SAMENA Telecommunications Council has announced that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General, Mr. Houlin Zhao, will attend the Leaders’ Summit 2019, to delineate the importance of global collaboration for leveraging fifth-generation technologies. Mr. Zhao’s participation in SAMENA Council’s Leaders’ Summit also evidences the ITU’s increasing interaction with private-sector decision-makers who use the trusted platforms provided by SAMENA Council to meet like-minded leaders and brainstorm on solutions to complex industry issues.

Lately, the ITU’s focus on promoting global collaborations and enabling developmental efforts within the Industry has intensified, to help ensure fifth-generation technologies receive timely attention of the decision-makers. The efforts are in order to help nations develop themselves and benefit from the fourth industrial revolution, which is now in play and to fulfill the goals defined in the UN’s sustainability agenda.

“Cross-industry and public-private sector collaboration will be key to deploying 5G networks. With our World Radiocommunication Conference to take place in Sharm el-Sheikh from 28 October to 22 November 2019, ITU is at the heart of this process,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “SAMENA Council is a valued partner of ITU and an influential force in the Arab world, the SAMENA region, and beyond. I look forward to deepening our cooperation on ICT development to ensure that 5G is a source for good for everyone, everywhere.” added Mr. Zhao.

The SAMENA Council’s Leaders’ Summit is an annual leadership event, encompassing private and government sector leaders’ gathering, bi-lateral stakeholder meetings, and panel discussions, held among stakeholders in a world-class setting. Leaders’ Summit 2019 will build on past discussions, centered around enabling a true, regional digital economy. Areas to come under discussion include enabling transition to “Inclusive 5G”; barriers to achieving economies of scale in 5G device capabilities; identification of technology, regulatory, and business challenges in 5G communications; Industry 4.0; and technology use cases in a 5G-enabled digital economy.