Our host, Your Excellency, Mr Mohamed bin Thamer AlKaabi, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Bahrain
Mr. Philip Marnick, General Director, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, and Chair of this Digital Skills Forum
excellencies
distinguished participants
ladies and gentlemen
good morning!
And, indeed, good afternoon or good evening to those joining remotely from all points east.
It is my distinct honour and privilege to welcome you to the ITU Digital Skills Forum.
I am deeply grateful to the Government of Bahrain for hosting this important Forum and for their warm hospitality.
This country's commitment to digital skills is a shining example for us all.
In an era defined by digital transformation the importance of digital skills cannot be overstated.
Every aspect of our lives requires us to make use of increasingly advanced digital tools from education and healthcare to governance and economic development.
So, digital literacy is no longer a luxury.
We are gathered as representatives of a range of very different nations but we are united by a shared vision to empower our 21st century citizens with the digital skills they need to thrive.
Our goal is ambitious but achievable.
It is to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital revolution.
That revolution comprises the rise and rise of AI the power of Big Data and the challenge of new technologies like cryptocurrency which are bewildering for those not equipped with the right knowledge and skills.
But we can achieve that goal by fostering international collaboration sharing best practices and investing in digital education.
Connecting the unconnected has never been more crucial and not only for their own sake.
The global digital skills gap is a prevalent concern for many governments and industry leaders.
They also need those unconnected citizens to have the skills to perform 21st century jobs and drive progress.
At the ITU, the Telecommunications Development Bureau is committed to closing that digital skills gap.
Our role is to ensure digital transformation and digital skills development go hand in hand.
Together with our partner Cisco, we have launched the Digital Transformation Centre Initiative which equips citizens with basic and intermediate digital skills especially those in rural and underserved communities.
This Initiative has tremendous potential to unlock socio-economic opportunities for millions of people around the world to help improve their livelihoods and to bring them into today's digital economy. Since the DTC initiative was launched it has benefitted over 364,000 participants.
Meanwhile, the ITU Academy offers training to professionals in the ICT field and other economic sectors.
More than 700 courses can be accessed each year through the platform which has a user base of over 50,000.
Yesterday, I met some of the many partners who make this possible namely the 14 ITU Academy Training Centres from across the world and I am delighted with the progress they are making. Since last year, the ATCs have delivered more than 90 courses benefitting over 5300 people.
But it is incumbent on us all academic institutions, governments and the private sector to create a comprehensive ecosystem for digital skills development.
ITU is ready to support you in this endeavour.
Today, it is my great pleasure to launch the ITU Digital Skills Toolkit a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to help you craft effective national digital skills strategies and policies.
This hands-on resource is filled with practical examples and actionable insights making it an invaluable asset for policy makers in all countries.
Please join us later this afternoon for an in-depth presentation of the Toolkit.
Over the next few days, you will also hear from thought leaders, policymakers and practitioners.
We will explore everything from digital inclusion and skills frameworks to cybersecurity and online safety from the skills required for the future of work to the impact of AI.
But let's remember that behind all this technology lies the very human capacity to innovate, create and connect.
Let us harness this power to build more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous societies for all.
I look forward with excitement to the engaging and fruitful discussions ahead so let us begin.
Thank you!
