Participants from different countries pose for a picture during the 8th ICT Forum held in June in Macao. (Photo : www.bhn.or.jp)
About 120 participants from 22 countries and regions of the world have convened to attend the 12th Asia-Pacific Telecommunication and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Forum held in Macao on Tuesday, Sept, 22, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
According to the report, the three-day forum will focus on ICT development issues for developing nations, which is one of the key activities of Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT).
The APT website said that the forum will focus on telecommunications and ICT development issues for developing countries where policy makers, regulators and other officials meet to discuss issues of common concern.
The forum was also held to enable members to share information on the best practices and experiences for the common issues on ICT development, as well as promote the sharing of expertise in addressing key issues to the APT members on ICT development.
"The forum provided an opportunity for APT members to share information on the best practices and experience for the common issues in ICT development," Hoi Chi Leong, the director of Bureau of Telecommunications Regulation of Macao, said.
Leong added the the event was held to establish and enhance the present and future collaborative projects for the region, to facilitate investment for establishment of ICT infrastructure, to discuss about sustainable development through improving accessibility and affordability of ICT services, to focus on the telecommunication and ICT development issues of common concern with special attention on the rural areas.
Areewan Haorangsi, secretary-general of the APT, noted that there are still gaps in ICT accessibility and affordability in developing countries despite the rapid development of ICT in the Asia-Pacific, adding that to facilitate the building of base installation in unprofitable areas, they have enlisted the participation of public-private-partnership, government-led initiatives and infrastructure sharing model.
"It is important that the ICT services should be accessible to everyone at affordable cost on equitable basis," Haorangsi said.
"The potential of digital economy should be fully exploited to realize the transformation impact of digital technologies on the economy and societal well-being of people," the official said, adding that the goal can be achieved by joint efforts.
