Minister asks ITU delegates to support resolution on Somalia

DUBAI - Somalia’s Minister for Post, Telecom and Technology, said the government recognizes that ICTs form the foundation of socio-economic development and good governance and therefore, is working to create opportunities through the development of ICTs for our people that would allow them to participate in the global economy.

Speaking at the 2018 Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-18) of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), H. E. Abdi Ashur Hassan, stressed that the transformation of Somalia’s economy would come from efforts to ramp up technology capacity in the nation.

The Minister further emphasized that Somalia and many other developing countries cannot overcome alone the many challenges their societies face in hyper-competitive global technological order.

We believe, he said, it is in the best interest of developed and less developed countries alike to cooperate and collaborate while we recommit to our shared goals in the ITU Strategic Plan, WSIS Action Lines, and Sustainable Development Goals.

Somalia has resubmitted for adoption during PP-18 the Resolution 160, which has been endorsed by the Arab and Africa Regions in their Common Proposals.

“We respectfully ask all member states to support this Resolution so that Somalia can rebuild its ICT infrastructure and capacities,” said the minister, adding that Somalia is committed to supporting the activities of the ITU and will cooperate and collaborate with fellow member states to advance the global ICT Agenda.

“We hope that those who have experiences, knowledge, and expertise will share for the benefit of all,” concluded the minister.

The Plenipotentiary Conference is the ITU’s highest-level meeting, where its 193 member states agree on the Union’s overall strategic and financial plans.