Australia signs on to APT ministerial statement

Australia's Department of Communications and the Arts signed on to a new ministerial statement at the Asia Pacific Telecommunity ICT Ministerial Meeting last week in Singapore.

The meeting, which is held every five years, provides a forum for ministerial and industry discussions on the future of telecommunications and ICT in the Asia–Pacific region.

This year's meeting covered discussions on accelerating digital transformation of the economy and society, enabling digital innovation, improving the accessibility of telecommunications and ICT, and promoting the protection of data.

The statement seeks to define the region's ICT priorities for the next five years, and as a focus on further improving regional cooperation.

Delegates resolved to promote the development and adoption of policies and regulations that facilitate connectivity, digitalisation, transparency, market competition and access, consumer protection, the development of innovative technologies and services, as well as cross-border connectivity and the growth of the digital economy.

The ministerial statement also calls for the development of national digital government policies, strategies, practices and activities, as well as the development of enabling environments for emerging technologies including IoT, AI and 5G.

Other resolutions include encouraging the development of national digital inclusion policies as well as financial inclusion through technology, strengthening regional capacity to respond to cyber threats, and developing initiatives for encouraging the development of digital skills.

Image courtesy APT

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