Somalia attending Global Symposium for Regulators for the first time

Somalia is attending the annual Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR), which is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland from 9-12 July 2018. Under the theme ‘New Regulatory Frontiers’, the program includes discussions and debates on how today’s digital transformation is impacting all aspects of our daily lives and extending regulatory frontiers.

The GSR is an annual event that brings together national regulatory authorities from around the world. It has earned a reputation as the global venue for regulators to share their views and experiences as part of the worldwide community of regulators. The meeting fosters an open dialogue between regulators and key ICT stakeholders: policy makers, industry leaders, consumers and other key ICT stakeholders.

A delegation led by the Minister for Post, Telecom and Technology, H. E. Abdi Ashur Hassan, including representatives from the Ministry and the National Communications Authority (NCA), is in Geneva meeting with ITU, World Bank and other regulators.

‘It is a historic event for Somalia because this time last year Somalia did not have a communications law, a regulatory body, and voting rights at ITU. Now we are not only represented by the Ministry and Regulator in their respective capacities, but also have voting rights at ITU,” said the minister.

Speaking from Geneva, the Minister said the event offers unique networking opportunities for a new regulator like NCA, which wants to learn from the experiences of established regulators around the world, and that is why the Ministry is here to introduce them to the Community as the Ministry was the sole representative at all global and regional conferences.

“This is an important opportunity for NCA as we establish this institution and build working relationships with international organizations and other regulators,” concluded the Minister.