakeholder collaboration and capacity building. Governments, businesses, academia and civil society must unite to enhance technological and scientific capacity and close the digital divide. The EU Connecting Europe Facility exemplifies how joint efforts can advise critical digital infrastructure. The Bulgaria-Greece-Serbia 5G Corridor Initiative demonstrates how such partnerships can boost connectively and address digital disparities. To create an inclusive, open and secure digital space, we must prioritize protection and equity. It’s crucial to safeguard all individuals, especially women and children, from online harms. Bulgaria’s approach to balancing cyber security, digital interests and personal data protection, expanding digital infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas, is essential for equal access to the digital economy, including education, healthcare and economic opportunities. In conclusion, let me thank you for your attention and for your participation in this event.

Alar Karis: I thank His Excellency Dimitar Glavchev for his statement. And now I give the floor to His Excellency Xavier Espot Zamora from Andorra, please.

Xavier Espot Zamora: Thank you very much. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, at the present time, humankind is seeing a digital revolution. It’s changed how human beings interact and their way of life. All changes bring risks and opportunities and need time for adaptation. The Neolithic revolution lasted 1,000 years, the Industrial Revolution around 200 years, and the current revolution is advancing at such a rate that it will have reached its conclusion in around 100 years. We therefore need to find a common digital future. This is an urgent need because there’s a direct link between digitalization and economic, social and cultural progress. Regrettably though, digitalization is not universal. The COVID-19 pandemic has made our weaknesses clear. Lockdowns have shown how parts of the populations have not had access to digital technologies, which has led to a massive gap emerging. Because of this, it is absolutely necessary to establish shared principles for an open, safe and equal and accessible digital future, which is accessible to all. Ladies and gentlemen, mindful of this gap, Andorra this year has launched the first public-private forum for the digital transition to ensure that the digital transition is an instrument for progress and responds to the commitments we saw in the Ibero-American summit held in Andorra in 2021. This forum shows the desire of my country to show its know-how and knowledge to make progress with universal connectivity and contribute to the implementation of the global digital compact of the United Nations. Andorra has learned a great deal over these recent years. We have also much to offer, even if we’re a small country, only perhaps because of our small size. We are one of the best connected territories in the world, with 96% of our inhabitants having access to the Internet. We have also demonstrated prudence in response of all citizens. The digital transition has the potential to become a vital tool for attaining the SDGs. With that in mind, the implementation of our national strategy for the digital transition by 2030 allows us to note that digital initiatives clearly contribute to improving educational processes, to making progress towards gender equality, to boosting economic progress, decent work and achieving peace, justice and the consolidation of institutions. The environment and the digital sector are becoming the backbone of our societies and critical elements to reach sustainable development. As such, this is a challenge which can only be faced down. The speaker was cut off.

Alar Karis: I thank His Excellency Mr Zamora from Andorra and now I give the floor to His Excellency Edi Rama from Albania.

Edi Rama: Thank you very much. I will try to be as short as you wish, starting by saying that digital technology, with its promise for exponential progress, is a bless for developing countries and we in Albania have seen it in our real life and through our endeavours, becoming a place where 95% of services today are online and all the front offices and the long queues are history. On the other hand, we are seeing it in developing a model with artificial intelligence to push much faster our negotiations with the European Union for the EU membership, as we are seeing it also in building a new model for completely transparent and 95% unmanned public procurement. On the other hand, of course, digital technology is not just a bless but also a curse. cyber attacks, and Albania was victim of a very harsh cyber attack from Iran, and we witnessed in our real life how much this type of new world based on technology can be harmful to countries and citizens. But at the end, there is no doubt that if we will be able to create a system where the world and the community of nations will get the best out of the promises of the digital technology, and at the same time will tame all the downsides and the detrimental effects that can come from the malicious use of it, the world will be a much better place. Thank you very much, and I hope I got your sympathy, Mr. Chairman, by being so short.

Alar Karis: Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister, and now I, at this point, turn it over to my co-chair

Mohamed Muizzu: to preside over the meeting, please. I thank my esteemed co-chair. We will continue with our list of speakers. I now give the floor to His Excellency Patrice Emery Trovoada, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, in principle.

Patrice Emery Trovoada: Thank you, Mr. Co-Chair, ladies and gentlemen, delegates, all protocols respected, and also my three minutes, I respect them too. The African continent is often seen from the negative lens of economic and social problems, but it is also an incredible source of opportunities and innovation adapted to its unique needs, with a population which exceeds one billion inhabitants. Its human capital is a major force facilitating the digital future, as well as the economic future of the globe. Innovation we have seen in Africa has shown that Africa is not just a passive consumer of technologies, but rather a creator of models inspiring the rest of the world. Digitalization at a cross-cutting level is the driving force of global development in the future of our continent. Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change, but it can also be a model using the digital sector to overcome environmental challenges for the management of natural resources, sustainable agriculture and the environment. the prediction of natural disasters. Innovative solutions such as precision agriculture or using drones to monitor lands which have been used can help to smartly use resources, making the future safer, and particularly food security. Africa has around 60 percent of the world’s arable land, and it also makes us able to combat climate change at a global level. Because of this, my government has just created the Conservation Trust Fund. The goal of which is to consolidate nature and the environment as economic assets. However, Africa also faces basic challenges specific to the continent, such as access to the Internet. We want to see digitalization. This affects digitalization, education, health, and has a broad impact across the globe. Nevertheless, this is a challenge to private actors. We can have public-private partnerships with a clear goal to ensure equitable digital access for all African citizens so that nobody is left behind in this transformation. The demographics speak for themselves. In a country such as mine, we are deeply attached to freedom of expression and combating disinformation, hate speech, and foreign interference on social media platforms. There is a risk of fragmentation of the Internet or splinternet because of national regulation. This threatens the unity of the global Internet and makes it more difficult to access information at a time when inspiring critical thinking via education, in our view, is critical for the progress of our respective societies, ensuring social cohesion and inclusion. My country and my country, continent Africa, cannot. The speaker was cut off.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank His Excellency Patrice Emery of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe for his statement. And now I give the floor to His Excellency Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway.

Jonas Gahr Støre: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for this opportunity, delegates, excellencies and colleagues. We have to deal with the world as it is, and I believe we can agree that access to digital technologies now means really how we can secure opportunities for all. We now know that digital cooperation is absolutely key to ensure that individual businesses and civil society can benefit from progress. Among such challenges that we are dealing with is climate change, global health crisis, and much more. Digital public goods are essential tools in tackling these and other risks. But they are linked. And we know, Mr. President, that digital services consume a lot of electricity. And I just come from a meeting where we are addressing the fact that 600 million people in Africa don’t have access to electricity. So I’d just like to call the attention to the initiative by the World Bank and the African Development Bank of providing 300 million people in Africa with electricity by the end of this century – by this decade, sorry, by 2030 – is part of this challenge. The UK provides and promotes financing for digital public goods in sectors such as climate and weather forecasting, agriculture, and health systems. We also help support digital public goods that help countries build essential platforms across all sectors, including digital identity and civil registration systems. And I’m happy to see that this technology can spread to all continents. They are critical for inclusion, particularly women and other groups that risk exclusion. Building safe, trusted, and inclusive digital infrastructure for all is absolutely central for leaving no one behind. And then, being here at the UN, Mr. President, multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnership has to be there for us to succeed. The Digital Public Good Alliance is a great example, with more than 40 members from countries, UN institutions, civil society, and the private sector. This alliance facilitates the discovery and deployment of open-source technology with the aim to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. And I believe it is inspiring and a really learning experience to see that digital public good developed in Sierra Leone to pay health workers during the Ebola crisis is now being used in the Philippines. And closer to home, I noted that COVID tracking tool first developed in Sri Lanka proved useful to Norwegian municipalities. in my country. So this is a learning experience. So, dear friends, we must remember that all human rights fully apply in the digital space. There is no exception. And this is being challenged. Digital technologies should be designed to minimize the risk of violating rights and doing harm, in particular to minors and children. They must be safe to use and meet the needs of all users.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank Excellency Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway, for his statement. And now I give the floor to His Excellency Micheál Martin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Ireland.

Micheál Martin: Many thanks, Chairperson. I’m delighted to contribute to this important discussion on strengthening inclusive innovation and cooperation to bridge digital divides. Yesterday, we adopted the Pact for the Future, the most wide-ranging international agreement in many years. And this pact and its annexes, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations, amount to a step change in how the multilateral system responds to the opportunities and challenges facing our global community. And now that the pact has been agreed, our task as world leaders is to implement it, here at the United Nations and across our regions and countries, as we build a more sustainable, just and peaceful global order. Ireland strongly welcomes the Global Digital Compact. Our focus now should be on working together for its implementation. unite the international community in support of the multi-stakeholder action required to overcome digital divides. New and emerging technologies is changing the way we live and work and can pose challenges. Artificial intelligence, for example, has the potential to amplify disinformation and to erode hard-won freedoms. However, it also creates a wealth of opportunity. In order to realise the positive potential of emerging technologies, we must take a human rights-based approach and ensure compliance with international law. Ireland has experienced first-hand the transformative power of technological advancement and the emergence of our modern digital world. We now strive to ensure that a digital approach informs our work with partner countries towards their development goals. Through diverse programmes, Ireland is partnering to reduce the digital divide. In Malawi, we are supporting projects to address the gender digital divide through the Malawi Girls Can Code Too initiative. In Vietnam, artificial intelligence is being used to detect changes in mangrove cover in order to protect and expand forests affected by climate change. And the Irish Tech Challenge South Africa fosters connections between the South African and Irish tech ecosystems. A common digital future also requires us to close digital divides within countries. We must include a diverse range of voices in this debate around our common digital future. It is vital that those most affected by emerging technologies have a strong voice in shaping outcomes. As we move towards 2030, Ireland believes that the transformative power of emerging technologies has the potential to help us deliver sustainable development and to create opportunities for global peace and prosperity. I believe the Pact for the Future that we have now agreed collectively provides the basis for this important work. work. The test will be, of course, in its implementation.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank His Excellency Micheál Martin of Ireland. At this point I hand over to my eminent co-chair to preside over the meeting. I thank my esteemed co-chair. We will continue with the list of speakers. And now I give the floor to His Excellency Saleumxay Kommasith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos People’s Democratic Republic.

Saleumxay Kommasith: Thank you, Mr. Chair, Mr. Co-Chair. The advancement of digital innovation serves as a pivotal accelerator for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN member states are embracing digitalization to foster socio-economic development ranging from production, trade, finance, to service, among others. However, while many countries, particularly countries in special situations, are making significant strides in adapting digital technology, there is still a big gap among countries in this digital transformation. This digital divide can deepen existing inequality while also hampering access to resource and opportunity. Therefore, bridging this divide requires concerted effort to address barriers such as limited infrastructure, digital literacy, and affordability, ensuring that no one is left behind in this journey towards sustainable development powered by digital innovation. Despite these efforts, continual international technical and financial support and collaboration remain crucial, particularly in developing digital infrastructure and building human resource capacity in science, technology, and innovation. In this regard, the Lao PDR urges development partners to intensify efforts to enhance cooperation. mechanism in an initiative that increase capacity humans mutual support in research, development, and applications of science, technology, and innovation. Mr. President, in order to bridge the digital divide, we believe that enhancing north-south cooperation, south-south and triangular cooperation, provide ample opportunities and mutual benefit for all. By developing human resources, sharing best practice and lessons learned, including transferring technical and technological know-how, by taking into account the actual needs and circumstances of each country, as well as increasing investment in teachers and higher education, research and development, we will be able to significantly enhance our technological capability, meet the demands of skilled workforce, and advance sustainable development globally. I thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: Thank you, Mr. Kommasith. And now I give the floor to Her Excellency Esther Dweck, Minister of Management and Innovation in Public Services of Brazil. The floor is yours.

Esther Dweck: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. The future is digital, but it needs also to be green and inclusive. Therefore, we must drive a fair digital revolution and advance the transformation of public institutions. Innovative solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, alongside the promotion of diversity and equity, are essential for sustainable societies. Recognizing the central role of digital transformation in an inclusive and sustainable development, Brazil, under its present Lula leadership, is committed to a triple transition – digital, social and ecological – as a strategy to tackle systemic inequalities. During our G20 Presidency, we focused on digital inclusion, understanding its vital role for global economic growth and for regional development. In order to promote digital inclusion, we must ensure meaningful and affordable connectivity and develop digital skills that are crucial for leaving no country and no one behind. As we integrate digital technology into every aspect of life, we have observed exponential growth of disinformation, misogyny and all sorts of discrimination and demystification of hate speech in social media. We must implement robust policies that protect users from online harms, particularly vulnerable groups like women and children. Concerning digital government, Brazil has strengthened the concept of digital public infrastructure, which integrates data and services into public policies, such as digital payment, digital identities and safe data sharing. Two important Brazilian DPIs, the Unified Register for Social Policy and our digital ID, linked to the gov.br platform, played a crucial role during natural disasters in Rio Grande do Sul state. The government issued more than 2.3 million financial assistance, showcasing the power of digital tools in crisis response. Environmental Registry is another vital Green DPI that combats deforestation, promotes environmental restoration, allows traceability and protects the right of indigenous population and local communities. Soon, it will also be integrated in carbon market policies. In the G20 Digital Economy discussion, Brazil proposed also the topic of information integrity. For the first time, we reached a high-level consensus on the importance of transparency and liability for digital platforms, and on the necessity of promoting resilient and diversifying information environment. Brazil is also engaged in the responsible and ethical development and use of artificial intelligence. Achieving these goals requires collaboration across government, civil society, the private sector and multilateral organizations. Our national AI plans include developing autonomous capacity in the field and launching a Portuguese-language LLM which respects intellectual property rights and cultural heritage. We reaffirm our commitment to promoting a fair and equal digital future, and we are here to collaborate with other global voices to ensure a planet for all. Together, we must act now for a sustainable and inclusive digital future. Thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank Her Excellency Ms. Dweck for her statement, and now give the floor to His Excellency Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Pavel Isa Contreras, from the Dominican Republic.

Pavel Isa Contreras: Good morning, Excellencies. We are at a crucial juncture in history where digital technologies have transformed our societies and economies and the way in which we relate to each other. This matter could not be more relevant, moving towards a totally digital era, closing the huge gaps for technical access and ownership within our countries and beyond our own borders. is key. The digital revolution threatens to leave many behind. Overcoming these difficulties requires a collective effort. In the Dominican Republic, we’ve made notable progress with rolling out digital infrastructure with implementation of 4G and 5G networks, as well as with expanding fiber optic fiber networks and the JIGA ITU-UNICEF initiative. However, to make a lasting impact, we know that we need to continue to maintain infrastructure in a sustainable fashion. Over recent years, the Dominican government has prioritized digitalization of public services. Now, thanks to public digital infrastructure, citizens can do paperwork online and participate in decision making in a more transparent and direct fashion. In the private sphere, Dominican businesses have adopted digital solutions to boost their competitiveness. The pandemic accelerated the rise of e-commerce and remote work, which generated new opportunities. However, much remains to be done to guarantee that SMEs and MSMEs, rather, can have the necessary tools to compete in the digital economy. We cannot discuss the digital economy without talking about the importance of digital education. The Dominican Republic has chosen programs which cover use of the Internet, cybersecurity, and also AI. Only with a robust educational system will we be able to ensure that our people are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. Closing the digital divide is a task which cannot be achieved by one country alone, or one region alone. This is a shared responsibility. Regional initiatives such as the ITU, the EU, and others are examples of how we can work together to ensure that digital innovations are available to all. future, but it is only by working together that we will be able to guarantee that nobody is left behind. We must continue to promote exchange of know-how, developing infrastructure, ensuring that there’s connectivity and that public policies are aligned with the needs of today’s digital world. From the connectivity of rural areas to cybersecurity, we need to work together to achieve real and lasting change. We are committed to do so. Thank you very much.

Alar Karis: I thank His Excellency, Pavel Isa Contreras, and at this point I hand over to my eminent co-chair to preside over the meeting. I thank my esteemed co-chair.

Mohamed Muizzu: We will continue with our list of speakers. I now give the floor to His Excellency, D.N. Dhungyel, from Bhutan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

Lyonpo D.N. Dhungyel: Co-chairs, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, in 1999, Bhutan took its first steps into the digital world, being one of the last countries to introduce the internet and television. Since then, technology has rapidly transformed our nation, accelerating Bhutan’s transition from isolation to global integration and unlocking new opportunities for growth. This year, Bhutan adopted its national digital strategy, a roadmap aimed at solving key challenges like urban congestion, climate change, and expanding digital payments to boost local economies. Central to this transformation is our national digital identity. In 2023, Bhutan became the first nation to establish a legal framework for self-sovereign identity. The NDI will serve as the foundation for delivering all public services digitally, ensuring effective and secure access for every citizen. Bhutan is eager to share this technology with our neighbors and world while learning from global experiences in digital innovation. However, technology’s benefits are not yet equally shared. Allow me to emphasize three key areas where action is crucial to promote inclusive digital progress. Number one, global partnerships. Bridging the digital divide requires collaboration. We believe that fostering global partnerships, we can enrich technological research, facilitate the exchange of skilled labor, and build local capacity for hands-on learning. Second, inclusivity. It’s vital that everyone, regardless of the background, can access and use digital technologies. In Bhutan, 34% of the population, including the illiterate, have received digital skills training, with our youth leading the way in sharing knowledge within their communities. Third is digital security. As digital services expand, so do vulnerabilities. Ensuring a safe and secure online environment is critical. Bhutan is enhancing digital literacy, enforcing strong policies to deter online threats and safeguarding the most vulnerable through regular threat assessment. In conclusion, we must reaffirm our commitment to building an inclusive digital future that leaves no one behind. By working together, we can harness the power of technology for the betterment of all. Thank you very much.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank His Excellency D.N. Dhungyel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Bhutan, and now give the floor to Her Excellency Aminata Zerbo-Sabané from Burkina Faso, Minister of Digital Transition, Post and Electronic Communications.

Aminata Zerbo-Sabané: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, we live at a time of great uncertainty having to do with the many challenges that the world is encountering, but we can hope because we live also through the time of the digital. It’s not just a simple tool, it becomes a catalyst of change and transforms our societies and our economy. Now, despite these prospects and the many efforts made by the countries of the south, the digital gap exists and compounds all other inequalities, and this is where collective responsibility lies, our responsibility for a common digital future. Ladies and gentlemen, my country, Burkina Faso, as you know, for a decade has had to deal with recurrent terrorist attacks, and I think you’ll agree with me when I say that restoring security and territorial integrity of the country is the number one national priority. Nonetheless, the government is convinced that the true response to terrorist barbarism is through development. Under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traore, head of state, the place occupied by the digital as a catalyst of inclusive development is affirmed daily. The government just last week enacted a large-scale project funded together with the World Bank to the tune of 100 billion to accelerate the development of infrastructure, modernize infrastructure, and cover rural areas and localities. Ladies and gentlemen, my country is convinced that the digital challenges has to be taken comprehensively, taking into account the interest of all actors, in particular when it comes to cybersecurity and fighting cybercrime, as well as when it comes to regulating the action of the private actor, as well as balancing this against the sovereignty of the state. And I would like to hear, welcome on behalf of the government of my country, the adoption of the Global Digital Camp, whose aim is to bridge the digital divide. divide. The issue of funding is fundamental here. At this stage, I would like to launch an appeal to the digital giants and say that you have the influence and the resources to contribute towards reducing the digital divide. So invite even to a greater extent in the infrastructures developing countries, support innovation locally, and access to technologies. And this will not be charity. This will be an investment and will become profitable because you will extend the number of your consumers by 2.6 billion people who are not connected today. I would like to insist on the urgency of the issue of fiscal justice. If we had that, we will be able to benefit from the tax revenues of digital giants. We need to build together and have international cooperation, which is sincere, win-win cooperation, and equitable if we want to have a world which is more connected.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank Her Excellency, Aminata Zerbo, from Brno-Kafaso. And now I’ll give the floor to His Excellency, Ville Tavio, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Finland.

Ville Tavio: Mr. President, Secretary-General, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I would like to start by thanking Secretary-General António Guterres for his leadership and efforts to make the UN system fit for the future. This summit is a culmination point in this regard. You can count on Finland’s support for your work. Last year, at the SDG summit, we agreed to accelerate the implementation of our shared global goals. We now have the opportunity to look even further ahead to agree on the future we want. Technology has emerged as one of the key questions for global development. The digital transformation presents us with a wealth of opportunities that we need to grasp. At the same time, it presents us new… risks that we need to act on. The United Nations will have a key role in making sure we have the tools to manage this process in the years ahead. With growing threats to peace and security, we need to make sure technology is a force for good and not used to amplify conflicts and create further instability. This task is in the very core of the UN Charter and mission. The global digital compact comes at critical time. It’s almost 20 years since the world last came to an agreement on a framework for harnessing technology for development. This took place at the World Summit on Information Society in Geneva and Tunis. Since then, the digital landscape has changed dramatically. The global digital compact is a landmark agreement to update our shared principles and goals for advancing global digital development, outlining what we need to focus on now and in the future. Finland’s government considers technology to be an integral part of our foreign and security policy. We have a strong focus on digital development in our development policy, including increased attention to private sector solutions and investments. We are committed to working internationally for digital development that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable with respect for human rights and equality. We are pleased that our priorities, improving digital connectivity, governing emerging technologies, addressing the gender digital divide, investing in education and digital skills, and strengthening human rights are included in the compact. Globally, we are far from reaching the target of universal connectivity as set out by the agenda 2030. The global digital compact calls for more cooperation to close the persistent digital device, especially in remote and underserved areas. In this regard, I want to highlight the need to mobilize more private investment and capital to meet these needs. Without adequate infrastructure in place, the potential of digitalization remains locked in. The global digital compact should be not a political declaration only. We need to take concrete steps to implement it. This is not a task for the UN member states alone. We need multi-stakeholder cooperation.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank His Excellency Ville Tavio, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of Finland. And now, give the floor to His Excellency Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communication and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia.

Abdullah Alswaha: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, may the peace and blessings of God be upon you. Undoubtedly, the world today is living this great opportunity of digitalization as an economic multiplier. We have an opportunity from $6 to $10 trillion that we can take advantage of together if we work in a comprehensive way in artificial intelligence. But there are a number of jobs, millions of jobs, that will be threatened if we did not work in this comprehensive way. We are at a crossroads. Either artificial intelligence will be the biggest multiplier to bridge this gap or the biggest challenge towards extending this gap. The government of His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness have made efforts in order for us to be a pioneer in multilateral international cooperation to bridge these gaps, the social gap and the economic gap, as well as gaps in the future related to artificial intelligence. In terms of social gap, we have worked with ITU to conduct a study to connect the world that is unconnected through innovative solutions on planet and in space – on planet Earth and in space. And in terms of empowering women, we are proud to have had a great success story in the 21st century in terms of empowering women to reach 35 percent, going beyond the average of G20, the European Union and Silicon Valley. As for digital health, we have harnessed the virtual hospital model as a pioneering model around the world by serving more than 30 million pilgrims who come from over 100 countries of Saudi Arabia. And lately, we had the first first surgery that was conducted to transplant a heart using robots. As for economy, we are observer member and we cooperate with all organizations in this field in a participatory way to ensure that we have a prosperous digital economy for the region and for the three continents, Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa. As for artificial intelligence, we are proud to have Dr. Latif Abdel Latif, who is the first woman that represents us in the advisory body for artificial intelligence, and we are working together on the pact for the future so that we can harness this era of artificial intelligence in a comprehensive way to serve humanity and planet Earth. Thank you. Mr. Chairman.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank His Excellency Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communication and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia, and now give the floor to Her Excellency Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communication and Digitalization of Ghana.

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful: Co-Chairs, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, over the past decade, we’ve observed, discussed, and shared many insights and experiences, coming to the realization that access to digital technologies and services is no longer a luxury for the privileged few, but a human right for all, regardless of social status or geographical location. By utilizing digitalization to reduce inequalities experienced in accessing basic public services, it should be our priority to implement simple, people-centric digital initiatives that benefit all. Ghana is implementing the Digital Ghana Agenda to ensure that all public services across all sectors are digitalized to enhance transparency, access, accountability, and efficiency. Our digital economy policy and strategy identifies five main pillars, universal access and connectivity, digital skills, research, and digital entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, our government, like most, does not have the resources to address the widening connectivity and service acquisition gap with our private sector funding. As a critical component to our developmental goals in the medium to long term, we require partnerships that promote a win-win approach to implement initiatives that will bring connectivity and access to underserved and unserved communities within the next four years and beyond. By utilizing shared networks in partnership with our network operators, we’re extending connectivity to our rural populations and high-speed 4G and 5G broadband services nationwide. We’ve also set up a Girls in ICT Trust to narrow the gender digital divide. The transfer of technology and knowledge to our youth through the partnerships that we secure to ensure sustainability of digital interventions and reduction of over-dependence on foreign expertise is non-negotiable. Access to affordable digital devices and narrowing the usage gap due to inadequate digital skills is a major challenge, even where connectivity is available. The affordability of internet data can be significantly reduced if developing countries have internet exchange points within their countries and continents. This will minimize internet access routes and the attendant high cost of internet access in the global south. We owe it as a duty to support developing countries to catch up as digital technologies provide a level playing field for all the haves and have-nots. We must also work to reduce the cost of devices. Digital technologies come with their own attendant challenges, such as cyberattacks, mobile fraud, online abuse, misinformation, et cetera. We can mitigate some of these challenges through comprehensive awareness campaigns and knowledge sharing promoted through in-person encounters on social media and social media handles. Being aware is being empowered. Developing countries need flexible and affordable financing instruments.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank Her Excellency Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communication and Digitalization. At this point, I hand over to my eminent co-chair to proceed over the meeting. Thank you. I thank my esteemed co-chair, and we will continue with our list of speakers.

Alar Karis: I now give the floor to Her Excellency Savannah Maziya, Minister of Information, Communication and Technology from Eswatini.

Savannah Maziya: The theme of this summit is so very important to us and resonates with us as the Kingdom of Eswatini. Through the leadership of His Majesty, our view is that we must all collaborate and use this critical time to chart a way that will not only develop all our economies, but also ensure that we do so in a way that is fully inclusive and equitable. The digital future is the new oil, but it must be the new oil for everyone. In Eswatini, our avenue to inclusiveness means providing strong fiber-optic bandwidth and 5G for everyone as the foundation to the integrating of more than 200 services that the government offers, with our Government in Your Hand initiative, which allows all the services to be accessed through one’s phone or the nearest community center. This will result in reliable, robust, consistent, and cost-effective data and internet. Digital services and access therein are no longer a luxury. This will enable our businesses to be more productive and make social services more effective. As a country, we are looking at working with the youth as an integral part of our sustainable inclusiveness strategy, as they represent more than 60% of our population. We are also ensuring that as we develop, we remain responsible custodians of our natural resources for future generations. As we focus on developing local investors and attracting foreign ones through our robust incentives, we need to ensure that our population is not only appropriately skilled, but also we continuously focus on data sovereignty and data safety. We invite investors to be partners in strengthening our marginalized communities such as women, youth, and the disabled. This is an opportunity to use the digital space as the great equalizer and allow us to be truly inclusive. In a time when computers are asking us if we are robots, we are continuously asking ourselves if we are doing all that we can to ensure that MSWati are part of the solution in solving the world’s problems, utilizing the digital space, but also if we can solve their problems using the very same space. It is clear to us that we stand at a time in history where in our collaboration we can be truly equal, learn from our past exclusions, and forge a prudent path forward in the most exclusive and inclusive manner. In a time when machines may play a more prominent role in our lives, it is still incumbent upon us as humans to collaborate and for the first time in human history produce a world that is truly inclusive, equitable, and allowing all to have a fair and fighting chance. This is what will make all our plans for the digital future to be without division and to be sustainable. In all our deliberations during these sessions, I trust we all keep these as our focus areas. The world requires us to do so. We thank you for the opportunity to be heard.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank your excellency Savannah Maziya, Minister of Information, Communication and Technology of Eswatini. And now I give the floor to Her Excellency Maria da Graça Carvalho, Minister of Environment and Engineering of Portugal.

Maria da Graça Carvalho: Distinguished Co-Chairs, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. What was only a short time ago, a distant vision, is now a reality that will surely shape our near future. The digital transformation is accelerating before our very eyes, particularly with the development of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Digital technologies are catalysts for development and can support and accelerate the realization of the 2030 Agenda and its sustainable development goals. However, we acknowledge that digital divides are vast and deep, both within and between countries, risking, if we don’t act, that the digital transition could become a lever for inequalities rather than a tool for inclusive development. The idea that technology should benefit everyone should be our guiding compass. Digital literacy, capacity building and the promotion of local languages and digital contents are crucial to enable communities to fully participate in the digital domain. Digital cooperation and capacity building programs must be at the heart of a coordinated effort to achieve the SDGs, with special attention being paid to the most vulnerable countries, such as small island developing states, SEADs, least developed countries, LDCs and landlocked developing countries, LLDCs. That’s why, as part of its 2030 Development Cooperation Strategy, and drawing on its own experience in the digital transition, Portugal launched a UN-Portugal Digital Fellowship aimed at these countries. Portugal welcomes the adoption of the Pact for the Future and its global digital compact. We stand for a digital future that is shared, inclusive and human-centered, anchored in international law, human rights, and the UN Charter, and leaving no one behind. I thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank Her Excellency Maria da Graça Carvalho, Minister of Environment and Energy, Portugal. Now I give the floor to His Excellency Omran Sharaf , Assistant Minister for Science and Advanced Technology Affairs from United Arab Emirates.

Omran Sharaf: Co-Chairs, Excellencies, The United Arab Emirates is pleased to participate in the Summit of the Future, which marks a major milestone in reinvigorating our multilateral system. I thank Secretary-General Guterres for his constructive insights, as well as the co-facilitators of the Pact for the Future, the global digital compact, and the Declaration on Future Generation for their tireless work. Distinguished delegates, digital technologies are advancing at breakneck speed, and while these advances do indeed bring potential risks and threaten to widen the digital divide, they also provide significant opportunities in our collective pursuit of global peace, development, humanitarian assistance, and security. The UAE has a vision for a better world, a brighter future, through the leveraging of these transformative technologies. Yet this vision cannot ignore the potential blind spots in these rapid advancement, especially when it comes to access for over a third of the global population. risk getting stuck in a dangerous cycle of marginalization, poverty, and disadvantages that only further reinforces pre-existing inequalities and thus potentially heightening the threat of irresponsible actions on a global scale. Distinguished delegates, it’s not too late for us to apply a corrective lens to remedy this. As a responsible player in the international arena, the UAE is committed to bridging the digital divide. Doing so requires a multifaceted and comprehensive approach that involves collaboration and meaningful partnership building. The UAE foreign policy position on AI highlights the importance of fostering national and international partnership rooted in cooperation and transparency. So we can advance technologies and build capacity. We demonstrate this through initiatives that provide open source AI models that build sustainable ecosystems to accelerate technological innovation, establish data centers projects in Africa that leverage geothermal energy to power AI infrastructure, enabling developing nations with tools for technological advancement, develop diverse language models to serve underrepresented communities, ensuring AI benefits reach the global south. Distinguished delegates, the UAE, the use of AI for humanitarian action provides an anticipatory approach to predict and prepare ahead of outbursts of violence, climate change, and displacement. The application of AI can enable stakeholders to intervene before the outbreak of conflict. The UAE will continue to work with every partner and stakeholder here to ensure our global community benefits from these technologies. Let us collectively commit to bridging the digital divide and building a more inclusive future for everyone and everywhere. Thank you.

Alar Karis: Thank you. His Excellency Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister for Science and Advanced Technology Affairs from United Arab Emirates. And now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation, Mr. Alexey Borisov. Please.

Alexey Borisov: We are today at a critical stage on our way to a common digital future. Digital technologies open up unprecedented opportunities for sustainable development. They help make it balanced and inclusive. And introducing these technologies broadens the opportunity for international cooperation on a very vast scope of issues. The experience we already have shows that the use of digital innovation and big data analysis opens up greater effectiveness when it comes to climate change and monitoring the state of the environment. And introducing digital banking services and financial and technical solutions opens up access to financial services, helps economic growth, and improves the stability of societies. Multilateral cooperation plays a key role in overcoming digital divide. Joint efforts by the governments of private sector, academia, and civil society in science, technology, and innovation help with economic growth and sustainable development. Our common goal is to have an open, just, inclusive, and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technical development. We do recall that the three pillars of sustainable development are interconnected, we therefore have to pay due attention to its social component, mental health, and the unique nature of everyone. Keeping cultural diversity and personal identity is a key factor for creating inclusive, open, and safe digital environment. We need to protect our consumers, women and children first and foremost, from online threats. The key role here is to be played by the governments. They are to develop and introduce reliable policies, measures of information security, and increase the digital literacy of our people. The government’s goal is to create digital platforms which increase accessibility, inclusivity, and effectiveness of services. We also have reached, attained a great deal in the area of smart cities. In Moscow, we have more than 80 projects on the basis of artificial intelligence, ranging from public transport fares and ensuring public security, all the way to making preliminary diagnosis on the basis of health data. This experience is being scaled up and expanded to all of the regions in the country. Our work in the area of supporting digital development is also conducted by the scientific research areas, academia, including the United Nations Association of Russia and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. The UN Association conducts more than 10 events every year, showing advanced technologies. The particular attention is paid to the program on localizing SDGs to the regions, and also rating the regions according to their SDG attainments. Building a commendable digital future is an important collective task for us to make sure that no one is left behind. I thank you.

Alar Karis: I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation for his statement. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative, Her Excellency Charlotta Schlyter, ECOSOC Ambassador. The floor is yours.

Charlotta Schlyter: Thank you, Mr. Co-Chair. We’re living in an era where digital and emerging technologies are reshaping every aspect of our lives. Emerging technologies, not least artificial intelligence, hold incredible potential to accelerate progress on reaching the SDGs. Yet they also pose serious challenges, challenges we can only overcome together. From widening digital divides to concerns over data privacy and the ethical use of AI, these issues do demand collective action. Sweden together with Zambia had the honor to facilitate the negotiations on the Global Digital Compact. We are thrilled that it was adopted by consensus yesterday. The GDC reflects our shared commitment to building a digital future that is open, fair, inclusive, secure, and sustainable. Through GDC, we have agreed on a number of key initiatives, including a Global Digital Dialogue on AI Governance, a Scientific Panel on AI, and an AI Capacity Building Fund. These initiatives aim to ensure that AI serves humanity and upholds our shared values of security, trust and equity. An important aspect of our digital future is the inclusion and protection of our youth. The Global Digital Compact acknowledges this by calling on digital technology companies and social media platforms to provide online safety-related training materials and safeguards, especially for children and youth users. This aligns with our commitment under SDG 3, which emphasizes the need for online safety and mental well-being. It is crucial that we empower our younger generations with the tools and knowledge to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Sweden has long been a champion of an open, free and secure internet. We believe in the power of digital technologies to support sustainable growth and environmental stewardship. We look forward to working with all of you to unlock the potential of digitalization and to ensure that we build a future where digital technology truly serves all of humanity. Now the real work begins. Turning the Global Digital Compact into action requires a global effort. Thousands of people and organizations contributed to the elaboration of the Compact, and we hope for the very same stakeholders to join us in this effort. Thank you.

Alar Karis: Thank you, Ambassador Her Excellency Charlotta Schlyter from Sweden. And now I give the floor to Mr. Amanuel Giorgio , Councillor, Deputy Prime Minister and Representative from Eritrea.

Amanuel Giorgio : Thank you, Co-Chairs. In an era marked by unprecedented global challenges, the need for collective action and cooperation has never been more urgent. Escalating conflict and rising tensions, combined with the rapid progression of new technologies and their associated security implications present unparalleled challenges across all sectors. The digital divide among nations is evidently manifested in the global south, where new technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced biotech, robotics, are not fairly introduced and utilized for societal development. In the absence of an inclusive digital ecosystem, the global development goals and other relevant priorities will be unattainable. Policymakers in the developing countries face critical challenges of identifying and making use of new technologies and innovations that could be transformative. Recent trends have also unveiled an alarming surge in hate speech, exacerbating societal divisions and promoting intolerance. This proliferation of vitriolic rhetoric continues to erode our social cohesion and threatens the very foundation of our global community. As we navigate the complexities of our interconnected world, it is crucial to ensure that the do-no-harm principle is respected in the development and use of new technologies. We must develop comprehensive ethical guidelines that prioritize community well-being in technology deployment. For a country like Eritrea, where much of the infrastructure that drives the innovation systems of developed countries is lacking, a particular challenge is how to develop local innovation systems that can address and transform potential challenges. shall gain changes into valuable vehicles for development, driven by the people to ensure sustainability. With limited resources, we are endeavoring to utilize innovations in science and technology as drivers of our development programs. For example, managing interconnectedness between the education system, health care centers, business and research institutions, and different government agencies is the premise to stimulate innovation based on cooperation between the stakeholders. In conclusion, to ensure an inclusive digital ecosystem, we must reaffirm our commitment to the principles of multilateralism, solidarity, and cooperation, and work together to fortify the multilateral system, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness in addressing the intricate challenges of the…

Alar Karis: Thank you, Mr. Amanuel Giorgio from Eritrea. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. All right, let’s move to the next representative. And I give the floor to the representative of Developing Aid Countries Organizations for Economic Cooperation.

Development Aid Organizations of Economic Cooperation: Thank you, Excellencies and co-chair, for giving me the floor. I’m indeed honored to represent the Developing Aid Organizations. of Economic Cooperation, a compact organization comprising eight developing countries, namely Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey. I’m equally honored to answer three questions posed for this session from a developing country’s standpoint. First, three strategies for leveraging digital technologies to foster sustainable development. One is optimizing data analytics to track and manage natural science effectively. Digital technology is a crucial tool for providing early warning, minimizing the impact of climate change, and building resilience. Two, mobile technology is very, very important. It’s a platform for users to access information and policymakers to disseminate their policies. Mobile technology facilitates hearing all views, leading to more inclusive decision-making. Three, promote digital capacity building. Supported by financial inclusion, it can enhance capacity and provide access to secure financial services to empower developing nations’ economies. Second, three strategies for multi-stakeholder approaches to closing the digital divide. First, enhance the Pentahelix Collaboration to Design training program to equip local population with essential digital skills tailored to their context. They can also advocate for regulations that promote equitable access to technology. Second, facilitate access to technology through mobilizing funding for infrastructure projects. such as expanding Internet access in rural areas. This will connect communities and encourage local entrepreneurship and innovation, driving economic empowerment. Third, optimize multi-stakeholder collaboration to enhance scientific and technological cooperation and joint research initiatives to lead to innovative solutions that address local challenges. Finally, Excellencies, two strategies for ensuring an inclusive, open, safe and secure digital space to protect against online harm. First, a sound regulatory framework is required to be created to protect users from online harm. Tech companies must also design safe platforms and implement preventive measures. We must also enable a framework of accountability and transparency. Two, education and awareness-raising. We must also ensure that education and awareness-raising is a key part of the educational process. Thank you.

Alar Karis: I thank the distinguished representative of the Developing Aid Countries Organization for Economic Cooperation. And now I give the floor to the representative of the International Institute for Democracy and, sorry, of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

United Nations Industrial Development Organization: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO, we welcome the adoption of the Global Digital Compact. A common digital future is possible if we urgently address the growing digital divide. A gap in digital access is a gap in opportunity, empowerment and inclusion. UNIDO supports countries in their sustainable industrial journey. And access to technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution is critical. If available and applied, such technologies enhance productivity, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth. Ladies and gentlemen, frontier technologies like AI, Internet of Things, advanced robotics, and blockchain can be key to optimizing supply chains, reducing waste, promoting circular economy practices, enhancing competitiveness, and creating jobs. But we also need to be mindful of possible negative implications of digital and automation technologies. Mindful of how they affect existing jobs and increase potential to reshore production away from developing countries. Collaboration is therefore central to UNIDO’s strategy. Partnerships between governments, industries, the private sector, civil society, and academia are essential to scaling digital solutions. For example, UNIDO asked the Global Alliance on AI for Industry and Manufacturing, a multi-stakeholder initiative to promote the responsible development and use of AI in industry. Human oversight, robust governance, and regulatory frameworks are critical to ensure responsible and ethical use of digital technologies. At UNIDO, we are working with our member states to develop policies and set standards for the industrial sector, the sector that uses but also produces most of these technologies. Particularly for women and youth, we must foster access to a digital space that empowers everyone but does not come at the cost of human dignity, safety, and privacy. We therefore look forward to assuming a strong role in implementing the Global Digital Compact. And we look forward to working closely with member states, the UN family, and our partners in this regard. I thank you. Thank you.

Alar Karis: I thank you, distinguished representative of United Nations Industrial Development Organization. And now I give the floor to our representative of World Intellectual Property Organization.

World Intellectual Property Organization: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, dear distinguished delegates. I had some prepared remarks, but because today is meant to be interactive, I threw them out and I decided I will speak a bit more off the cuff. First, congratulations on the GDC, hard work on behalf of the co-chairs and facilitators. The key now is how do we translate this into concrete action and impact on the ground. Let me share a couple of things that I think we need to do. First, we need to help build infrastructure in countries itself. And one of the things that WIPO is doing is to provide the IP offices in over 90 developing countries to become fully digital. That’s important because in many of these countries, if they are paper-based, they are not reaching out to the inventors and the creators and innovators in other parts of their country. And by helping them to become fully digital, by allowing them to go to the cloud, sometimes the first in the country to become fully digital, we are allowing them to provide services to every part of the country, and I think that’s very, very important, especially for young inventors and innovators who are used to using mobile digital platforms to be able to access the services that IP offices provide. Second, we must not just look at technology as a threat, but also as an opportunity, and I’m very happy to hear some ministers speak about that. One of the things they have done in partnership with a number of musicians, including Bjorn from ABBA, is to create a platform called… or Creators Learn IP, or Creators Love IP, CLIP. It’s a free online platform. We welcome all of you to have a look at it. By musicians, for musicians, to allow young aspiring musicians to learn enough about IP, data, technology, to be able to put their music and their songs online, and to use that to earn a living. And that means that someone in Indonesia can be able to use the power of digital to access and to reach out to people halfway across the world. And I think that’s really something that is very important. We have translated this into six UN languages, including additionally Portuguese. Third, let’s bring the world together to talk about these issues. WIPO has every six months an IP and AI conversation. IP has become very critical to AI, because AI learns from copyrighted materials. We need to address these issues. But more importantly, we do it in an inclusive way. We bring together civil society, academia, industry, because we believe that the solutions to the problems and the challenges and the opportunities that AI presents to us requires a multi-stakeholder approach. And so we bring everyone together to talk about these issues. We are pleased that it’s not just about talking, but doing. So I’m very happy that Doreen and myself, ITU, WIPO, and WHO has just launched a project to help AI entrepreneurs in developing countries to address health challenges in their particular countries. So of all this, I think the key now is to translate GDC into concrete action. WIPO stands ready to work with you on all of that. We welcome you to partner with us. Thank you very much.

Alar Karis: I thank the distinguished representative of World International Property Organization. And now, I give the floor to the distinguished representative of International Trade Union Confederation.

International Trade Union Confederation: Thank you very much, Chair. I speak on behalf of the International Trade Union Confederation, representing more as 200 million members globally. We live in a time of continuous evolving technological advancements, impacting profoundly our lives and our mindsets. And these changes have a great effect on the future of work in particular, bringing both opportunities and challenges for workers. We welcome the integration of a human rights perspective embedded in the newly endorsed Pact for the Future, including improving gender equality. Transitions to a digital future must be based on human and labour rights. And a clear example of how technology can generate challenges is the platform economy, where workers are treated today as a commodity by an algorithmic business model. And we will support the International Labour Organization to adopt an international binding instrument on the platform economy, which will provide a level playing field to cope with the decent work challenges that are growing in the sector. Our common digital future needs to maximize the potential of new technology to create decent and sustainable jobs. An example, an initiative such as the new Tech-Labour Partnership between the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organizations, AFL-CIO, and Microsoft, on the other hand, are already pointing in this direction. This partnership between a trade union and a global company like Microsoft is focusing on first, sharing in-depth information on AI technology trends, secondly, incorporating workers’ perspectives in the development of AI technology, and third, helping shape public policy that supports the technology skills and needs of frontline workers. A common digital future cannot be achieved without the involvement of workers and trade unions working together with employers and governments. With the global trade union movement, the ITUC, we are ready to support a digital transition aligned with the SDGs. Thank you very much.

Alar Karis: I thank the distinguished representative of the International Trade Union Confederation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the International Carbon Neutrality Industry Research Organization Limited.

International Carbon Neutrality Industry Research Organization Limited: Thanks, Honorable Chair. Thanks for the speaking opportunity. I’m speaking on behalf of the international carbon neutrality industry. As we come together to shape a common digital future, we must address the urgent challenge of the global digital divide. Over a third of the world’s population remains unconnected, missing out on transformative benefits of digitalization. To close this gap, we must prioritize affordable Internet access for undeserved communities. Education is equally essential. Government and organizations must collaborate to offer training on digital literacy and personal data protection, empowering people to become informed and responsible digital citizens. Ensuring the security of our digital spaces is also important. We must enact strong legislation against cybercrime while tackling emergent threats such as the misuse of artificial intelligence, particularly in spreading misinformation, defamation, and even sexual violence. Technology as deepfakes, which generate fake contents by altering faces or voices, pose a particular threat to women and children. Investing in research to address this threat is crucial. Along with using multi-factor authentication to improve digital security, governments should also invest in monitoring systems capable of detecting cybercrime while creating clear channels for the public to report harmful online activities. Together through cooperation between stakeholders, we can foster an inclusive, safe, and secure digital space, one that empowers everyone, particularly women and children, and ensure that technology advances human rights and sustainable development. Thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu:

Alar Karis: Thank you distinguished representative of the and the National Carbon Neutrality Research Organization Limited. And now I give the floor to Her Excellency Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Communication and Digital Economy of Gambia.

Ismaila Ceesay: Co-Chairs, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, in today’s rapidly evolving world, digital technologies are reshaping every aspect of life, from agriculture, education and healthcare to business and communication. Therefore, harnessing the power of digital technologies is pivotal to creating a more prosperous, inclusive and equitable future for all. As we look forward toward a common digital future, it is essential to address the pressing challenge of the digital divide. This divide, which has increased inequality, is not only a technological gap, it is a barrier to education, employment and the opportunity to thrive in a digital economy. While urban areas are increasingly connected, rural communities face an uphill battle in gaining access to these life-changing technologies. To bridge this divide, we are focused on strengthening inclusive innovation. Innovation in the Gambia is driven by the need of our people, especially those in undeserved areas. Currently, we are developing coherent policies, harnessing strategic partnerships and investing in capacity-building initiatives that enable our people, especially in undeserved regions, to fully participate. Our aim is to develop and adopt technologies that can be used by Gambians, all Gambians for that matter, not just select few. Whether it’s enhancing mobile network coverage in rural areas, smart agriculture or creating digital literacy programs for women and young people, inclusive innovation will ensure that no one is left behind in this digital age. Moreover, strengthening cooperation is key. The digital future we envision for the Gambia cannot be… built by any one entity alone, we need collaboration between the government, private sector, civil society, and international partners. By working together, we can expand digital infrastructure, reduce costs, and develop programs that teach the skills our citizens need to participate in the digital economy. This will empower our people and provide them access to essential e-government solutions and open doors for young Gambians to gain access to education, learn new skills, and connect with opportunities far beyond our borders. But let us be clear, bridging the digital divide is not just about technology, it’s about equity, it’s about creating opportunities for all Gambians to have a voice, participate in the digital economy, and contribute to our nation’s development. As we work towards a common digital future, let us ensure that this future is inclusive, equitable, and built on cooperation. Together, we can create a digital world that leaves no one behind. Thank you.

Alar Karis: I thank His Excellency Ismaila Ceesay from Gambia. And now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Council of Europe.

Council of Europe: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. We know and we’ve heard this morning, heard a lot that the obstacles to digital equality among citizens are numerous, we also know that they’re complex. From the viewpoint of the Council of Europe, which I represent here, these obstacles can threaten human rights of individual people, and they can create democratic deficits, and they can result in the cracks in the rule of law. And the response to those issues, it’s difficult to find them nationally. We can see that we need to be working together multilaterally, at least in part. And then, above and beyond, we can see that we are trying to get is effectiveness. And in addition to that, there has to be some kind of a legal value. And that is why, and I want to underscore that, the work done by the Council of Europe is very important here. We have a very specific, very recent example, which provides some of the response to the concerns expressed today. And that is the new Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence. It’s an international treaty which is unique of its kind. It’s an international treaty which is open for signature to members of the entire world since the beginning of the world, and provides binding rules to make sure that the artificial intelligence systems abides by human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, rather than weaken them. And it promotes artificial intelligence when it’s ethical, human-based, and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. This text, Mr. Chair and Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, is robust and balanced. It already has had the support and work from 46 members of the Council of Europe and other non-member states who supported this work. It has already received quite a number of signatures and support from the academia, civil society, and the technological industry itself. And I would like to use this opportunity of this dialogue to launch an appeal to countries across the world to sign the convention, to ratify it, because this way, together, we can benefit from its protections. The Council of Europe obviously also has other important texts, and we have shown in the past that we can do a lot, in particular, the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. And to conclude, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to say that our society is undergoing rapid change, very, very rapid change. change. And it’s very frequently the most disadvantaged, the marginalized, the minorities who are left behind. And that’s why we need legal standards to prevent this. And we have to make sure that they’re implemented together in common. I thank you.

Alar Karis: I thank the representative of the Council of Europe, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development: Thank you, Chair, distinguished guests, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Let me focus my brief intervention on connectivity, because connectivity really is the backbone of the digital transformation, and also an absolute key to closing the digital divides that we’ve been talking about this morning. Ensuring that all people have access to high quality, accessible, and affordable connectivity across geographies, genders, age groups, and socioeconomic groups is essential to reap the benefits of digitalization. While progress has been made, persistent connectivity divides remain across countries. As our data shows, OECD members had an average 36 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2023. That was a remarkable and worryingly 2.4 times the rate of the rest of the world. OECD analysis also shows that there are persistent and substantial territorial gains within countries. In OECD countries, people living in cities, for example, experienced median fixed broadband download speeds that were 50 percent higher than people living in regions far from metropolitan areas. That was in the fourth quarter of 2023. To bridge the digital divide, governments must first establish a clear understanding of connectivity gaps. The OECD supports countries through the collection of a broad range of regularly updated broadband statistics. We also assess the latest trends in broadband networks and their impacts on policy. recommendation on broadband connectivity explicitly features measures to promote access for all and represents a road map for policies to boost broadband deployment, particularly in unserved or underserved areas. But digital divides go beyond connectivity. It is also very much about gender equality, or perhaps rather the current lack of gender equality. In OECD countries, more than twice as many young men than women can program an absolutely essential skill for AI development. Girls also show lower enrollment rates in disciplines crucial for success in a digital landscape. This, of course, has downstream effects on the participation of women in scientific discovery. For instance, only 8% of AI journal articles in 23 were written exclusively by women, compared with 41% written exclusively by men. There is also a gender gap when it comes to mental health in digital environments and in problematic use of social media. These issues should be front and center of policy priorities. People of all backgrounds should be equipped with the necessary access, skills, and safeguards to use and benefit equally from digital technologies. This will be essential to guaranteeing a more inclusive digital future, inherently requiring global and multi-stakeholder cooperation. Thank you.

Alar Karis: I thank the distinguished representative of OECD, and now I give the floor to Ms. Birgit Stevens, Director for the United Nations and Francophone, Belgium Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Birgit Stevens: Excellencies, dear co-chairs, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, let me first express my appreciation to the Secretary General and to the co-chairs for organizing this important dialogue on shaping a common digital future. I will highlight three elements that are instrumental in leveraging digital technologies for sustainable development and for bridging divides. First, digital technologies must serve as tools of inclusivity. Innovation should be directed towards solving our most pressing global challenges. Similarly, advancements in technology should be focused on the development of new technologies. FinTech can enhance financial inclusion. To ensure digital technologies benefit everyone, we must prioritize digital skills empowerment. Bridging the digital divide requires comprehensive training programs that prioritize digital literacy, basic internet usage, and advanced skills. In Belgium, Digibanks, an initiative from one of the regional governments, serves as a concrete example of how we can use technology to bridge digital divides. These community-based digital hubs provide essential services, such as digital literacy training, access to technology, and support for digital entrepreneurship, thus not only empowering individuals, but also strengthening local economies. Second, meaningful cooperation is key to bridging digital divides. During its presidency of the European Union, Belgium organized the first EU-Africa Dialogue on Cyber and Digital Diplomacy. This initiative underscored the importance of global cooperation to create an inclusive and secure digital future for all, reinforcing the shared commitment to bridging the digital divide between continents. Third, we must recognize that the rapid pace of digital transformation brings both opportunities and risks. While technology can empower and connect, it can also expose individuals, especially women and children, to harm. Tech-facilitated gender-based violence affects a staggering 38% to 58% of women. This highlights the urgent need for action. That is why Belgium has taken the lead in drafting a resolution on combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence that has recently been adopted by the Human Rights Council. Empowering individuals through digital literacy and security training is key. Initiatives like Belgium’s Digital for Women and Girls Project provide essential knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world safely. Finally, VIX. Systems must have access to support services. Our work, for example, in Palestine and elsewhere, proves our commitment to ensuring that those harmed online receive the help they need. Bridging the digital divides is not only a matter of equity. It is a prerequisite and an opportunity to achieve the 2030 Agenda. Thank you.

Alar Karis: Thank you, Ms. Stevens, Director for United Nations and Francophone from Belgium. And now I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

UNESCO: Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. With the digital revolution and that of artificial intelligence, we are seeing a societal upheave that we haven’t seen since the Industrial Revolution. This digital revolution allows us to move towards the common good. And at UNESCO, we draw on our mandate on education, culture, science and information to ensure this is so. We advocate for open science, distance learning and the treasures listed on UNESCO World Heritage. We must also pay close attention to the unprecedented risks posed by digital technology, misinformation, hate speech, rewriting of history, the amplification of gender-based violence and online violence, especially against women. In this polarized world, we must have common points of reference to ensure that technology progresses to benefit the common good. This is the thrust behind the… AI resolution adopted unanimously by members of our organization in 2021. This has clear principles for the key challenges of artificial intelligence such as data governance, the environmental impacts, gender equality, education or research for that matter. We are supporting around 60 countries today to ensure that these principles lead to tangible public policies and we are supporting the African Union in its definition of a strategy for artificial intelligence for the entire continent. We also have drafted initial principles for digital platforms in 2023. This is a critical roadmap for governments, regulators, digital companies and citizens vis-à-vis moderation, transparency, content publishing and much more besides. This is a major challenge which public policies should seize and the Global Compact needs to have common reference points based on universal values allowing us to yield as much as we can from the digital sector. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention.

Alar Karis: I thank the distinguished representative UNESCO for her statement and now I give the floor to distinguished representative of International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance: President Karis, President Muizzu, thank you for chairing this important dialogue. Excellencies, never before has so much information being available to so many people. This fact is reshaping politics globally. Digital technologies are creating new opportunities for people to learn about and participate in politics. Yet the full flourishing of this democratic potential is only possible when the Internet itself is democratic, open, interoperable, inclusive, and accessible by all. This must be our collective mission, both through and beyond the global digital compact. Let me share three basic ideas to advance this objective. First, we must protect the integrity of the information environment, especially around politics. Everyone agrees that people should be able to access clean water. Well, we also need to protect their access to clean sources of political information. But right now, the drinking water and the sewage are flowing from the same taps. Ending this pollution of the information environment is a task for all sectors of society. As two examples, companies must increase transparency around ranking algorithms, and governments must refrain from Internet shutdowns. Second, we must ensure that the digital public infrastructure now being built all over the world incorporates democratic rights, values, and principles by default. And here, I will underscore the importance of equality and non-discrimination of women and minorities, as well as transparency. Our goal should be universal access. Among other things, this means closing the digital gender gap. Third, we must protect the current system of governance for digital technologies, especially the multi-stakeholder model and core institutions like the Internet Governance Forum. We should also make full use of existing human rights mechanisms, while adding norms and agreements to protect human rights online and to protect the Internet itself from further fragmentation. A similarly principled and inclusive global framework is needed for artificial intelligence. Digital technologies hold great power to foster a global democratic commons. We must seize the opportunity of the Global Digital Compact and the Summit of the Future to make the Internet a common good for all people of the world, leaving no one behind. Thank you.

Alar Karis: I thank the distinguished representative of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Institute for Consumer Protection.

Institute for Consumer Protection: Distinguished Excellencies, we reached one landmark consensus with the Global Digital Compact. Now, we have a baseline, but to thrive, we must go even further. For that, I am here as a representative of consumers and human and digital rights organizations from Latin America, the Global South, and across the world. Working together, we recall on three essential implementation points to fulfill GDC’s goals for an inclusive digital future. First, we must view the GDC as a starting point, advance it, and tailor it to different contexts. We must advance it through the design of robust, adaptable, and inclusive regulation frameworks, bringing accountability and human rights in all technologies in the AI lifecycle, to prevent risks and harms to consumers, privacy, the economy, and democracy, to fight against monopoly abuses, and to promote public interest, diversity, openness, interoperability, and information integrity in the digital environment. In addition, we must adapt it to different contexts, without losing the potential of important coordinated solutions. dialogue, we must tailor the GDC to each country’s unique contexts, needs, and priorities. For example, increasing social and economic opportunities with DPIs, digital public infrastructures, and goods. In the global south, considering that 2.7 billion people are still unconnected, bridging digital divides through meaningful connectivity and digital literacy is also key. And we should always promote digital justice with special attention to gender inequalities, the needs of most vulnerable communities, and the intersection of different forms of discrimination. Second, we must foster GDC’s cross-feedback with other relevant spaces and topics. The summit of the future and its outcomes must align with existing important dialogues, held in the G20 UN DPI Safeguards Initiative and others. In different topics, we must assess the social environmental impact, the implications for workers who should also enjoy the social benefits of the value created by data, media diversity, the connection with other SDGs. This allows us to go beyond a technocratic or uncritical innovation narrative. Third, and crucially, we need a meaningful, diverse, and democratic multistakeholder engagement from the affected communities, consumers, and civil society, including the facilitation of the ECOSOC status approval here in the UN, with special attention to addressing the power asymmetry and the unbalanced access or lack of access in privileged decision spaces, as stated in the NetMundial Plus 10 principles. Summing up, the GDC is a starting point. We must contextualize it, go beyond, considering the discussions of other relevant fora and topics with a truly balanced multistakeholder participation. Your Excellencies, we cannot afford to keep this status quo. We must be bold and ambitious in building an inclusive, just, participatory, and human rights-based digital future, starting from the GDC, but going beyond and together. Thank you.

Alar Karis: I thank the distinguished representative of the Institute for Consumer Protection. At this point, I hand over to my eminent chair to oversee our meeting, please.

Avendis Consulting: I thank my esteemed co-chair. We will continue with our list of speakers. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Avendis Consulting. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, my name is Dr. Aninu Emua. As Managing Director of Avendis Consulting, I represent our communities of women in leadership, Africa Women’s CEO’s Network, 100 Women at Davos, and Women in Philanthropy and Impact Africa, engaged in advancing inclusive leadership for the betterment of our societies and economies. My statement is on the imperative of inclusive development of emerging technologies, in particular, artificial intelligence. As we stand at the crossroads of unprecedented technological advancement, we must recognize that emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are not only reshaping the future of work, but also driving the creation of new jobs and opportunities. However, we must also confront the stark reality that if we do not act decisively, these same technologies risk deepening existing inequalities, particularly the gender gap. Today, women occupy only 33% of tech jobs, and their representation in leadership roles is even lower. As technology becomes more sophisticated and central to our economies, the exclusion of women from these spaces is not only unjust, but also a significant loss to the potential of our societies. To truly bridge the digital divide, we must first close the gender gap in technology. To build an inclusive digital future, we must incorporate a gender perspective in all aspects of digital innovation and funding. This means prioritizing investments in AI and other technologies that are designed to serve the needs of all people. people, ensuring that these tools are free from bias and inclusive by design. We must also support female-led entrepreneurship, particularly in developing countries, by providing patient capital, long-term investments that prioritize impact over immediate returns. By doing so, we empower women, drive inclusive economic growth, and foster sustainable development. Furthermore, it is crucial that we address the biases embedded in the technologies we develop. AI and other digital tools can perpetuate and even exacerbate existing inequalities if not carefully managed. We must establish robust frameworks that ensure that these technologies are inclusive, equitable, and subject to human oversight. This includes legislation that protects individuals, especially women and girls, from online harms and digital exclusion. Finally, multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential to achieving these goals. Governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations must work together to mobilize resources, build capacity, and foster technological and scientific cooperation. By prioritizing inclusivity, we can achieve these goals.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the distinguished representative of Avendis Consulting. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Nations Population Fund.

United Nations Population Fund: Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the summit of the future is our chance to shape the world we want. As science and technology increasingly govern our lives, we must ensure that this digital revolution benefits everyone, drives progress and does not worsen existing inequalities. This means closing the digital divides that prevent women, girls and young people in all their diversity from accessing technology that empowers them with vital and often life-saving tools and resources. Fear for their personal safety is among the three barriers women face in accessing digital spaces. Three in four women have already faced some form of technology facilitated gender-based violence. This escalating threat is fueled by discriminatory gender norms and unsafe technology that disproportionately affects women, girls and youth. UNFPA’s body right campaign advocates for protecting personal images online just like copyrighted material. The campaign also exposes violations of bodily autonomy and privacy, especially for women, girls, minorities and LGBTQIA plus communities. By rejecting non-consensual image sharing, deep fakes and doxxing, the initiative calls for global action against digital violence. We must prevent technologies from becoming weapons to threaten, harm or kill, and create safe online environments where everyone feels secure, protected and empowered. We need human rights-based and gender transformative policies and law reform for effective regulation and protection, accountability mechanisms and survivor-centered responses. UNFPA has taken a key step by releasing its guidance on the design and use of technology for gender-based violence and harmful practices. Ensuring equal participation in the digital space also requires that we invest in education, resources and information. Women are underrepresented in technology industries, including those in health and education, leading to gender blind products and gaps in solutions for women. To change this, women and girls in all their diversity must be actively included in the design and development of those technologies. This is the goal of the UNFPA-led Equity 2030 Alliance, because an equitable future can only be achieved if it addresses the needs of all. As we work towards creating… creating meaningful and safe connectivity and technology, we need to ensure that every voice is heard, every need is met, and everyone’s potential is realized. Together we can create an equitable and peaceful and sustainable future where everyone can use and enjoy technology safely and can thrive. Thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the Distinguished Representative of the United Nations Population Fund. And now I’ll give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of the United Nations University.

United Nations University: Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, digital technologies are impacting our lives in powerful new ways, driving immense and unprecedented societal changes. It is critical that we harness these technologies for the common good, ensuring technological progress is guided by inclusion, equity, and the rights and needs of everyone. New technologies like AI can accelerate attainment of sustainable development goals, whether for climate action, gender, equality, or peace and security, even though – equally though in the wrong hands – they could unleash irreversible harm on an unimaginable scale, jeopardizing our ability to deliver on the 2030 Agenda. For example, AI technology consumes huge amounts of water and energy, and this needs to be regulated. We need to carefully think through governance models that balance inclusion, accessibility, human rights, and innovation. We need to address the digital divide which prevents billions of people, mostly in the Global South, from participating in the digital economy. United Nations University stands ready to support the United Nations as it seeks to navigate the difficult road ahead. ahead. We offer expertise in policy development and regulation, data-driven and evidence-based actions to achieve the SDGs, and the digital technologies that enhance the work of the UN and its member states. We are shaping important conversations around the ethics of digital technologies and human-centered approaches to technological development. We are a global network of universities and research centers, enabling the United Nations to tap into diverse perspectives and expertise. We are equipping students, policymakers, UN officials, and others with critical digital literacy skills to help them exploit the opportunities that digital transformation provide. The current pace of change is unprecedented in human history, and it is difficult to anticipate how our lives will be impacted by digital innovations. Whatever the future holds, the United Nations and our university will be standing ready to respond quickly for the benefit of all. Our common digital future must be informed by inclusion and a commitment that no one should be left behind. I thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the distinguished representative of the United Nations University. And now I’ll give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Nations Department of Global Communication.

United Nations Department of Global Communications: Thank you, Mr. Chair, excellencies, delegates, my dear colleagues. Yesterday, member states took a historic step for our common digital future by adopting the Global Digital Compact, the first global framework for digital cooperation and AI governance. And through the compact, they pledged to make the online environment safe for all and to promote information integrity, tolerance, and respect in the world. digital space. No discussion on this topic can ignore the damage that misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and other information threats are doing to our world. This has caused a rise in polarization and a decline in trust – trust that is so needed to achieve peace, dignity, and equality on a healthy planet. To build this trust, we need integrity in our information ecosystem. Recognizing the urgency of this need, the Secretary General of the United Nations launched the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity in June. These principles are firmly rooted in human rights, and they cover a holistic framework for an inclusive, open, safe, and secure digital space where everyone is able to express themselves without fear of attack. The principles are an important resource for Member States and other stakeholders in their efforts to meet the commitments made at this summit. And some stakeholders bear an outsized responsibility, and to them our message is clear. To the big tech companies, acknowledge and mitigate the harm your products are inflicting on people and communities. Raise transparency and ensure safety and privacy by design for all users, everywhere. To all AI actors, uphold human rights and take urgent and transparent measures to ensure that all of your applications are designed and deployed safely, securely, responsibly, and ethically. To advertisers and PR companies, stop allowing the monetizing of harmful content and use your creative power to promote our common good. To the media, raise and enforce your industry’s own editorial standards, provide quality journalism based on facts and reality. And to governments, commit to a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape, guarantee strong protections for journalists, refrain from drastic measures such as blanket internet shutdowns, and ensure responses strictly adhere to international law, including international human rights law. We hope these principles will serve as a blueprint for the information environment we need to shape our future together. I thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the distinguished representative of the United Nations Department of Global Communications. Now I’ll give the floor to the representative of ILAB.

ILAB: Thank you, Chair, Excellencies, and distinguished guests. I’m speaking on behalf of ILAB, a Mexican NGO with presence across Latin America, developing tools to bridge the digital gap dividing our future as a society. The integration of automation, robotics, and AI is poised to radically transform both economies and the future workforce. Smart farming technologies are rapidly being adopted as soon as manual labor force will be displaced in the near future. Will these innovations boost efficiency? They also endow the livelihoods of millions of workers, particularly migrants, who rely on seasonal farm jobs. The service sector is also undergoing a profound transformation with AI-driven customer service platforms, robotics, and automated systems becoming more affordable and widespread, leading to the replacement of many low-skilled employments across the regions. By 2030, nearly 50 percent of agricultural tasks will be automated, reducing the need for manual labor while increasing the demand for highly skilled labor workforce capable of operating and managing these advanced technologies. While there is an opportunity to incorporate new, better-paid professionals, it will come at the cost of displacing tens or even hundreds of workers. These are not just numbers, but real people, names, and faces who will be left without opportunities to thrive. The impact of this displacement will strain labor markets and create a vacuum in economies reliant on remittances from workers abroad. Many of the recipients of these funds are part of a population that often engages in informal economic activities. In several Latin American countries, remittances are among the top contributors to GDP. Yet millions in rural and service sectors lack access to the education and training needed to fully participate in the digital economy. Without intervention, inequality will deepen, pushing more young people into poverty, migration, and further social unrest. We need to support small and medium-sized enterprises in transitioning from traditional services models to knowledge-based value-added services. For example, in Colombia, SMEs in coffee production are adopting blockchain technology to improve transparency and efficiency in their supply chains. By modernizing SMEs, we can foster frugal innovation for the local cities. Secondly, we must equip young people and those at risk of displacement with critical skills—system thinking, long-term planning, creativity, and problem solving. Education, reskilling and outskilling must be made a priority to ensure the promises of the future are accessible to us all. Thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the distinguished representative of ILAB, and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia: Thank you, Mr. Chair, excellencies, distinguished delegates, dear colleagues. In an era where revolutionary and rapid digital transformations are shaping every facet of our lives, it is critical to ensure that everyone benefits from its positive impact, that we minimize its negative effect, and that it serves the goals of sustainable development. Yet, a third of the population in developing countries remains disconnected, deepening inequalities and threatening to leave many behind. In the Arab region, this digital divide is exacerbated by conflict, destruction, and subsequent violence. marginalization and deprivation. At Esquire, we recognize this digital divide as one of the most urgent challenges that threatens the potential desirable future of the younger generation. To that end, we are following a two-pronged strategy, internal where we are increasing and optimizing our investments in data science, comprehensive up-to-date data portals, artificial intelligence, and online policy simulation tools that we put at the disposal of member states. And external, where we have helped member states develop the Arab digital agenda and are now helping them implement it at the national level, where we are promoting inclusive digital ecosystems that leverage technology for economic growth, financial inclusion, social equality, and environmental resilience. We are supporting member states to develop their national digital transformation strategies, build local capacities, and promote innovation, precisely to ensure full meaningful engagement of youth in the design and implementation of these agendas at the core of the digital economy. Furthermore, we have embarked on a series of analytical assessments of the impact of global megatrends on the region, its people, climate, and economy, where we are trying to answer the following question. What do policymakers need to do now to optimize the benefits of these emerging trends and minimize their negative effects? We have completed a study on electric mobility and another on the metaverse and have just launched the study on the artificial intelligence, with each providing around 20 policy action recommendations. While doing so, we recognize, obviously, risks of our digital future and are focusing some of our analysis on recommendations on mitigating these risks. Allow me to conclude by underscoring ESCWA’s commitment to supporting member states in implementing

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the distinguished representative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.

Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia: Thank you distinguished co-chair, esteemed delegates, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, SICA in short, is an intergovernmental organization on promoting peace, security and stability in the vast continent of Asia through dialogue and unites 28 member states, 10 observer states and 11 observant partner organizations. Within the SICA catalog of confidence building measures, our member states interacting in the priority areas such as information technology and security of in the use of information and communication technologies. More than 30 seminars and workshops have been organized in the last few years including such topics as digitalization of the economy, new realities in the field of ICTs, especially amidst the post-COVID recovery, digital solutions for agriculture and SMEs. The SICA summit held in Astana in 2022 has adopted the statement on cooperation in the field of security and of and in use of ICT. This document reflects the common vision of the member states on the issues related to the prevention of the use of ICTs for illegal and criminal purposes. Within the cooperation with other organization, SICA and UNSCAP this April held the joint side event dedicated to the role of regional partnerships in achieving the SDGs including through the efficient use of digital innovations. Dear delegates, the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomar Tokayev, current chair of SICA, put forward several initiatives to further strengthen cooperation and proposed to the establishment of the SICA Council on Sustainable Connectivity to address contemporary challenges in the global economy, including supply chain disruptions and digital connectivity. SICA remains committed to leveraging digital innovation to promote sustainable development and response and address social challenges such as poverty evaluation and health care. Global Digital Compact gives us the opportunity to foster collaboration and share best practices in digital innovation among countries, ultimately contributing to safer and more resilient communities. As we work together to build a more prosperous and peaceful future, let us seize the opportunities presented by digital innovation and sustainable development to create a better world for generations to come. I thank you.

Mohamed Muizzu: I thank the distinguished representative of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia for his statement. Distinguished delegates, we have heard the last speaker for Interactive Dialogue 3. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all participants for their invaluable insights and contributions to today’s meeting. At this point, I hand over to my eminent co-chair to proceed over the meeting.

Alar Karis: Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I now give the floor to Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill, United Nations Secretary General’s Envoy on Technology, to deliver some closing remarks.

Amandeep Singh Gill: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you to both of you, Excellencies, for leading this very important interactive dialogue. Thank you to the panelists and all those who have spoken today. their insights, and most grateful for the appreciation that they have extended to us, to each other, on the historic development today, the adoption of the pact, and its annexes, including the global digital compact. I just want to acknowledge the tremendous work that’s been put in by the co-facilitators in Sweden and Zambia, and before Zambia, Rwanda, over the past two years on consultations, on negotiations, bringing in critical inputs from stakeholders. And I’ll be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the enormous hard work put in by the small but mighty Secretariat team, led by Dr. Renata Dwan, Special Advisor in my office. So ladies and gentlemen, what’s different with the global digital compact? First, it is the very first comprehensive agreement on digital cooperation. We are moving away from silos and sectoral approaches to a holistic approach, including building connectivity to the governance of emerging technology, in particular artificial intelligence. And we need this holistic approach, bringing not only new issues, but also new momentum to old issues by leveraging the GDC’s potential. Second, we’ve achieved a breakthrough in bending technology in the public interest, through the renewed focus on digital public goods, the new focus on digital public infrastructure, open source tools, what we can collectively call the digital commons, and then, in particular, putting this emphasis on data and AI. for humanity. This is important as we use multilateralism to fill the gaps where market forces cannot or will not do. This is not anti-market, but this is market shaping so that we build a more inclusive and impactful digital economy. So here multilateralism is acting as an equalizing force, as a shaper of the global digital landscape. Third, the Global Digital Compact is a breakthrough for implementation. And here too, we need to go beyond our silos and institutions across geography, across levels, across sectors, and across actors. This is the important how of how we implement the GDC. In a sense, this is a new threshold of multi-stakeholder cooperation. Related to implementation is the issue of financing of resources, and in the GDC we find innovation on approaches to financing, and I point you in particular to the options that the Secretary General has been invited to explore in terms of funding for capacity building around AI. And finally, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, on the surface, the GDC may appear to be about digital technology, but in terms of its outcomes, in terms of its actions, it’s about outcomes that we need to achieve through technology so that this works for all of us, it uplifts everyone, and does not leave anyone behind. Thank you very much.

Alar Karis: I thank the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Distinguished Participants. We have come to the end of Interactive Dialogue III of the Summit of the Future. Also on behalf of my esteemed co-chair, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Republic of the Maldives, I sincerely thank all speakers and our special entities for their active participation and insightful contribution to our discussion on the thought-provoking theme of this dialogue. Before we adjourn, I would also like to remind participants that Interactive Dialogue IV on the theme, The Future Starts Now, Enhancing the Global System for Current and Future Generations, will be held at 3 p.m. this afternoon in this chamber. Interactive Dialogue III is now concluded. The meeting is adjourned.

Mohamed Muizzu:

Agreement Points

Bridging the digital divide

Mohamed Muizzu

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

Ismaila Ceesay

Abdullah Alswaha

Birgit Stevens

Expanding connectivity infrastructure

Investing in digital skills and literacy

Promoting inclusive innovation for underserved areas

Leveraging public-private partnerships

Addressing gender gaps in technology access and skills

Multiple speakers emphasized the importance of bridging the digital divide through various means, including infrastructure development, skills training, inclusive innovation, public-private partnerships, and addressing gender gaps.

Harnessing digital technologies for sustainable development

Jonas Gahr Støre

Edi Rama

Esther Dweck

Juan M. Lavista Ferres

Abdullah Alswaha

Using AI and digital tools to address climate change

Digitalization of public services for efficiency and transparency

Leveraging digital finance for financial inclusion

Adopting digital solutions for agriculture and food security

Implementing digital health solutions

Several speakers highlighted the potential of digital technologies to address various sustainable development challenges, including climate change, public service delivery, financial inclusion, agriculture, and healthcare.

Ensuring a safe and inclusive digital space

Aminata Zerbo-Sabané

United Nations Department of Global Communications

UNESCO

Dimitar Glavchev

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

Protecting against online harms, especially for women and children

Combating misinformation and promoting information integrity

Developing ethical frameworks for AI governance

Safeguarding privacy and data protection

Promoting digital rights and freedoms

Multiple speakers emphasized the importance of creating a safe and inclusive digital environment by addressing online harms, misinformation, ethical AI use, privacy protection, and digital rights.

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the importance of international cooperation and shared digital infrastructure in fostering digital development and addressing global challenges.

Alar Karis

Charlotta Schlyter

Developing digital public infrastructure and goods

Enhancing international cooperation on digital issues

Both speakers highlighted the importance of supporting local innovation and knowledge sharing to foster digital development in developing countries.

Linda Bonyo

D.N. Dhungyel

Supporting digital entrepreneurship and startups

Facilitating knowledge sharing and technology transfer

Unexpected Consensus

Importance of open source and interoperable solutions

Alar Karis

Linda Bonyo

Promoting open source and interoperable solutions

Supporting digital entrepreneurship and startups

Despite representing different regions and contexts, both speakers emphasized the importance of open and interoperable digital solutions, suggesting a growing consensus on the value of collaborative and adaptable approaches to digital development.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The main areas of agreement included bridging the digital divide, harnessing digital technologies for sustainable development, ensuring a safe and inclusive digital space, fostering international cooperation, and supporting local innovation and knowledge sharing.

Consensus level

There was a high level of consensus among speakers on the importance of digital technologies for sustainable development and the need for inclusive and collaborative approaches. This consensus suggests strong potential for international cooperation in addressing digital challenges and opportunities, but also highlights the complexity of balancing various priorities such as innovation, security, and inclusivity in the digital realm.

Disagreement Points

Approach to digital development

Alar Karis

Linda Bonyo

Promoting open source and interoperable solutions

Supporting digital entrepreneurship and startups

While Alar Karis emphasizes open source and interoperable solutions for digital development, Linda Bonyo focuses on supporting local digital entrepreneurship and startups. This represents a difference in approach to fostering digital innovation.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The main areas of disagreement revolve around the specific approaches to digital development and bridging the digital divide. While there is general consensus on the importance of these issues, speakers differ in their proposed solutions and areas of focus.

Disagreement level

The level of disagreement among the speakers is relatively low. Most speakers agree on the overarching goals of digital inclusion and development, with differences primarily in the specific strategies and focus areas. This suggests a generally unified vision for the future of digital technologies, which is positive for advancing the topic at hand.

Partial Agreements

All speakers agree on the goal of bridging the digital divide, but they propose different methods: Muizzu focuses on infrastructure expansion, Owusu-Ekuful emphasizes digital skills and literacy, while Ceesay highlights inclusive innovation for underserved areas.

Mohamed Muizzu

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful

Ismaila Ceesay

Expanding connectivity infrastructure

Investing in digital skills and literacy

Promoting inclusive innovation for underserved areas

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers emphasized the importance of international cooperation and shared digital infrastructure in fostering digital development and addressing global challenges.

Alar Karis

Charlotta Schlyter

Developing digital public infrastructure and goods

Enhancing international cooperation on digital issues

Both speakers highlighted the importance of supporting local innovation and knowledge sharing to foster digital development in developing countries.

Linda Bonyo

D.N. Dhungyel

Supporting digital entrepreneurship and startups

Facilitating knowledge sharing and technology transfer

Key Takeaways

The digital divide remains a major challenge, with over one-third of the global population still unconnected to the internet

Digital technologies and AI have significant potential to accelerate progress on sustainable development goals if leveraged properly

Ensuring an inclusive, safe and secure digital space is crucial, especially for protecting vulnerable groups like women and children

International cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships are essential for bridging digital divides and fostering responsible innovation

Digital skills development and literacy programs are needed to empower people to participate fully in the digital economy

Resolutions and Action Items

Adoption of the Global Digital Compact as a framework for digital cooperation and AI governance

Establishment of a Global Digital Dialogue on AI Governance

Creation of a Scientific Panel on AI

Launch of an AI Capacity Building Fund

Commitment by some countries to expand high-speed internet access to underserved areas

Pledge by Microsoft to equip 25 million people with AI skills by 2025, focusing on underserved communities

Unresolved Issues

Specific mechanisms for financing digital infrastructure development in low-income countries

Detailed frameworks for ethical AI development and deployment across different contexts

Concrete measures to address the gender gap in technology access and skills

Strategies to balance innovation with data protection and privacy concerns

Methods to effectively combat online misinformation and protect information integrity globally

Suggested Compromises

Balancing regulation of digital technologies with the need to foster innovation

Promoting open-source and interoperable solutions to enable technology sharing while respecting intellectual property

Leveraging public-private partnerships to expand digital infrastructure in a cost-effective manner

Developing context-specific digital strategies that address local needs while aligning with global frameworks

Estonia has focused on digital innovation to accelerate the fulfillment of sustainable development goals, to bridge digital divides, and to empower all individuals. Our success story, if I can humbly say, is a great reminder of how digital technologies can transform a society, any society.

Speaker

Alar Karis, President of Estonia

Reason

This comment is insightful because it provides a concrete example of how digital innovation can be leveraged to achieve broader societal goals. It challenges the notion that digital transformation is purely a technological endeavor by emphasizing its potential for societal transformation.

Impact

This comment set a positive tone for the discussion by highlighting a success story. It encouraged other participants to consider how digital technologies could be applied in their own contexts to address societal challenges.

Yet, the pressing reality is that over one-third of the global population remains disconnected from the internet, particularly in developing countries. This digital divide is not only about access to internet. It is a profound barrier to development, opportunity, and justice.

Speaker

Mohamed Muizzu, President of Maldives

Reason

This comment is thought-provoking because it reframes the digital divide as not just a technological issue, but a fundamental barrier to development and justice. It highlights the urgency of addressing this divide.

Impact

This comment shifted the discussion towards the importance of inclusivity in digital transformation. It prompted subsequent speakers to address how their countries or organizations were working to bridge this divide.

Emerging technologies, not least artificial intelligence, hold incredible potential to accelerate progress on reaching the SDGs. Yet they also pose serious challenges, challenges we can only overcome together.

Speaker

Charlotta Schlyter, ECOSOC Ambassador

Reason

This comment is insightful because it balances the potential benefits of emerging technologies with their associated challenges. It emphasizes the need for collective action in addressing these challenges.

Impact

This comment deepened the discussion by introducing the complexity of managing emerging technologies. It led to more nuanced conversations about the governance and ethical considerations of AI and other technologies.

To bridge this divide, we must prioritize affordable Internet access for undeserved communities. Education is equally essential. Government and organizations must collaborate to offer training on digital literacy and personal data protection, empowering people to become informed and responsible digital citizens.

Speaker

Representative of International Carbon Neutrality Industry Research Organization Limited

Reason

This comment is thought-provoking because it provides concrete steps for addressing the digital divide, emphasizing both infrastructure and education. It introduces the concept of digital citizenship.

Impact

This comment shifted the discussion towards practical solutions. It prompted other speakers to share their own initiatives and strategies for digital inclusion and literacy.

The Global Digital Compact is a breakthrough for implementation. And here too, we need to go beyond our silos and institutions across geography, across levels, across sectors, and across actors. This is the important how of how we implement the GDC. In a sense, this is a new threshold of multi-stakeholder cooperation.

Speaker

Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Technology

Reason

This comment is insightful because it emphasizes the importance of implementation and cross-sector collaboration in realizing the goals of the Global Digital Compact. It highlights a shift in approach to digital governance.

Impact

As a closing remark, this comment synthesized many of the themes discussed and set the stage for future action. It emphasized the need for continued collaboration and concrete steps towards implementation.

Overall Assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by moving it from abstract concepts to concrete examples and practical solutions. They highlighted the transformative potential of digital technologies while also emphasizing the challenges, particularly the digital divide. The discussion evolved from identifying problems to proposing solutions, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, inclusivity, and the need for a holistic approach to digital transformation. The comments also underscored the global nature of digital challenges and the importance of international cooperation in addressing them.

How can we ensure AI and digital technologies benefit developing countries and don’t widen existing inequalities?

Speaker

Mohamed Muizzu

Explanation

This is crucial to address the digital divide and ensure inclusive development.

What policies and actions can ensure no country or person is left behind in digital transformation?

Speaker

Mohamed Muizzu

Explanation

This is essential for achieving the objectives of the Global Digital Compact.

How can we develop digital public infrastructure that integrates democratic rights, values, and principles by default?

Speaker

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

Explanation

This is important to ensure digital technologies support rather than undermine democracy.

How can we address the gender gap in technology and AI development?

Speaker

Avendis Consulting

Explanation

Closing this gap is crucial for building an inclusive digital future.

What frameworks and legislation are needed to protect individuals, especially women and girls, from online harms and digital exclusion?

Speaker

Avendis Consulting

Explanation

This is necessary to ensure a safe and inclusive digital environment.

How can we mobilize more private investment and capital to meet digital infrastructure needs, especially in underserved areas?

Speaker

Ville Tavio

Explanation

This is crucial for achieving universal connectivity.

How can we ensure digital technologies and AI are designed and deployed safely, securely, responsibly, and ethically?

Speaker

United Nations Department of Global Communications

Explanation

This is essential to mitigate potential harms and ensure technologies serve the common good.

How can we support small and medium-sized enterprises in transitioning to knowledge-based, value-added services in the digital economy?

Speaker

ILAB

Explanation

This is important to help businesses adapt to technological changes and maintain economic stability.

What strategies can be implemented to equip workers at risk of displacement with critical skills needed in the digital economy?

Speaker

ILAB

Explanation

This is crucial to address potential job losses due to automation and AI.