Press Release
Hon’ble Minister of Communication and Information Technology addresses the High-Level Ministerial Roundtable at the WSIS+20 High Level Event 2025
Hon’ble Mr. Prithvi Subba Gurung, Minister of Communication and Information Technology and leader of the Nepali delegation to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) +20 High-Level Event 2025, addressed the High-Level Ministerial Roundtable Dialogues today at Palexpo, Geneva. He participated in three thematic sessions: National Digital Priorities and Implementation Needs, Emerging Digital Trends, and WSIS Beyond 2025: Achieving Future Milestones Together.
Hon’ble Minister Gurung highlighted the contribution of the WSIS process in building an inclusive, sustainable and equitable digital society. He underscored the key features of the Digital National Framework (DNF) 2.0 as a roadmap for agile, scalable and trusted digital future for Nepal beyond 2030. He noted that investments in digitalization, technology transfer and capacity building can significantly support Nepal’s efforts to integrate with global digital networks.
The Minister emphasized Nepal’s potential to become a digital hub in South Asia owing to the country’s topographic, geographic, and demographic advantages. While acknowledging the challenges faced by Nepal as a landlocked country, he shared the country’s commitment to connecting the last village, the last voice and the last child. He called for a UN-led Global AI Governance Framework that upholds human rights, equity, diversity, security and interoperability. He also stressed on democratic access to technologies, enhanced North-South and South-South digital partnerships, and targeted technical assistance to the developing countries for safe and responsible innovation.
The Minister proposed for the WSIS+30 milestones should aim to achieve universal connectivity by 2030, with a focus on digital inclusion and the empowerment of youth and women. He reiterated Nepal’s readiness to collaborate with International Telecommunication Union (ITU), WSIS stakeholders and Member States.
Later in the evening, Hon’ble Minister Gurung interacted with the participants of Robotics for Good Youth Challenge 2025, congratulated them on receiving the award in ‘Highly Recommended’ junior category for the robot they designed to assist in earthquake rescue operations, and wished them success in their future endeavors.
Hon’ble Minister Gurung is scheduled to meet the ITU Secretary General and the head of delegation of Singapore on 10 July 2025.
Hon’ble Minister Gurung is leading a high-level Nepali delegation at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event and AI for Global Good Summit 2025 which comprises H. E. Mr. Ram Prasad Subedi, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, senior officials from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, and the Permanent Mission of Nepal in Geneva.
Hon’ble Minister Gurung arrived in Geneva on 6 July and was warmly welcomed by Ambassador Subedi upon arrival at the Geneva International Airport. He is scheduled to depart from Geneva on Saturday, 12 July 2025.
Geneva
9 July 2025
