The second CADGov Forum webinar, organized by the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV), will take place on 18 November from 16h00 to 17h30 (Tashkent time).
Part of the “CADGov Capacity Building Diploma Programme in Digital Governance, AI Readiness & Innovation for Public Officials" webinar series, it will address the challenges faced by Central Asian countries in investing in digital infrastructure, improving digital literacy, strengthening cooperation, and developing inclusive and secure digital policies.
Digital governance in Central Asia has made significant progress in recent years, with countries increasingly adopting digital technologies to make public administration more efficient and improve public service delivery. One of the major achievements has been the development of e-government platforms, which greatly facilitate citizens' access to public services.
This webinar will explore the challenges that Central Asia continues to face despite these achievements, including inadequate digital skills, cybersecurity risks, data protection concerns, and limited institutional capacity. Experts will also focus on the limitations on the benefits of digital transformation for certain populations stemming from unequal access to digital infrastructure, particularly between urban and rural areas.
They will furthermore consider the differences in economic development and technological readiness among the five countries, which have also resulted in uneven progress across the region.CADGov’s second webinar will feature an expert talk by Andrew Beklemishev (Kazakhstan), followed by a panel discussion with Dilshat Saitov (Uzbekistan) and Toktobubu Almazbekovna (Kyrgyz Republic), moderated by Luis Soares Barbosa (UNU-EGOV).
Expert Bio
Andrew Beklemishev
Andrew Beklemishev is Vice President of the International Academy of CIO - a partner of CADGov Forum, Board Member and co-founder of Kazakhstan Society of IT Managers, Council member of CIO Club of Uzbekistan, and Member of the Strategy Committee of TechnoWomen Non-Profit Organization.
Beklemishev is also co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of “Alma” Foundation for Sustainable Development of Cities and Communities, Vice President with International Data Corporation - a global ICT market intelligence consultancy, and an Independent Non-executive Director of the Board of Directors of Freedom Telecom Holding, a large private telecom operator in Kazakhstan.
Andrew Beklemishev has over twenty years of experience in IT and telecoms, specializing in Digital Transformation strategies for businesses, cities, and whole countries. His work with countries in Central Asia began in 2002.His prior experience includes work with Central Asian governments, USAID, UNDP, UNESCAP, the World Bank, and the European Commission, as well as with various non-governmental organizations and private companies.
Panel Discussants’ Bios
Dilshat Saitov
Dilshat Saitov is the Head of the Digital Government Project Office at the Digital Government Projects Management Center under the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
His work focuses on digital transformation, international cooperation, and the development of digital government. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from Tashkent University of Information Technologies and master’s and PhD degrees in Robotics from Yeungnam University, Republic of Korea.
Saitov has been actively involved in international cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), particularly in e-government assessments, international digital government rankings, and the UN E-Government Survey.
Toktobubu Almazbekova
Toktobubu Almazbekova is a public sector professional from the Kyrgyz Republic, currently working at the State Institution “Kyzmat” under the Administrative Department of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, within the Department of IT Professional Development and Information and Digital Systems Development.
Her professional activities focus on strengthening digital competencies within public administration, facilitating the effective implementation and use of government information systems, and supporting digital transformation initiatives in the public sector.
Almazbekova’s professional interests encompass digital governance, e-government, public sector innovation, institutional capacity development, and international cooperation. She is particularly interested in the role of digital technologies in enhancing public service delivery, strengthening institutional effectiveness, and advancing transparent, efficient, and citizen-centred governance.
Registration
Please register using the hyperlink: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/mzVFFmMAYE
Event Link
The access link for the event will be sent to you on Monday, 16 November
