STATEMENT PLENARY – HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT – SESSION 2 WTDC 25 CONFERENCE, BAKU CONVENTION CENTRE, AZERBAIJAN

SAMOA, November 17 - SPEECH by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Agaseata Tanuvasa Valelio Tanuvasa Peto

Your Excellency, President of the Conference,

Esteemed Elected Officials of the International Telecommunication Union,

Honorable Ministers,

Distinguished Guests,

Talofa lava!

It is a great honor to stand before you today. On behalf of the Government and people of Samoa,

I extend our sincere appreciation to the Government and people of Azerbaijan, and to the organizers of this important WTDC-25 Conference.

We have traveled across the Pacific to join you, a journey that reflects our deep commitment to partnership, progress, and shared purpose. Samoa stands proudly with our Blue Pacific neighbors as we work together to build a resilient region in the face of climate change and amongst others the challenges that threaten our oceans and environment.

At the heart of Samoa’s vision lies the preservation of our Fa’a-Samoa — the Samoan way of life — a system of values and traditions that defines who we are. In this digital age, preserving our identity is not about resisting change, but guiding it with wisdom. Technology must be a tool for empowerment, not erasure.

Digital literacy bridges our cultural heritage and the opportunities of the modern world. By equipping our people with digital skills, we ensure that our stories, languages, and traditions thrive online and inspire future generations.

We recognize that infrastructure challenges remain, from high service costs to limited connectivity in some remote areas. Yet Samoa continues to move forward with determination.

We see ICT and technology as a pathway to connect our islands and our people to the world.

We commend the ITU and the Telecommunication Development Bureau for their support in initiatives such as Smart Islands, Cybersecurity, Digital Transformation, and early warning systems, vital for small island developing states like ours.

Our mission is to raise a generation of digital citizens who are skilled, grounded in faith, respect, and service, and ready to use technology to uplift communities.

Together, let us build a world where technology and culture walk hand in hand, where every voice is heard, and every nation shines brightly in our Global family.

God Bless.

Soifua.