By Danielle Duan
The Asian Institute of Technology collaborated with the Embassy of Mongolia in Thailand to co-sponsor a high-level side-event with the International Telecommunication Union on “Digital Innovations for Sustainable Development in LLDCs”, on the opening day of 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on 22-26 April 2024 in Bangkok.
Guided by the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the 80th Session of the Commission was an opportunity to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on leveraging digital innovation for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The side event on April 22 was a lead session to the 4-day discussion among government leaders, ministers and diplomats and key stakeholders from across Asia and the Pacific. This year’s theme highlighted the need for inclusion and equal access and rule of law of digitalization along the course of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Co-organized by the International Think Tank for LLDC, Embassy of Mongolia in Thailand (Permanent Mission of Mongolia to ESCAP), UNESCAP, and sponsored by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and AIT, the event explored how digital innovations can support sustainable development in Asian landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).
Speakers addressed key challenges such as access to markets, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mongkol Ekpanyapong, from the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering (ISE), and Director of AIT A.I. Center, delivered a keynote presentation at the side event titled: “AI Center: Smart Innovation Solutions for Sustainable Development” together with Mr. Shawn Kelly, Executive Director of the Office of International and Public Affairs of AIT.
The successful application and commercialization of AI-based R&D projects developed and undertaken at AIT sparked responses from the audience of national representatives from across the region.
H.E. Ms. Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, and Ms. Rabab Fatima Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States presided over the session.
Other keynote speakers included Dr. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific; Mr. Odbayar Erdenetsogt, Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia; Mr. Dulguun Damdin-Od, Executive Director, International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries (ITTLLDC); Mr. Nurjan Raqmet, Head of Division of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan and Mr. Tae Hyung Kim, Chair of ICT and Development Section, ESCAP.
Experts sought to identify opportunities to unleash the transformative potential of digital innovations and discussed regulatory frameworks and policy pathways for achieving sustainable development.
Noting AIT’s co-sponsorship of the event, Dr. Okuda complemented AIT on being the newest academic member of ITU, following the Institute’s successful application in April 2024 by the Office of International and Public Affairs.
Mongolian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Battsetseg Batmunkh meets with Mr. Shawn Kelly and Dr. Mongkol Ekpanyapong of AIT as Dr. Atsuko Okuda (Right), Regional Director, International Telecommunication Union, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and Mr. Odbayar Erdenetsogt (Center), Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia look on.
Ms. Danielle Duan, Head of Emerging Markets International Cooperation, Office of International and Public Affairs (left) with Mr. Shawn Kelly, Executive Director, Office of International and Public Affairs, and Dr. Mongkol Ekpanyapong, Associate Professor and Director of AIT A.I. Center, at the UNESCAP in Bangkok.
Danielle Duan is Head of Emerging Markets International Cooperation, Office of International and Public Affairs, AIT
