Policymakers, civil society representatives, activists, business and technical community representatives from 90 countries brought together in the Stockholm Internet Forum (SIF17) during the period 17 – 18 May 2017 for an in-depth dialogue on digital identity, connectivity and free access to an open and secure Internet, as well as the protection of human rights in virtual space worldwide.

Attending the event, the Deputy Minister of Information Technology and Communications Vitalie Tarlev reported to the audience, within a panel on connectivity, about the policies implemented by the Government of the Republic of Moldova in this field. In this respect Vitalie Tarlev stated that the experience of our country attracted the attention of the participants in the light of achievements obtained in a developing state, which reached in this field the performance indicators of technologically advanced states with a high coverage rate and Internet connection.

The Forum found that „the access to the Internet , ICT’s and digital tools are both a catalyst for economic growth and a means to actively participate in all the activity areas of a modern society – from the access to information and training to the efficient management of business and public activities”. The session addressed these issues through a multidimensional approach, including infrastructure, availability and contextual factors such as regulation and social and power structures, the Internet being considered nowadays an influential factor and an indispensable right.

Also, within the visit to Stockholm, the Deputy Minister of ICT met with the representatives of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), as well as with other key actors that promote supporting programs for the development, so that the possibility of a partnership for finalizing a new Broadband Internet Development Program for the next few years was agreed.