Qatar’s delegation participated in the final plenary session of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference 2022 (PP-22), which was hosted by the Romanian capital, Bucharest from September 26 – October 14, 2022. On the agenda of the plenary session was the signing of the conference’s final acts, which set out the vision and the roadmap for the global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector for the next four years leading up to the next conference.
Along with the ITU Member States, the State of Qatar, represented by Amel Salem Al Hanawi, Director of Consumer Affairs Department of Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), has signed the PP-22 final acts. The final acts include all the resolutions adopted by the conference, including the decision on the State of Qatar to host the 2026 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference and the adoption of the ITU Strategic and Financial Plans, defining ITU’s overarching priorities for the next four years and the financial resources available to achieve key deliverables, among other adopted resolutions.
During the conference, the State of Qatar, represented by CRA, hosted a dinner for the Member States, participated in many ad-hoc and sub-working groups, committees, and plenary sessions to follow up and discuss several important issues that were presented as contributions from the Arab Group and other Regional Groups, which included issues of protecting telecommunications consumers, outer space, space sustainability, the 2030 Agenda for the use of outer space, as well as issues related to the Internet, cybersecurity, international telecommunications regulations, etc.
The Plenipotentiary Conference is the highest policy-making body of the ITU. This is the key event for the ITU Member States to determine the future role of the organization and thereby the organization’s ability to influence the development of ICTs worldwide. The conference sets the ITU’s general policies, adopts four-year strategic and financial plans, and elects the organization’s leadership team, the Member States of the Council, and the members of the Radio Regulations Board.
Qatar’s participation in the conference was an excellent opportunity to observe Romania’s experience in hosting it, especially since Qatar will host the next ITU PP in 2026. The conference was also an opportunity to meet with stakeholders, decision-makers, and several international companies operating in the global ICT sector to exchange views and experiences, strengthen partnerships, and open prospects for cooperation, with the aim of developing Qatar’s ICT in line with international best practices and standards.
The ITU is the United Nations’ specialized agency for ICTs. It was founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks. ITU’s global membership includes 193 Member States as well as some 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations. The State of Qatar is a member of the ITU since 1973.
Source: Government of Qatar