UN Secretary-General’s Envoy On Technology Undertakes Official Visit To India

United Nations, Jan 10, 2025: The United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, Under-Secretary-General Amandeep Singh Gill, is undertaking an official visit to India, his first official trip since the establishment of the new UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET).

USG Gill’s visit to India began on January 7 and will finish on January 16. His programme includes bilateral meetings at the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as well as interactions with tech companies, civil society and other stakeholders in the digital transformation in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Kerala.

On Friday, he delivered a keynote address at the India International Centre in New Delhi on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence. During his trip, USG Gill is also participating in a series of public roundtable sessions, including one about artificial intelligence (AI) & data governance and another on young people & digital inclusion.

ODET, established as of January 1, was created from a decision by the UN General Assembly last month following the adoption of the Global Digital Compact at the Summit of the Future in September 2024. The new Office will help the UN tackle more effectively the opportunities and challenges posed by today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. A key focus will be supporting the follow-up and implementation of the Global Digital Compact, including its decisions on AI governance.

ODET’s establishment reflects the growing importance of a coordinated, inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach to the governance of technologies anchored in the UN Charter, human rights and the sustainable development agenda.