Minister of Digital Economy and Communication of Mali,
Minister of Social Affairs and Cooperation,
Minister of Justice and Legislation,
Minister of SMEs,
Minister of Culture,
Representative of the OIF,
Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps,
Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of civil society and direct and indirect beneficiaries of digital technology, ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegation,
Ladies and gentlemen, business leaders,
Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen.
This morning, at the outset of my remarks, I would like to welcome you to our beautiful city of Cotonou. I would particularly like to welcome the foreign delegations who have travelled here to take part in this consultation day on digital cooperation in French-speaking Africa. Ladies and gentlemen, You will recall that on 12 July 2018, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr António Guterres, established the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation. The main purpose of this High-level Panel is to advance proposals to strengthen cooperation in the digital sphere among governments, the private sector, civil society, international organisations, the technical and academic communities and other relevant stakeholders.
Its main task is also to raise public awareness of the transformative power of digital technologies on society and the economy and to inform the broader debate on how to ensure a safe and inclusive digital future, in keeping with all applicable human rights standards. In addition, it will seek the views and proposals of Member States, representatives of the relevant industries, civil society and academia around the world through a rigorous consultation process. You will agree with me that, as this process reaches its conclusion, it is vital that the voice of French-speaking countries, which are currently making a great technological leap in the digital revolution, be heard. That is why, like the rest of a French-speaking Africa aware of the need to pool its efforts, Benin undertook to host this consultation day. It is the result of an initiative co-organised by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Communication and Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, together with the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation and the International Organisation of La Francophonie, so that stakeholders from our ecosystem can cooperate across sectors, not only to make the most of the social and economic potential of digital technology, but also to share good practices in order to prevent the risks it may present. I express my gratitude to all those who have been involved, directly or indirectly, in organising this day. I also thank the representatives of the digital industry present here for their commitment and their high, I would even say acute, sense of responsibility in the face of the challenges that digital technology represents in the French-speaking world. As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, “the digital age confronts the international community with problems of security and equity and with human rights issues.” It is therefore up to us, as members of this community, to find appropriate solutions. Dear participants, During this day, you will follow presentations on topics relating to the challenges of digital transformation in French-speaking Africa, to which digital cooperation is proving to be a response. Specifically, the consultation day on digital cooperation in French-speaking Africa will serve to:
• Gather participants’ proposals on how to improve cooperation between countries, sectors and disciplines in the digital field;
• Foster exchanges and the creation of new networks between countries and stakeholders in the digital field in French-speaking Africa;
• Share good practices between countries and stakeholders in the digital field in French-speaking Africa. In short, I believe that this day will undoubtedly enable us to produce a report through which stakeholders will make a high-level contribution on digital cooperation issues. Your contributions are eagerly awaited. I know you are prepared for this exercise, and I have no doubt that the various contributions made today will help to move our thinking forward and to formulate relevant recommendations. With these words, I declare open the consultation day on digital cooperation in French-speaking Africa. Thank you.
All newsMinister of Social Affairs and Cooperation,
Minister of Justice and Legislation,
Minister of SMEs,
Minister of Culture,
Representative of the OIF,
Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of the diplomatic and consular corps,
Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of civil society and direct and indirect beneficiaries of digital technology, ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegation,
Ladies and gentlemen, business leaders,
Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen.
This morning, at the outset of my remarks, I would like to welcome you to our beautiful city of Cotonou. I would particularly like to welcome the foreign delegations who have travelled here to take part in this consultation day on digital cooperation in French-speaking Africa. Ladies and gentlemen, You will recall that on 12 July 2018, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr António Guterres, established the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation. The main purpose of this High-level Panel is to advance proposals to strengthen cooperation in the digital sphere among governments, the private sector, civil society, international organisations, the technical and academic communities and other relevant stakeholders.
Its main task is also to raise public awareness of the transformative power of digital technologies on society and the economy and to inform the broader debate on how to ensure a safe and inclusive digital future, in keeping with all applicable human rights standards. In addition, it will seek the views and proposals of Member States, representatives of the relevant industries, civil society and academia around the world through a rigorous consultation process. You will agree with me that, as this process reaches its conclusion, it is vital that the voice of French-speaking countries, which are currently making a great technological leap in the digital revolution, be heard. That is why, like the rest of a French-speaking Africa aware of the need to pool its efforts, Benin undertook to host this consultation day. It is the result of an initiative co-organised by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Communication and Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, together with the High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation and the International Organisation of La Francophonie, so that stakeholders from our ecosystem can cooperate across sectors, not only to make the most of the social and economic potential of digital technology, but also to share good practices in order to prevent the risks it may present. I express my gratitude to all those who have been involved, directly or indirectly, in organising this day. I also thank the representatives of the digital industry present here for their commitment and their high, I would even say acute, sense of responsibility in the face of the challenges that digital technology represents in the French-speaking world. As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, “the digital age confronts the international community with problems of security and equity and with human rights issues.” It is therefore up to us, as members of this community, to find appropriate solutions. Dear participants, During this day, you will follow presentations on topics relating to the challenges of digital transformation in French-speaking Africa, to which digital cooperation is proving to be a response. Specifically, the consultation day on digital cooperation in French-speaking Africa will serve to:
• Gather participants’ proposals on how to improve cooperation between countries, sectors and disciplines in the digital field;
• Foster exchanges and the creation of new networks between countries and stakeholders in the digital field in French-speaking Africa;
• Share good practices between countries and stakeholders in the digital field in French-speaking Africa. In short, I believe that this day will undoubtedly enable us to produce a report through which stakeholders will make a high-level contribution on digital cooperation issues. Your contributions are eagerly awaited. I know you are prepared for this exercise, and I have no doubt that the various contributions made today will help to move our thinking forward and to formulate relevant recommendations. With these words, I declare open the consultation day on digital cooperation in French-speaking Africa. Thank you.