Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin,
Esteemed colleagues, and online participants,
Digital technologies are the backbone of the SDGs.
They directly contribute to achieving around 70 per cent of SDG targets, and hold vast potential for accelerating achievement of the remaining 30 per cent .
Member States increasingly recognize the critical role of ICTs for sustainable development.
From the World Data Forum to the Science Technology Innovation Forum and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF), we see increasing emphasis on bridging the digital divides and maximizing digitalization benefits.
UN DESA has also been a vocal champion for leveraging the transformative potential of ICTs in sustainable development.
But our work has also identified key challenges.
The upcoming 2024 UN E-Government Survey will take note of existing gaps.
Over 3 billion people live in countries lagging in
e-government development.
UN DESA is committed to supporting these nations in bridging this divide.
Collaboration and partnerships will be critical to this effort.
The 18th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Kyoto exemplified multistakeholder collaboration.
Its theme, ¡°The Internet We Want ¨C Empowering All People,¡± drew rich recommendations for fostering a robust digital ecosystem at all levels.
National and Regional IGF Initiatives ¨C or NRIs - have grown from 37 in 2011 to 168 today, promoting partnerships and capacity-building worldwide.
The 19th IGF in Riyadh will help to further advance these efforts.
But even before this, the Summit of the Future and the Global Digital Compact, expected as part of the outcome, are potential springboards for shaping a just digital transition.
The Global Digital Compact will pave the way for an open, free, and secure digital future.
As we approach the twenty-year review of the WSIS in 2025, UN DESA is committed to gathering diverse perspectives to inform the discussions in the UN General Assembly.
Let us work together to create a more inclusive and sustainable digital future, through active dialogue and collaboration.
Thank you.