Norway
His Excellency, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway,
Her Excellency, Ms. Karianne Tung, Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance of Norway,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
I have the pleasure to invite the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, to deliver his video message.
[TECHNICAL CREW WILL PLAY THE VIDEO MESSAGE]
Thank you.
I echo the Secretary-General’s deep appreciation, not just to an exceptional host for organizing this Forum in record time, and also to the entire global digital community.
Excellencies,
We stand at a defining moment for digital cooperation.
As the Secretary-General highlighted, digital cooperation is an absolute necessity – and a shared responsibility.
In this context, the 2025 review of the World Summit on the Information Society, WSIS+20, marks a crucial turning point.
This year, we also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm, Norway — a country deeply committed to openness, human rights, and international cooperation. This location symbolizes our shared aspirations for a digital future that is open, inclusive, safe, and secure for all.
Two decades after the initial WSIS, we return not just to look back, but to leap forward.
It is our chance to reimagine the foundational WSIS Principles and Action Lines for the modern era, integrate the Global Digital Compact, and reaffirm the vital role of technology in advancing sustainable development.
The WSIS+20 review will also consider renewing and strengthening the IGF. We have much to be proud of. The Forum has matured into a premier global platform, gathering over ten thousand participants annually, and inspiring 176 national, subregional, regional, and youth IGF initiatives, and fostering year-round preparatory work and valuable networks.
This resilient and inclusive ecosystem is a credit to each of you. Together, we have engaged global, regional and local leaders, legislators and youth, across all stakeholder groups, sectors and disciplines, and tackled pressing challenges — from AI and cybersecurity to environmental sustainability and gender equality online.
This success stands as a testament to our collective efforts, guided by the deep commitment of 320 members of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group, and the IGF Leadership Panel, led by Vint Cerf and Maria Ressa.
But our pride must be paired with preparedness for the future.
As digital threats evolve, we must redouble our efforts to protect the core values of the internet: openness, accessibility, affordability, safety, and resilience.
As we move through the WSIS+20 review process, I urge you to focus on three critical actions:
• First, engage deeply with local and regional IGFs to ensure global priorities reflect local realities.
• Second, champion equity to guarantee that global digital cooperation benefit developing and developed countries.
• Third, advance the Sustainable Development Goals through inclusive digital transformation.
Let us work together to make the coming days truly productive and inspiring.
Let the IGF 2025 in Lillestrøm be the milestone moment we decisively advance towards a digital future rooted in trust, equity, and human dignity.
Thank you.