CITC Governor Opens the Preparatory Regional Groups Meeting for the Plenipotentiary Conference

His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz bin Salem Al-Ruwais, Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission, opened today at the Commission's headquarters in Riyadh the preparatory regional groups meeting for the Plenipotentiary Conference, attended by His Excellency the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, Mr. Houlin Zhao, and representatives of the Union's six regions (Africa, the Americas, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and the Commonwealth of Independent States).

At the start of the meeting, His Excellency Dr. Al-Ruwais welcomed the delegations participating in the meeting, affirming in his speech the importance of this meeting as a platform for exchanging views on the conference and discussing perspectives on the topics that will be discussed there. Dr. Al-Ruwais noted that the conference will discuss important topics including artificial intelligence and its role in achieving the sustainable development goals, as well as international policies related to the internet.

His Excellency the CITC Governor called on all participants to make the most of this meeting, and to crystallize regional positions early in a way that contributes to the conference's success, expressing his thanks and appreciation to everyone for supporting the Kingdom's candidacy for the Union Council (2019-2022).

It is noted that the Plenipotentiary Conference is held every four years, during which the Union's member states determine the Union's future role, chart its directions and activities, and thereby determine the Union's ability to influence and direct the development of information and communication technology globally, given the responsibilities this conference undertakes in setting the Union's general policies and addressing important issues raised at the regional and international levels, as well as adopting strategic and financial plans, electing the Union's senior management team, electing member states to the Council, and electing members of the Radio Regulations Board. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a candidate at the Plenipotentiary Conference to retain its seat on the Council of the International Telecommunication Union, as well as to hold a seat on the Radio Regulations Board.