[Press Release] WeGO Explores Various Forms of Partnership with the Host of the WSIS Forum 2023, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

GENEVA – During the WSIS Forum 2023, WeGO explored areas of collaboration with the host of the event, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), including with heads of the organization, the Secretary General, Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, as well as with the Chief of the Standardization Bureau and Counsellor and ITU Focal Point on Environment & Smart Sustainable Cities, Dr. Bilel Jamoussi and Ms. Cristina Bueta, respectively. 

As ITU places focus on enabling people-centered cities through digital transformation, a goal aligned with that of WeGO, the two parties explored numerous areas of collaboration for the remaining year and beyond. 

First and foremost, ITU proposed that the WeGO Secretariat serve as a hub for the U4SSC (United for Smart Sustainable Cities), a global UN initiative coordinated by ITU, UNECE and UN-Habitat, and supported by international agencies including UNDESA, UNDP,  UNESCO, UNEP, and more. The U4SSC provides an international platform for information exchange and partnership building to guide cities and communities in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Additionally, WeGO and ITU discussed opportunities for cooperation in the realm of metaverse, an initiative launched by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, primarily through the addition of indicators for the metaverse standardization group of ITU. 

Furthermore, the two parties will identify mutual grounds in promoting the Seoul Smart City Prize, specifically by acknowledging those who meet the values and standards of the ITU.

About WeGO

The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP). WeGO was founded by 50 member cities in 2010 as the World e-Governments Organization, hence our acronym. In response to the evolving concept of smart cities, WeGO expanded its vision and mandate at the 7th General Assembly (2017) and its name to the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization. WeGO’s Secretariat is based in Seoul, Korea, and has regional offices in East Asia (Chengdu, China), the Mediterranean (Beyoglu, Turkey), Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Middle East & North Africa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Latin America (Cuenca, Ecuador), and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). As the leading platform on smart city development, WeGO’s mission is to share knowledge and good practices in e-Governance; strengthen administrative efficiency and transparency; advance digital capacity; facilitate civic involvement; bridge the digital divide and inequality; and promote cooperation solidarity among cities and local governments around the world.

WeGO serves for its members as their international platform to improve the quality of life, innovate in the delivery of public services, and strengthen regional competitiveness.

Press Contact:
Name:  Jin Hwang
E-mail: jin.hwang@we-gov.org
Phone: 02-720-2931