Egypt, represented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has assumed the presidency of the 2026 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum from South Africa during the opening session of the forum in Geneva, Switzerland. The WSIS Forum is the leading international platform for implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society and advancing global digital cooperation, bringing together governments, the private sector, civil society, the technical community, academia, youth and international organizations.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hindi is chairing the 2026 forum, overseeing high-level sessions and ministerial tracks, guiding strategic discussions, supervising the forum's proceedings in coordination with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretariat, representing the forum at official events and presenting the presidency's report at the closing session.
In his inaugural address as forum president, Hindi expressed Egypt's pride in assuming the presidency of the 2026 WSIS Forum and thanked the ITU, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other UN partners for their continued leadership in advancing the WSIS process.
He said the 20-year review of the WSIS outcomes reaffirmed that the summit's vision remains the cornerstone of international digital cooperation, stressing that the challenge now lies not in redefining the vision but in accelerating its implementation amid unprecedented technological change.
The minister noted that digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are rapidly transforming economies and societies, creating significant opportunities to support sustainable development, improve public services, expand access to education and healthcare, and foster innovation and economic growth.
He highlighted Egypt's priorities, including bridging the digital divide, strengthening digital capacities, promoting the responsible and inclusive use of artificial intelligence, expanding digital public infrastructure and mobilizing sustainable financing to enable developing countries to participate fully in the global digital economy.
He stressed that Egypt views its presidency as a platform for building consensus and strengthening partnerships across regions and sectors, adding that the success of its presidency will be measured by the partnerships forged and tangible results achieved in advancing digital development while ensuring that no one is left behind.