The Forum is the most important platform for discussion in a wide circle of competent specialists of the strategy for the development of the IT sphere of the Republic of Belarus and the formation of the state information policy, this is facilitated by a rich program, which provides for a large number of thematic plenary sessions, round tables and seminars.

One of the main trends of the last few years is digital technologies, as well as the tasks of sustainable development that have been set for the UN by the Member States. ITU, as the UN's specialized agency for ICT development, plays a key role in promoting the use of modern technology for the benefit of all humankind.

I think Belarus deservedly occupies a leading position in our region in many ICT indicators. This is a large and programmatic work of various government structures, companies and industries that deal with information technology. The next event held under the auspices of "TIBO" makes a significant contribution to the implementation of the programs that exist in the republic and the region. An exhibition is a summing up of the results of what has been done and what you need to focus on. Those software solutions, which will be presented tomorrow, will greatly facilitate the life of the population and business.

Digital technologies have already changed the world, and they are changing childhood more and more. On the one hand, they open up new opportunities and make it possible to expand children's access to information, on the other hand, they make them especially vulnerable to negative influences.
Therefore, for Belarus, this problem is more and more urgent, and I am glad that platforms such as TIBO pay attention to the promotion of cybersecurity of children and the organization of public dialogue to develop comprehensive policies and strategies in the field of child safety on the Internet.

Each EAEU member country has unique developments and solutions that can be scaled on a supranational scale, and it is at the Forum site that you will have the opportunity to get to know them and discuss implementation mechanisms. At the same time, close attention should be paid to the experience of other states, which is widely presented at the Forum.

Since 2012, there has been active interaction in the field of science and technology between our countries. We have established a joint committee on science and technology, and we are discussing the most promising areas of cooperation. We are successfully conducting joint research in the field of materials science and nanotechnology. Enterprises are often involved in scientific and technical cooperation. Within the framework of this visit, a meeting of the scientific and technical committee and a joint forum were held, where we discussed new promising areas for cooperation. These are biotechnology, nanotechnology, information and communication technologies and geology. In the near future, we are going to expand cooperation in these areas.