ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector marks its 25th Anniversary

Buenos Aires, 11 October 2017 – The celebration of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector’s 25th Anniversary were held on 11 October in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the framework of the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-17). This marked two and a half decades of the sector’s immense contribution to the rapid growth and expansion of telecommunication and information and communication technology (ICT) networks and services.

The event featured two ministerial roundtable discussions: one on the impact of ICTs to accelerate the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – ICT④SDGs; and the other on the future of the digital economy. Both were chaired by Andrés Ibarra, Minister of Modernization of Argentina.

When opening the roundtables, ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao said, “The 25th Anniversary of ITU-D is an opportunity not only to celebrate our achievements, but also to reflect on the future and find innovative ways to move forward. Sustainable development drives the work of ITU-D whose role will be critical to the successful achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

In his remarks, Minister Ibarra emphasized that “the narrowing of the digital gap is an urgent issue due to the benefits that technology can provide as a driving force for progress and development.”

The first roundtable focused on the impact of ICT④SDGs. Guest speakers included Abdallah Said Sarouma, Vice-President from the Union of the Comoros, and Andrus Ansip, Vice President of the European Commission.