Highlights of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Meeting in Bali, Republic of Indonesia
Press Release #1109-34
Palikir, Pohnpei – FSM Information Services
November 27, 2009
(FSM Department of Transportation, Communication & Infrastructure) The Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure, the Honorable Francis I. Itimai, staffed by Mr. Jolden J. Johnnyboy, Assistant Secretary for Communication Division under the same Department, represented the Federated States of Micronesia National Government in the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Ministerial Meeting held in Bali, Republic of Indonesia 12-13 November 2009. The meeting was preceded by the APT and ICT Development Forum (ADF) held on 10-11 November in preparation of the Ministerial meeting and attended by the technical staff for the Ministers and representatives of industry participating in the meetings. There were 27 Ministers (including Ministers from FSM, RMI and Palau) from the Asia and Pacific member countries attended the meeting with over one hundred delegates from government and industry who are either affiliate or associate members of APT.
The meeting was sponsored by APT and hosted by the Ministry for Communication and Information Technology, (MICT) Government of the Republic of Indonesia. The Theme of the meeting was “Strengthened the Regional Collaboration towards Broadband Economy”. The meeting also commemorated the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of APT. The FSM became one of the first members of APT from the Pacific region in 1993.
Recognizing the importance of the telecommunications sector and global trends towards the rapid development in technology and information and communication technology (ICT) and thus the purpose of the meeting for the Ministers of Telecommunications/ICT to consider how the Asia-Pacific ICT communities can engage through the APT Programme to identify national objectives on telecommunications and ICT development and how the region can strengthen their collaborative efforts to improve on their economic and social programs. The meeting provided the forum where each country presented their views and shared their ideas during the discussions.
Secretary Itimai, in his country presentation, emphasized that the FSM (as a small Pacific Island country) joins the member countries to support the APT concept to strengthen the regional approach for common solutions and congratulated APT on its 30th anniversary, but stressed the need for APT to strengthen its presence and provide more development programs like the telecenter pilot projects for Micronesia. Secretary Itimai also took time to thank the APT and the Government of Japan in contributing to the establishment of the three telecenter pilot projects, implemented in June of 2009. It’s worth to mention here, that Secretary Itimai in his opening remarks conveyed President Mori’s best wishes and success to the Ministerial Meeting.
The result of the meeting was that all the Ministers endorsed by acclamation “the Bali Statement of the Asia Pacific Ministers on Strengthening Regional Collaboration towards a Broadband Economy in the Asia Pacific” and also the related document on the “Asia Pacific Plan Of Action”. The Bali Ministerial Statement and the supporting APT Action Plan focused on five major areas and read in part as follows:
We will, work collectively with all stakeholders to review and to implement, as appropriate, the following objectives that we believe are crucial in realizing a successful broadband economy in the region.
- Improve broadband connectivity
- Provide a secure environment for all
- Facilitate effective integration of services
- Encourage development of content and applications
- Develop human resources capacity
During the meeting, Secretary Itimai and his delegation also had the opportunity to meet with the ITU Secretary General and the ESCAP Representative to discuss opportunities of assistance that the two UN bodies can offer the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia.
A copy of the Asia Pacific Plan of Action can be obtained from the Division of Communication under the Department of TC&I if needed.
During free time from the Ministerial Meeting, Secretary Itimai and his colleagues from the three Free Associated States countries, namely the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, also had bilateral meetings on issues of mutual interest in the areas of shipping, telecommunications, transportation and others. The two ministers from RMI (the Honorable Kenneth Kedi, Minister of Transportation and Communication) and ROP (the Honorable Jackson Ngiraingas, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Trade & Commerce) during their bilateral meeting with Secretary Itimai, agreed to have a Special Meeting of the Micronesian Shipping Commission in Guam preceding the Micronesian Chief Executive Summit on December 3-4, 2009, to discuss ways for the three FAS countries to move forward on pending shipping and transportation issues. The three are also the Commissioners overseeing the implementation of the MSC Treaty. Agreement was also reached that since the MCES will have discussions revolving around transportation and communications, they would be recommending to their Presidents, who are members of the MCES, to allow their relevant key staff and their participation in the Summit to contribute to the outcomes of the Summit.
The three FAS Country Ministers and their staff also had the opportunity to meet with the Head of the Royal Family of Bali through a banquet hosted by the Royal Family and the Minister of Communications and ICT of the Republic of Indonesia.
For further inquiry, contact
Mr. Jolden J Johnnyboy
Dept of Transportation, Communication, and Infrastructure
Tel: 691 320 2856
