Madam Chair, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, and Ladies and Gentlemen.

WTPF-21 draws to a close. It was our first WTPF in eight years! And it was also the first WTPF to take place entirely online!

Over the last three days, more than 400 participants logged in to follow the discussions. They represent over 90 ITU Member States, 40 Sector Members and close to 10 Observers. Also, we are falling short 10 percent of reaching gender parity.

On the first day, close to 30 Ministers and other high-level public and private sector officials took the floor to deliver official statements. They highlighted the opportunities and challenges presented by new and emerging technologies in a world where ICTs play a key role in people’s lives.

The Forum then delved into the text of the five draft Opinions prepared by the Informal Experts Group. The discussions were robust and frank, and I am pleased that the spirit of collaboration of our ITU family prevailed over the debates.

These Opinions send a strong message to the world that new and emerging technologies and ICTs in general are essential to achieve the SDGs and leave no one behind.

I would like to take a moment to recognize all those who have made this possible.

Let me start with all the members of the Informal Experts Group, including their outstanding Chairman in the person of Mr. Fabio Bigi of Italy. We are very grateful for everything this group has done over the last two years.

Our thanks also go to the Chair of the Forum, Her Excellency the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation of Ghana, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful. Madam Minister, we can’t thank you enough for chairing WTPF-21 and for all you are doing for ICTs and ITU in Ghana, Africa and beyond.

I would like to thank the Vice-Chairs of the Forum – Mr. Mansour AlQurashi of Saudi Arabia for the Arab region; Mr. Alexander Olegovich Mokryagin of Belarus for CIS; Mr. Víctor Martínez Vanegas of Mexico for the Americas; Ms. Cristiana Flutur of Romania for Europe; Mr. Ahmed Said of Egypt for Africa; and Dr. Ahmad Reza Sharafat of Iran for Asia Pacific.

Let me now thank the Chair of the Working Group 1, Mr. Roberto Mitsuake Hirayama of Brazil, and the Vice-Chair, Mr. Aymen I. Almogherah of Saudi Telecom Company; the Chair of Working Group 2, Ms. Lidia Stepinska-Ustasiak of Poland, and the Vice-Chair, Mr Ahmed Riad Ismail of Huawei; as well as the Chair of Working Group 3, Mr. Jim Paterson of South Africa, and the Vice-Chair, Ms. Natalia Vicente of ESOA – EMEA Satellite Operator’s Association.

May I please ask these Chairs and Vice-Chairs to turn on their cameras and to join the Chair of the Forum, VC of the Forum, the Chairman of the Informal Experts Group and the Elected Officials for a group photo?

Thank you!

Now I would like to present Minister Owusu-Ekuful and Mr. Fabio Bigi with a token of our appreciation. I look forward to being able to give you these Certificates of Appreciation in person soon.

Before I close, let me thank my fellow Elected Officials for taking part in the Working Groups.

I also want to thank the interpreters, captioners and technicians who play an important role – and that includes the IS team from ITU, as well as all the ITU staff involved with the preparation and running of the Forum, in particular Preetam’s and Béatrice’s teams.

Let me also thank all the Regional Coordinators Heads of Delegations, and all the participants of WTPF-21. And finally, my thanks to the Swiss authority and Geneva Authority to support WTPF 2021 including their nice action to put ITU flag on the famous bridge of Geneva during the entire period of WTPF 21.

It is now time to close this forum. I want to take this opportunity, on behalf of DSG and three Directors, to wish you all a little bit in advance a Happy New Year! Our wish for 2022 is to build on what we have achieved here together to connect the unconnected and to drive the development of ICTs and new and emerging technologies for the benefit of all.

Stay safe and see you soon physically in 2022!

Thank you.