Page 67 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 5

CPS904 Saeed Fayyaz et al.
In the other word, ICT development is a major priority for the commission
but it is not an objective just in itself. It is a tool for economic growth and has
to be for the benefit of everyone. The launch of the publication coincides with
the meeting of the United Nations' High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), taking
place in New York City, 10-19 July 2017 – which is the voluntary review process
of the 2030 Agenda, including the SDGs. With the theme "Eradicating poverty
and promoting prosperity in a changing world," the 2017 HLPF is reviewing
progress on six of the SDGs, including SDG9, which seeks to build resilient
infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster
innovation. While ICTs link most closely to this SDG, as the new publication
highlights, ICTs are playing a critical role in achievement of all 17 SDGs. [3]
ICT role in SDGs: Review
No other domain in the recent past had such a strong influence on the
development of countries and societies than information and communication
technologies (ICTs), especially in driving today’s innovation, efficiency and
effectiveness across all sectors. ICT has been the fastest growing sector since
a generation. The World Summit on Information Societies (WSIS) in 2003 and
2005 was devoted to the potential of ICTs towards the vision of “a people
centered, inclusive and development-oriented information society” where
everyone can have the potential to access and share information available (on
the Web). The fundamental aim of the WSIS process was the improvement of
peoples’ life through a better use of ICTs. The role of information technology
on society has been discussed in different working groups of the Technical
Committee 9 “ICT and Society” since 1976. [4]
Already in 2005, an IFIP Working Group for “ICT and Sustainable
Development” [5] was established to provide the platform for discussion and
research on this eminent important topic for building a global society where
nobody should be left behind which is also sustainable for future generations.

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