UAE Participates in WSIS - Geneva

09/04/2019

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) will head the UAE delegation participating in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), hosted by the Swiss city of Geneva from April 8 to 12. The UAE delegation includes the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization, Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, Smart Dubai Office, Digital Ajman, UAE Space Agency and Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation.

The UAE participates as a WSIS strategic partner and gold sponsor, and provides two training workshops, the first entitled ‘Government Efforts in Providing a Customer Experience that Exceeds Expectations’ and addresses the policies, strategies and plans adopted by the Government of the UAE to develop the user experience in government services, contributing to the happiness of society. As for the second workshop, it is presented by the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination and focuses on the People of Determination caring program. The UAE also participates in the WSIS Prizes through five of its outstanding projects making it to the final stage of the WSIS Prizes.

Eng. Majid Sultan Al-Mesmar, Deputy Director General for the Telecommunications Sector (DDG-T) at the TRA, will deliver a speech at the opening of the forum, highlighting UAE's efforts to participate in an AI-based future and in strengthening national competencies in new fields such as data and digital transformation, gender equality and partnership between various sectors.

H.E. added that "the UAE's achievements in all fields have given it a global standing, making it an active player in all international forums. Our participation today through a delegation comprising a number of federal and local entities is a reflection of our leadership's positive openness to global events, enhancing experience sharing and UAE's drawing on best international practices, on one hand, and presenting the experience of the UAE to its global counterparts on the other. In sponsoring this event, the UAE reaffirms its commitment to supporting all events and initiatives that seek world happiness, renewing its commitment to all WSIS initiatives and embodying the principle of international cooperation for sustainable development.

He added: "The UAE participates in this session of the WSIS by introducing two workshops, the first on happiness and the second on caring for people of determination, reviewing its successful experience in both areas. The UAE has thus become one of the happiest nations in the world. It has also made great strides in the welfare of people of determination, perhaps the most notable and successful of which was the hosting of the 2019 Special Olympics World Games, which was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces, in the presence of kings and leaders of a number of sisterly and friendly countries, and Rulers of the Emirates, Crown Princes and senior guests of the UAE.”

Five of the projects submitted by the UAE made it to the final stage of WSIS Prizes. These projects are the TRA Innovation Camp for the category of capacity building; the Mobile Police Station Project, submitted by the Ministry of the Interior for E-Government category; e-Recruitment Project, submitted by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization in the category of e-Recruitment applications; e-Licensing program for the e-Environment applications category, submitted by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation; UAE Space Agency project, global efforts in partnership and sustainable development, presented by the UAE Space Agency for the category of international and regional cooperation. Winners are scheduled to be announced at the opening of the Forum.

One of the activities associated with the Forum is MOI’s participation in informing the children of Geneva of UAE's experience in raising cybersecurity awareness. H.E. Majid Al Mesmar partook in this important community participation.

The WSIS is a high-level international platform through which efforts are coordinated around the world in all matters relating to ICT and digital content. Today, the role played by the Forum is crucial in laying the common ground for shaping a transparent, well-defined global sector-wide vision.