APT Events

The 23rd APT Telecommunication/ICT Development Forum (ADF-23)

• 14 July 2026 - 15 July 2026
• Bangkok, Thailand

ADF-23 Successfully Concludes in Bangkok, Thailand

The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), in collaboration with the Office of The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) of Thailand, successfully convened the 23rd APT Telecommunication/ICT Development Forum (ADF-23) from 14 to 15 July 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Forum was held as a physical meeting with remote participation modality.  

The Forum opened with welcome remarks by Dr. Masanori Kondo, Secretary General of the APT, followed by remarks from Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), ITU. The inaugural address was delivered by Ms. Orada Teppayayon, Principal Legal Expert, Acting Deputy Secretary General, NBTC, Thailand.

A total of 141 participants attended the Forum, with 99 attending in person, representing APT Members, Affiliate Members, and International Organizations, along with invited speakers and moderators from both the public and private sectors. Their active participation reaffirmed the region's strong commitment to advancing digital connectivity, ICT development, and regional cooperation.

During the Plenary session, Dr. Ahmad Reza Sharafat (Islamic Republic of Iran) was appointed as Chair of ADF, while Mr. Suzuki Katsuhiro (Japan) and Ms. Ishariyaporn Smiprem (Thailand) were appointed as Vice-Chair. Across three thematic sessions, participants exchanged views and shared experiences on key priorities for ICT development in the Asia-Pacific region, in line with the APT Strategic Plan 2024–2026 and the Tokyo Statement, including:    

• Strengthening digital connectivity in the Asia-Pacific, from access to advanced infrastructure
• Enabling digital transformation through emerging technologies, including AI and sovereign data centres
• Enhancing trust, safety and resilience in the digital environment, including cybersecurity and post-quantum cryptography

ADF-23 also featured five sessions showcasing the outcomes and achievements of ICT pilot projects implemented through Extra-Budgetary Contributions (EBCs) from Japan (EBC-J), Republic of Korea (EBC-K), and People’s Republic of China (EBC-C), along with an introductory session on the EBC project framework to encourage broader participation among APT members. The Forum also included a simple project showcase, where EBC project teams presented their work and project outcomes through posters.

The Forum achieved several important milestones, including the presentation of practical case studies from APT members on connectivity, AI governance, disaster early-warning systems, as well as the collection of participants' feedback to further enhance the relevance and effectiveness of future ADFs.

The next ADF, ADF-24, is planned for 2027, with the APT Secretariat to begin consultations with Members on host country, dates, and venue.

Contact
If you need further information or assistance regarding the meeting, please contact the APT Secretariat by email at [email protected].

Photo Gallery

Moderator and Speaker Profiles
Virtual Background

Meeting Documents