UNIDO inputs to G20 Declaration of Digital Ministers

Along with other multilateral organizations, UNIDO was invited to address the G20 Digital Ministers’ meeting, held in Trieste, Italy on 5 August 2021 and provided inputs to the elaboration of a related G20 Declaration of Digital Ministers. Following the meeting, the Declaration was adopted to identify twelve actions to accelerate the digital transition of the global economy and participating governments. These included, inter alia, digital transformation and productive growth; leveraging trustworthy artificial intelligence for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); measurement, practice and impact of the digital economy; consumer awareness and protection; child protection; smart cities; connectivity and social inclusion; data free flow; digital tools across borders; digital identity and agile regulation.

UNIDO was recognized in the Declaration as a knowledge partner and acknowledged for its global initiative on technology foresight. UNIDO has been integrally involved in the G20 Digital Economy Task Force (DETF), chaired by the Italian Presidency in 2021. Managing Director Bernardo Calzadilla Sarmiento recently led the UNIDO Delegation at the G20 Digital Ministers’ meeting in Trieste, Italy, during which he addressed a number of key priorities, including the reduction of the digital divide; empowering the private sector; the upscaling of digital skills; and the need for decarbonization of industry and smart industrial policies in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The DETF is also expected to be converted from an ad hoc task force to a standing Digital Economy Working Group under the incoming Indonesian Presidency in 2022.

UNIDO will continue to engage closely with the G20 and will promote, in particular, robust standards as a vehicle to promote an inclusive and sustainable Fourth Industrial Revolution worldwide and as an enabler of good governance for digital technology development.

For further information contact dta [at] unido.org (dta[at]unido[dot]org)