BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 15. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has welcomed Kazakhstan’s intention to join the 'ITU GovStack' initiative and become a regional hub for its implementation in Central Asia and other CIS countries, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Cosmas Zavazava told Trend.
The “GovStack” is a set of digital building blocks that allow national public agencies to harness the power of emerging IT technologies, while minimizing costs and dependence on external contractors.
"Through this project, Kazakhstan will be able to share its best practices and solutions with other countries and benefit from the extensive knowledge base that ITU offers," he said.
According to Zavazava, in 2023 the number one priority for the Government of Kazakhstan is digital government. In this regard joining 'ITU GovStack' plays a crucial role in contributing to the country's key priority.
In terms of ITU's overall contribution to the advancement of telecommunications infrastructure, digital technologies, and innovation in Kazakhstan, he said that the union completed an in-depth assessment of Kazakhstan's ICT infrastructure and market aspects.
"We have completed an in-depth assessment on digital resilience covering both ICT infrastructure and market aspects as part of our Connect2Recover program that started as a response to COVID-19 disruption and challenges. This assessment is a baseline for us and the Government of Kazakhstan that helps to adequately plan technical assistance and projects in the country," the director said.
As Zavazava noted, through its training on mapping and connectivity planning, ITU is helping policymakers and telecom operators to understand the connectivity gaps and find the most cost-efficient solutions to address these gaps.