Mr. Wu Hongbo Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Secretary-General for the International Conference on Financing for Development
United Nations Global E-Government Forum 2014
7 October 2014, Astana, Kazakhstan
Your Excellency, Mr. Karim Massimov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to welcome you to the third Global E‑Government Forum. I would like to express my gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for hosting this event. I also wish to thank the ministers and other high-level representatives present for joining us from all over the world.
The timeframe for achieving the Millennium Development Goals will come to an end in 2015. Member States and other stakeholders have been intensively discussing the scope and priorities of a new post-2015 development agenda. Our future development agenda will build on the achievements made with the Millennium Development Goals and have sustainable development at its core.
As we continue our journey to a post-2015 era, we recognize the tremendous potential of e‑government as a key enabler of sustainable development. At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 2012, a global consensus was reached that to achieve sustainable development we need institutions at all levels that are effective, transparent, accountable and democratic. E‑government contributes to sustainable development by increasing the efficiency of public service delivery, by enabling broader stakeholder involvement, and by transforming the public sector with more information sharing and open government.
The 2014 edition of the United Nations E-Government Survey shows that countries in all regions of the world, and at all levels of development, are advancing e-government. Advancing e-government is vital to the promotion of smart government. It can broaden public participation in decision-making and service delivery. It enhances access to information, promotes fiscal accountability and removes barriers to accessing public services.
These efforts are all essential if we are to achieve a future of equitable economic growth and sustainable development. They help us to clear the path to a world free from poverty and hunger.
Today we come together to share our knowledge about policies, strategies and innovative practices for smart government and to recognize the 2014 UN E-Government Survey Special Awardees. I extend my congratulations to winners of the award.
This year’s winners embody the vision and commitment necessary to transform public administration into an instrument for sustainable development. They offer important lessons on how to build more inclusive, participatory, efficient, effective, transparent, accountable and people-centred governments.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I hope all of you here today will find inspiration in the ideas presented during the discussions of these two days, and reflect on how you can turn them into concrete action.
My department, together with our colleagues in the United Nations system, are committed to supporting your efforts to promote smart government and innovation in the public sector.
I wish you a successful Forum.
Thank you.
