By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Egypt concluded its
chairmanship of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2026
with a call for governments and stakeholders to translate global digital
commitments into practical actions that expand digital inclusion, promote
responsible artificial intelligence (AI), and strengthen international
cooperation.
Speaking at the closing
ceremony of the forum in Geneva, Egypt's Minister of Communications and
Information Technology, Eng. Raafat Hendy, presented the Chair's Summary in the
presence of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General Doreen
Bogdan-Martin, Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in
Geneva Alaa Hegazy, ministers, ambassadors, senior government officials,
private sector leaders and representatives of international organisations,
civil society and academia.
Hendy said the forum had
brought together governments, regulators, UN agencies, the private sector,
academia, the technical community, young people and civil society,
demonstrating that digital transformation depends on partnership, trust and
shared responsibility. He stressed the need to move beyond policy commitments
by translating digital strategies into services, skills development, employment
opportunities and tangible benefits for citizens.
The minister said
discussions throughout the forum reaffirmed digital inclusion as a global
priority, noting that meaningful connectivity requires not only affordable
access to communications services but also digital skills, relevant content and
the ability for citizens to use technology safely and effectively. He added
that responsible deployment of AI must remain central to future digital
development efforts.
Hendy also highlighted the
role of digital finance in expanding access to economic opportunities for
individuals, women, youth, small businesses and underserved communities, while
emphasising the importance of supportive infrastructure, digital literacy and
appropriate regulatory frameworks.
He noted that participants
agreed on the need to measure the real-world impact of digital initiatives and
ensure that AI remains human-centred, ethical and focused on improving people's
quality of life. Work has already begun on developing implementation roadmaps
and measurable indicators under the forum's renewed mandate, with progress
expected to be presented to the United Nations Commission on Science and
Technology for Development (CSTD) in 2027 as part of preparations toward a
shared digital vision for 2035.
Hendy said the 2026 WSIS
Prizes demonstrated tangible progress in implementing the WSIS Action Lines,
with 18 champion projects and 72 recognised initiatives selected from 1,595
submissions representing 122 countries following more than 2.2 million public
votes.
During Geneva Digital Week,
Egypt led a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology (MCIT), participating in the WSIS Forum, the Global
Dialogue on AI Governance and the AI for Good Global Summit. Egypt had officially
assumed the chairmanship of the WSIS Forum 2026 from South Africa during the
opening session of the event.
The Egyptian delegation
participated in a series of bilateral meetings and specialised sessions with
organisations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the
Universal Postal Union (UPU), the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO), the Council of Europe, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission
for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Government of Rwanda. Discussions focused on
digital transformation, AI governance, digital public infrastructure,
international standards, responsible AI and capacity building.
Egypt also showcased its
National AI Strategy, responsible AI guidance frameworks and national AI
governance initiatives during several international sessions. In addition, the
country's Digital Citizenship and Online Safety initiative received a Certificate
of Distinction after being named one of the five Champion Projects in Category
5, "Building Confidence and Security in the Use of ICTs," at the WSIS
Prizes 2026.
