Commonwealth ICT Ministers Forum 2016
Commonwealth ICT Ministers Forum 2016
The inaugural meeting of Commonwealth ICT Ministers, which took place in March 2014, decided there should be a biennial forum for the Commonwealth ICT Ministers to meet and discuss matters of common interest, paving the way for building Commonwealth consensus. Based on that decision, the CTO is convening this second Commonwealth ICT Ministers Forum.
The Commonwealth represents a unique sub-set of the world’s countries, both well–endowed and less-endowed. Gaining consensus on key issues relating to ICTs among Commonwealth countries can play a critically important role in fostering wider international agreement. In order to achieve this objective, the Commonwealth ICT Ministers mandated the CTO to coordinate the engagement of Commonwealth countries in international ICT fora, and the meeting received a briefing by the CTO on the delivery of this mandate.
In a Declaration released on Commonwealth ICT ministers meeting, unanimously endorsed the strategic plan of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) for 2016 – 2020.
The strategic plan, which was approved by members of the CTO Council in March, was presented at the biennial ministerial meeting by the CTO’s Secretary-General Shola Taylor.
In addition this year’s Forum considered ICT regulation, Broadband, Cybersecurity and ICT Applications. The closed door Ministerial meeting took place on 14 June 2016 at Marlborough House, London, followed by the open conference on 15-16 June 2016 at the International Coffee Organisation, 22 Berners Street, London W1T 3DD.
During the closed-door sessions on 14 June, Ministers received briefings about the Commonwealth’s progress on each of these areas, followed by a facilitated discussion where Ministers shared their experiences and views.
The forum theme Enhancing the Commonwealth through innovative ICTs focused on the outcomes of the ministers meeting and provided an opportunity for the discussions to be shared with a wider stakeholder group within the international ICT sector on issues such as broadband, internet governance and cybersecurity.
Commonwealth ICT Ministers speeches
Welcome Address by The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
Welcome Address, Shola Taylor, Secretary-General, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation
