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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remarks by Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the General Assembly<\/strong><\/p>\n 17 September 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n [Recorded]<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is my pleasure to present brief remarks at this critical SDG Digital event.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is a magnificent opportunity to showcase practical digital solutions to the most <\/span>urgent<\/span><\/b> challenges <\/span>of our time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, digital transformation has the power to <\/span>drive<\/span><\/b> sustainable development, creating myriad opportunities, among other things, for education, economic empowerment, gender equality and social inclusion.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yet today, 2.6 billion people \u2013 33 per cent of the global population \u2013 are still offline.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Many of them in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By placing digital innovation at the very <\/span>heart<\/span><\/b> of our 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, we can spark <\/span>holistic<\/span><\/b> development towards a world that is just more sustainable and more prosperous for all, leaving no one behind.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The SDG Digital initiative marks a significant pivot towards inclusive and responsible digital transformation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But harnessing the full potential of such a transformation can only bear fruit if the benefits accrue to all, <\/span>equally<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I take this opportunity to urge all governments and partners, including the tech industry, to heed the repeated call for transfer and sharing of technologies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Technology is a much-needed means of implementation to leapfrog many developing countries towards realization of their sustainable development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I therefore welcome the launch of the <\/span>SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda<\/span><\/b> as a key roadmap for how we can responsibly harness the potential of data and digital technologies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This initiative emphasises the need for accelerated, collective action and solutions to bring the SDG\u2019s back on track.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In this regard, I whole heartedly congratulate the winners of the SDG \u201cDigital Game Changers\u201d competition.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your inspiring and creative solutions will help empower communities, protect the planet, promote prosperity, and build inclusive, sustainable peace for all, in essence reflecting the four priorities I have chosen for the 78<\/span>th<\/span> session.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now, <\/span><\/b>not tomorrow, not next year, not when we restore global levels of growth to pre-pandemic levels. But now.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let us nurture these diverse collaborations and partnerships.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let us expand the available funding for digital solutions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let us solidify our collective resolve to create meaningful digital connectivity that leaves no one behind.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I thank you.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n * ***** *<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 Remarks by Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the General Assembly 17 September 2023 [Recorded] Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,\u00a0 It is my pleasure to present brief […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-272487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n