From 26 to 27 March 2024, the Regional Development Forum of the International Telecommunication Union for the CIS Countries (ITU-CIS), organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was held in Astana.
The CIS Regional Development Forum provided an opportunity for exchange of views between ITU Member States, Sector Members, partners and other stakeholders. RDF-CIS provided an opportunity to align regional and national partners' priorities and commitments, as announced since the launch of the Partner2Connect digital coalition at the World Telecommunication Development Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.
The overall goal was to turn promises into concrete commitments that would lead to the implementation of effective projects in line with the priorities set out in the Kigali Action Plan (KAP), including regional initiatives.
Askhat Orazbek, Vice Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was appointed Chairman of the Forum.
The RDF-CIS 2024 was opened by the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bagdat Musin.
High-level RDF-CIS participants also delivered welcoming remarks:
- Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau Cosmas Lakison Zavazava,
- UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan Michaela Friberg-Story,
- General Director of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of communications Alexey Borodin.
RCC General Director Alexey Borodin thanked the host - the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan - for holding the RDF-CIS on hospitable Kazakh soil.
In his greeting, the Director General noted that the Forum, like the platform of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of communications, provides an opportunity for communications administrations and industry representatives to hold discussions on the most pressing issues facing the industry, and to develop common positions before the largest “communication” events of the ITU.
The Commonwealth has ambitious goals, and the RCC has recently been working within the framework of the “tradition and innovation” approach. And, as noted, the traditions that exist in the RCC are in symbiosis with innovation, which perfectly meets the requirements of the time.
“In general, traditions are strong and very important in the countries of our region. We attach great importance to this." – noted Alexey Borodin.
During the first day of the RDF-MNG, a high-level panel discussion was also held on the topic “Digital Development in the CIS Region: Trends, Opportunities and Challenges,” moderated by the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, Kosmas Lakison Zavazava.
The high-level panel discussion included:
- Minister of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus Konstantin Shulgan,
- Vice Minister of Digital Development of Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askhat Orazbek,
- Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation Bella Cherkesova, and,
- RCC Director General Alexey Borodin.
The RCC General Director introduced the Forum participants to the priority areas of the Commonwealth’s activities on digital development, as well as the challenges facing the region and the opportunities associated with digital development and transformation.
In his speech, the General Director noted that the RCC is currently a promising platform for cooperation between RCC communications administrations on issues such as cross-border coordination of the use of the radio frequency spectrum, the introduction and use of new and emerging technologies, in particular artificial intelligence, postal communications, the development of common positions for major ITU events, statistics on the implementation of the SDGs and others.
Current industry issues, such as ensuring information security, the safety of citizens’ personal data and respect for their rights in the information space and the Internet, harmonization of terminological approaches to new phenomena in the field of communications and many others can also find their place in discussions held in the RCC.
The General Director of the RCC informed the Forum participants that the Interstate Council on Antimonopoly Policy had developed a document on model principles for participants in the digital markets of the CIS member states.
Model principles and standards are aimed at developing the institution of self-regulation and creating conditions for the formation of open, transparent, non-discriminatory conditions for doing business in the digital markets of the CIS countries. This document is recommended for use by competition authorities of Commonwealth countries when developing relevant standards at the national level
In addition, the document presents the risks and possible unfair practices of participants in digital markets, and also contains principles and standards of good conduct for participants in digital markets in the CIS.
The Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau noted that the ITU Regional Development Forum for the CIS Region provides a platform for the exchange of views among ITU Member States, Sector Members, partners and other stakeholders.