GENEVA, MAY 25 – The Italian Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economic Development Anna Ascani spoke last week at the WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society Forum), stressing the importance of digitalization in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WSIS is the world’s largest annual gathering of the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) community, promoting the coordination and implementation of activities, exchange of information and ideas, and advancement of development goals. The webinar, hosted virtually this year, was co-organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with the UNESCO office in Geneva, UNDP and UNCTAD.
“The coronavirus pandemic has seriously affected our lives and the world economy. The vital role of digital technologies in keeping the economy alive was evident from the start,” said Ascani, adding that “today we can say that digitization is undoubtedly an essential tool for the recovery of our societies. Now that our countries are investing to recover from the immense damage suffered, it is essential to improve connectivity and eliminate the digital divide.”
“In response to the COVID crisis, the European Union has launched a temporary tool to kick-start recovery. This tool, Next Generation EU, the largest stimulus package ever financed in Europe, is a great opportunity for Europe and also for Italy. It is an extraordinary effort to support the transition of our economic and social systems,” Ascani added.
Next Generation EU seeks to improve conditions according to three distinct pillars: research and innovation; fair climate and digital transitions; and preparedness, recovery and resilience. This plan also seeks to modernize agricultural policy, fight climate change, and promote biodiversity and gender equality. (@BrittanyBryantF)
