ITU - ABBMN (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal) Ministerial Forum,

Posted on: Aug 21, 2010

H.E Eng. Amirzai Sangin, Minster of Communications and IT of I.R of Afghanistan attended the ITU – ABBMN (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal) Ministerial Forum, which was held in Maldives from 3-5August 2010.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has organized the Telecommunication Ministerial Forum for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal (ABBMN) from 3 – 5 August 2010 in Maldives. This Forum was hosted by the Government of Maldives and focused on the digital inclusion of ABBMN countries.
The Forum mainly focused on key challenges faced by ABBMN countries and identified the required initiatives by the Ministers, policy makers, regulators to ensure:

• Establishment of National Broadband Policy
• Lowering of international long distance call rates amongst ABBMN countries
• Establishment of Internet Exchange for peering local exchange of Internet traffic
• Establishment of National Advanced ICT Training Centre
• Establishment and strengthening of national CERT
• Establishment of National Cybersecurity Strategy and Framework
• Human capacity building for Cyber-crime and threats on cyber space
• Establishment of National Emergency Telecommunication Plan

In the abovementioned Forum, Afghanistan showed a very strong contribution in ABBMN Ministerial Forum by Chairing two sessions on Sybersecurity, prepared the outcome of Sybersecurity Sessions and toke part in the steering committee to preparing the draft for Ministerial Declaration.

Two cyber security sessions were chaired by H.E. Minister Amir Zai Sangin and the presentation of outcome from cyber security sessions were conducted by Zmarialai Wafa from ICT Directorate, Ministry of Communication and IT who accompanied H.E. Minister Amir Zai Sangin.