The first Asia-Pacific Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation in Central Asia, organized by UNESCAP in strategic cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, has started in Astana. The event is attended by key decision-makers in the field of digital development, as well as representatives of leading IT companies and startups. 

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana spoke at the opening ceremony of ESCAP. 

Also attending ESCAP are Deputy Minister for ICT Policy of the Ministry of Science, Information and Communications Technology of the Republic of Korea Song Sang-hoon, First Deputy Minister of Industry and High Technologies of Armenia Gevorg Mantashyan, Chief Economist of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China Dong Shen Gao, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Iran Reza Bagheri, US Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, US Department of State (Washington, DC), Ambassador Mr. Stefan Lang and others.

The conference aims to promote more inclusive digital economies and societies in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to advance digital cooperation to bridge the digital divide, strengthen digital connectivity, provide quality digital skills training, and enhance trust and security in the digital environment.

The Ministerial Conference focuses on digital inclusion and transformation to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region. 

UNESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations, and is an inclusive intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region. The Commission facilitates cooperation among its 53 member countries and 9 associate members in finding solutions to sustainable development challenges. 

Holding the conference in Kazakhstan highlights its leadership in digital technologies and opens up new opportunities for attracting international investment and partnerships. 

Kazakhstan will showcase its achievements in digitalization, which will contribute to the development of IT exports and strengthening the country's economic growth. It is also an excellent platform for exchanging experiences and presenting young technology projects and start-ups to digital experts from around the world. 

In his address to the nation last year, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined a strategically important task - to turn Kazakhstan into an IT country, noting achievements in the field of digitalization and the volume of exports of the domestic IT industry. The government was set a goal to increase the export of IT services to one billion dollars by 2026.

During the conference, a number of important agreements and memorandums are expected to be signed between the UN ESCAP member countries, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in the field of digital technologies.One of the key outcomes will be the adoption of the Astana Ministerial Declaration, which will determine further steps to accelerate digital transformation in the region.

Also, within the framework of the Conference, meetings are planned between the Minister of Digitalization of Kazakhstan Zhaslan Madiyev and representatives of more than 20 countries' digital ministries for further cooperation.

It should be noted that the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation is being held for the first time in Kazakhstan - a landlocked country with a strategic location and a high level of development of digital technologies and innovations. The proposal to hold the ESCAP Conference in Kazakhstan was unanimously supported by all member countries at the 79th session, which emphasizes the important role of the country in promoting digital technologies and sustainable development in the region.

 

gov.kz

translated by Qazalem