{"id":30791,"date":"2018-03-06T12:57:38","date_gmt":"2018-03-06T12:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/latin-america-and-the-caribbean\/?p=30791"},"modified":"2019-02-18T12:59:18","modified_gmt":"2019-02-18T12:59:18","slug":"regional-participants-play-key-role-in-discussion-during-mwc18-ministerial-programme-and-conferences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/about-us\/regions\/latin-america-and-the-caribbean\/regional-participants-play-key-role-in-discussion-during-mwc18-ministerial-programme-and-conferences\/","title":{"rendered":"Regional participants play key role in discussion during MWC18 Ministerial Programme and conferences"},"content":{"rendered":"

CEOs and senior managers of Am\u00e9rica M\u00f3vil, Millicom, Telef\u00f3nica, Telecom Argentina and TIM Brasil were leading participants in the key discussion of the Ministerial Programme at MWC18, the meeting place in Barcelona for the most influential companies in the mobile ecosystem and ICT ministers from around the world. The session \u201cEmbedding sustainability into mobile business models\u201d was opened by Sebasti\u00e1n Cabello, Head of Latin America, GSMA, and included a series of discussions about the future of the mobile industry and how technology is contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).<\/p>\n

\"\"The Latin American session, the only one in Spanish during the Ministerial Programme, began with a talk between Yolanda Mart\u00ednez, National Digital Strategy Coordinator, Mexico, and Virginia Nakagawa Morales, Vice Minister of Communications, Peru, moderated by Rodrigo Arias, Content Lead, Technology, media and digital industries, World Economic Forum. \u201cIf we really want to achieve the SDGs, we have to use technology and the internet as the key enabler of every goal,\u201d Mart\u00ednez said.<\/p>\n

The talk was followed by a keynote given by Javier Cort\u00e9s, United Nations Global Compact, Head of Local Networks, Americas, about how companies can adapt with sustainability in mind. \u201cTo generate business value today, business models must be aligned with social needs, and the SDGs are a great opportunity to converge public and private priorities,\u201d Cort\u00e9s said.<\/p>\n

The highlight of the session was the panel discussion \u201cIntegrating mobile growth with social responsibility\u201d, between participants Juan Carlos Archila, Executive Vice President, International Relations, Am\u00e9rica M\u00f3vil; Carlos Moltini, CEO, Telecom and Cablevision Argentina; Alfonso Gomez Palacio, President, Telef\u00f3nica Hispam North; Esteban Iriarte, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Millicom; and Luis Minoru Shibata, Chief Strategy Officer, TIM Brasil. The mobile industry leaders said that the digital economy is generating wellbeing across Latin America, but regulatory modernisation is essential to encourage investment and ensure sustainability in the long term.<\/p>\n

Policymaking for the dynamic digital age<\/h3>\n

Andr\u00e9s Ibarra, Minister of Modernisation, Argentina, took part in the 2018 Ministerial Programme, giving a keynote during the session \u201cPolicymaking for the dynamic digital age\u201d. \u201cWe believe that the digital future will include Argentina as a major player and we want to reach a level of convergence that includes all levels. A person who\u2019s not connected to their country or the world will find it very hard to reach their full potential,\u201d Ibarra said.<\/p>\n

\"\"The other participants in this session were Johannes Gungl, CEO of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Austrian Regulatory Authority (RTR); Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, FCC, United States of America; and Mustafa Jabbar, Minister for Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Bangladesh.<\/p>\n

Gender diversity in the digital ecosystem<\/h3>\n

Gender diversity as a driver of innovation and business competitiveness was another key topic at MWC18. Susana Balbo, Chair of W20 Argentina, gave a keynote during the Women4Tech session in the main conference and took part in a discussion panel of women entrepreneurs in 4YFN with representatives from PwC, Unilever, ITU, eWorldwide Group and the United Nations.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cThe economic benefits of incorporating women into the workforce and the economic impact of women entrepreneurs are extensive. Women need technology for employment and financial inclusion. Digital inclusion is a strategic area for women\u2019s development,\u201d Balbo said.<\/p>\n

The mobile gender gap was also addressed during the Ministerial Programme. Carolina Cosse, Minister of Energy and Mining, Uruguay, took part in the session \u201cExpanding digital services to the next billion\u201d, where she said girls must be taught science and maths.<\/p>\n

The GSMA is Topic Chair of the digital inclusion theme and has a key role in W20, one of the G20 engagement groups, tasked with formulating public policy recommendations to promote specific improvements in women\u2019s financial autonomy.<\/p>\n