Abstract :
|
ITU and its Membership have been striving to enhance academia and private sector engagement and their participation in sector activities through its projects, initiatives, programs at country, region and global level. It has been a priority area for the Membership. While there is an improvement in the participation from the private sector and academia in ITU activities from the specific categories of countries (LDCs, LLDCs, SIDSs, CISN), there is still a significant gap in their presence in the sector and associate membership of ITU. Based on inputs from WTDC, Council, other conference etc., the Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-18) has resolved to encourage Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as associates in the Sectors of the Union by setting lower levels of financial contribution for SMEs when compared to other private Sector Members subject to ongoing review by the Council. Other PP, WTDC, WTSA resolutions stress on the focus of LDCs, LLDCs, SIDS and Countries in Special Needs (CISN). Based on analysis from the ITU Membership data, it is observed that there is " A limited representation in sector and academia membership from the industry, academia of LDCs, LLDCs, SIDS, CISN countries. This is more so in T, R sectors. (Industry / academia members may be participating as part of country delegations, which is difficult to capture at the outset). " An opportunity to enhance efforts to complement the ongoing handholding for the industry, academia from these countries for their enhanced participation.
|