India to Host Global Conference on Cyber Space 2017: A Giant Leap Towards a Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace

India, for the first time ever, is going to host the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS), one of the world’s largest conferences in the field of Cyber Space and related issues, on 23 & 24 November 2017, at Aero city, New Delhi. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the mega event, while Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs delivered the keynote address in the Valedictory function.

Global Conference on Cyber Space Previously held:

Themed on Cyber4All: A Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace for Sustainable Development, this is the fifth edition of GCCS wherein international leaders, policymakers, industry experts, think tanks and cyber experts will gather to deliberate on issues and challenges for optimally using cyber space. The overall goals of GCCS 2017 are to promote the importance of inclusiveness and human rights in global cyber policy, to defend the status quo of an open, interoperable and unregimented cyberspace, to create political commitment for capacity building initiatives to address the digital divide and assist countries, and to develop security solutions in a balanced fashion that duly acknowledge the importance of the private sector and technical community.

GCCS 2017: Key Highlights

• Tens of thousands of delegates (Both in person and through Webinar/ Video Conference from around the world). Millions will watch over webcast from 5 Conference locations at the venue
• Representatives from 124 countries
• 33 Ministerial delegates from 31 countries already including PM of Sri Lanka
• 2800 locations to be virtually connected in an interactive mode
• 15 Parallel sessions & 12 Side events
• Participation of policy makers, industry, academia, civil society and think tanks
• Grand Finale of worldwide Peace-a-thon Events

The plenary sessions and other activities during GCCS 2017 have been designed around the themes of Cyber4Inclusive Growth, Cyber4DigitalInclusion, Cyber4Security and Cyber4Diplomacy. During various sessions and activities focused around these themes, GCCS 2017 will bring forth the business, empowerment and developmental potential of Cyber space for realizing the goals of sustainable development.

More than 7000 people have already registered on the website; only 2500 will get their invites to the conference. Till now, some of  the eminent speakers at the conference who have already confirmed participation include Ministers from various countries such as France, Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Portugal, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom; Mr. Houlin Zhao (Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union); Mr. Mukesh Ambani (Chairman, MD, RIL); Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal (Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises); Mr. Tarek Kamel (Senior Advisor to President & SPV, Government And IGO Engagement, ICANN); Ms. Marina Kalijurand (Chair, Global Commission on Stability of Cyber Space, Estonia); Mr. David Martinon (Ambassador for Cyber Diplomacy and the Digital Economy, France); Mr. Uriël “Uri” Rosenthal (Ex- Foreign Minister, The Netherlands); Mr. LaliteshKatragadda(Founder, Google Map Maker); Mr. VeniMarkovski (Bulgarian Internet pioneer, Co-founder and CEO of bol.bg); Ms. Debjani Ghosh (Former MD, Intel, South Asia); Mr. Saurabh Srivastava (Founding Member, Indian Angel Network);Mr. Paul Wilson (Director General, APNIC).

6 oldest IITs and IISc are among academic partners of the GCCS. Leading multinationals, SBI and PNB also are among the sponsors.

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