H.E. Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General (SG) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), will visit our country from September 13 to 15, 2023, on the occasion of the Summit in Havana: "Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation."

She is accompanied by Bruno Ramos, Director General, ITU Regional Office for the Americas.

The ITU Secretary General held a meeting with the Minister of Communications, deputy ministers, general directors, directors of entities and companies of the communications system, the Union of Cuban Computer Scientists and the rector of the Technological University of Havana, CUJAE.

Among the topics discussed were the role of the ITU and its importance in the context of the United Nations as a multilateral body.

The main processes underway in Cuba as part of the digital transformation, with the citizen at the center, were explained, as well as the active role of ETECSA, Joven Club, software companies, the Union of Computer Scientists of Cuba and the Scientific and Technological Parks. The university-business link was also highlighted.

The Minister of Communications, Mayra Arevich Marín, explained that 45% of the workforce of the Communications system is female. MINCOM has set up a gender committee and actions are being carried out to address this issue. She added that Cuba annually celebrates the Day of Girls and ICTs.

In addition, there was an exchange of views on the 10th edition of the América Accessible event, which will take place from November 8 to 10 in Cuba. The importance of the event being held in our country, which hosted the eighth edition, was highlighted, and it was again granted that status for the tenth anniversary. From this event, it is exposed how technologies contribute to improve digital competences in the accessibility of vulnerable people.

The Minister of Communications thanked the ITU for its confidence in reiterating Cuba as the venue for the event and extended an invitation to the International Convention and Fair Informática 2024.

The ITU Secretary General, H.E. Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, explained ITU's work projections and relations with its member states, as well as the importance of two strategic axes related to universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin took office as ITU Secretary-General on 1 January 2023. Backed by more than two decades of leadership experience in international telecommunications policy, she has emphasized the need to drive digital transformation for economic prosperity, job creation, skills development, gender equality and socio-economic inclusion, as well as to build circular economies, reduce climate impact and save lives.

ITU has promoted gender equality and encouraged more women to join the workforce, helped women advance in their careers, and contributed to women's networks that aspire to achieve gender parity in conference participation and policy-making.

As ITU Secretary-General, she aims to promote innovative solutions, maximize ITU's relevance to its 193 Member States, enhance global cooperation to connect the unconnected and improve alignment of ITU's programs with the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.

In the early afternoon, ITU Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin visited the Main Joven Club. She received an explanation of the services provided and the social outreach projects of the organization at the national level.

She also toured the areas of this Joven Club and exchanged with young people who were there.

The Minister of Communications, Mayra Arevich Marín, explained the role of Joven Club in the digital transformation process, an organization that in Cuba is very close to the Cuban family.

As part of the afternoon tour, ITU Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin exchanged with executives of the BioCubaFarma Information Technology Company (ETI). A leading company in the deployment of information technology solutions, communications and cybersecurity.

The Minister of Communications, Mayra Arevich Marín, explained the importance of this company and its role in the technologies applied. This company played a predominant role in the results of the Cuban vaccines against COVID-19.

The ITU Secretary General expressed her satisfaction with the visit to this company.

As part of the visit, the ITU Secretary General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, visited and exchanged with the workers of the Office of Facilitation of Digital Procedures (OFA) of the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana. The director of this center explained the origin of the digital self-service stations and its mission, as a facilitator, in the attention to the procedures of the population.

In addition, he reiterated OFA's willingness to continue developing new services and tools on digital platforms that prioritize citizens' accessibility to the services offered by the institutions.

The secretary general of the ITU, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, as part of her visit, toured several places in Old Havana: the house of Eusebio Leal, Mercaderes Street, Plaza Vieja and the park of the pigeons and witnessed the Ceremony of the Cañonazo, in the Fortress of San Carlos de la Cabaña.