�Digital diplomacy, teamwork vital to effective governments�

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali has advocated for pursuing ‘digital diplomacy’, and sought a greater cooperation in digital technology sector among CICA member countries to implement more effective digital governments, reports UNB. “We need to pursue digital diplomacy among our CICA governments,” he said while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international conference here as the chief guest yesterday. Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.
Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) organised the CICA international conference on Digital Government at Hotel Radisson Blue Hotel in the city.
The Foreign Minister said many CICA member countries are running ahead with their cutting edge and state of the art digital technology, supported by their high quality education, innovation and investments in research and development.
“There’re many countries who’re still lagging behind. That’s why we’ve to work together to reduce the digital gaps and implement effective digital governments in Asia,” he said. Mahmood Ali said the member states have the power, the potentials, resources and good intentions to achieve progress and prosperity together. “Now we need initiatives to cooperate with and bring our policymakers, technology experts, academia, and digital industry leaders to venture together and explore suitable solutions.”
He laid emphasis on sharing resources, education, skills and knowledge and transfer technology to build sustainable digital governments in Asia and with a view to implementing confidence-building measures in digital sectors, the spirit of the CICA process.
Mahmood said most Asian countries and members of CICA process have adopted digital technology transformation in their governments as the platform of their operations. “I’m very proud to state that Bangladesh has also successfully adopted and implemented digital government as its mainframe enabler of administrative process and public service delivery mechanism.”
He said the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, undertook a visionary programme, ‘Digital Bangladesh’, within the framework of her ‘Vision 2021’when she took over the helm of the nation for the second time in 2009. “We’re now in the 2nd phase of implementation of Digital Bangladesh programme during her second consecutive term and third term as the Prime Minister of the country,” he said.
The Foreign Minister said they are blessed with a leader who has the gift of digital wisdom, aided by her able son, ICT Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister and internationally acclaimed ICT expert, Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
The Foreign Minister said the conference is a good example of digital diplomacy efforts among CICA member states.

�Digital diplomacy, teamwork vital to effective governments�

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali has advocated for pursuing digital diplomacy, and sought a greater cooperation in digital technology sector among CICA member countries to implement more effective digital governments, reports UNB. We need to pursue digital diplomacy among our CICA governments, he said while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international conference here as the chief guest yesterday. Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) organised the CICA international conference on Digital Government at Hotel Radisson Blue Hotel in the city. The Foreign Minister said many CICA member countries are running ahead with their cutting edge and state of the art digital technology, supported by their high quality education, innovation and investments in research and development. Therere many countries whore still lagging behind. Thats why weve to work together to reduce the digital gaps and implement effective digital governments in Asia, he said. Mahmood Ali said the member states have the power, the potentials, resources and good intentions to achieve progress and prosperity together. Now we need initiatives to cooperate with and bring our policymakers, technology experts, academia, and digital industry leaders to venture together and explore suitable solutions. He laid emphasis on sharing resources, education, skills and knowledge and transfer technology to build sustainable digital governments in Asia and with a view to implementing confidence-building measures in digital sectors, the spirit of the CICA process. Mahmood said most Asian countries and members of CICA process have adopted digital technology transformation in their governments as the platform of their operations. Im very proud to state that Bangladesh has also successfully adopted and implemented digital government as its mainframe enabler of administrative process and public service delivery mechanism. He said the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, undertook a visionary programme, Digital Bangladesh, within the framework of her Vision 2021when she took over the helm of the nation for the second time in 2009. Were now in the 2nd phase of implementation of Digital Bangladesh programme during her second consecutive term and third term as the Prime Minister of the country, he said. The Foreign Minister said they are blessed with a leader who has the gift of digital wisdom, aided by her able son, ICT Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister and internationally acclaimed ICT expert, Sajeeb Wazed Joy. The Foreign Minister said the conference is a good example of digital diplomacy efforts among CICA member states.