- Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Recap
Recap: Launch of the D4D Hub for the EU neighboring countries at the Western Balkans Digital Summit
The Western Balkans Digital Summit 2023 took place at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in Sarajevo on 4-5 October. Hosted by the Ministry of Communications and Transport, participants had the opportunity to engage in informative discussions, attend panel sessions, explore the latest technologies and network with like-minded individuals from the region and beyond. In total, more than 500 people took part in the event.
The Digital Summit also served as a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices with the goal of fostering digital transformation and economic growth in the Western Balkans. “The Summit will help to create preconditions that are more favorable for investments, development of start-ups and exchange of knowledge,” said Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Traffic of BiH.
A highlight of the Summit was the launch of the Digital for Development (D4D) Hub for the EU Neighboring Countries with the aim to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration and knowledge sharing between the public sector, civil society, academia, and private sector actors.
Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, made the announcement during the opening plenary of the Summit. “We are launching a new branch of the D4D Hub for the EU neighboring countries to strengthen cooperation and coordinate engagement between the European Union, its Member States and our partner regions,” he said. He also stressed the commitment of the EU to boost joint investments and strengthen digital cooperation with EU neighboring countries.
To mark the launch, the D4D Hub also hosted a side event with the purpose of having a first exchange with partners in the Western Balkans to discuss opportunities and expectations for regional engagement. D4D Hub members Italy, Estonia, Slovenia, and Germany were represented at the event.