Cuba reaffirms its commitment to digital transformation at a regional forum

VARADERO, Cuba, Aug 21 (ACN) Cuba's commitment to continue advancing toward the digital transformation of society was evident today during the second day of the 21st Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (CIGF), held at the Meliá Internacional Varadero Hotel's convention center.

Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez, Cuba's First Deputy Minister of Communications (MINCON), considered the event as crucial for the exchange of ideas, experiences, and proposals that allow us to collectively confront the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital technologies and the Internet, with universal access, security, privacy, digital inclusion, and their responsible use as priority issues for the sustainable development of the countries of the region.

Addressing those present, Rodriguez Hernandez shared the Caribbean nation's strategic vision of recognizing digital transformation as an inevitable and necessary path to advancing toward more just, equitable, and prosperous societies.

In this regard, he reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to regional cooperation, multisector collaboration, and the promotion of youth talent as fundamental pillars for building a digital ecosystem that benefits all.

The official expressed his hope that this will be a meeting of open, enriching, and productive dialogue, strengthening alliances and promoting joint actions to advance digital inclusion, technological sovereignty, and innovation, as demonstrated at the 4th Caribbean Youth Forum on Internet Governance, held on Wednesday, which demonstrated the participation and leadership of the new generations in related issues.

He noted that all this is being done amid the inhumane limitations imposed for more than six decades by the United States government's economic, commercial, and financial blockade, which constitutes the most severe and prolonged system of unilateral coercive measures ever applied against any nation and which significantly affects the telecommunications sector.

Also present today at the important forum, convened by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union and supported by the Cuban government, were Yudi Mercedes Rodriguez, member of the Secretariat and head of the Service Support Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, and Cleveland Thomas, representative of the Caribbean region of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), along with other Cuban and regional leaders.

In Thursday's sessions, regional leaders highlighted the importance of the event, the oldest of its kind in the Caribbean and the world (dating back to 2005).

They emphasized the need to strengthen the digital ecosystem in the region and forge a collaborative path to advance these issues together.

The reports of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) were also presented at the national, regional, and global levels.

The event, which brings together experts, academics, technologists, and youth leaders both in person and virtually, will conclude this Friday with an update on Cuba's approach to managing issues related to digital transformation and the integration of information technologies into the national context.