Dharamshala: The first-ever Digital Strategy Development Meeting of the Central Tibetan Administration jointly organised by the Tibetan Computer Resource Center (TCRC) and Social and Resources Development Fund (SARD) was convened earlier today in the presence of Sikyong Penpa Tsering at Kashag Secretariat.

The inaugural of the two-day meeting was also attended by Kalon Norzin Dolma and Secretary Karma Choeying from the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) along with the participants, consisting of CEOs, institution directors, and IT experts who work closely with CTA, and observers from CTA’s various offices and departments.

Namgyal Lekshey, the Director of TCRC, urged participating experts for their recommendations regarding the implementation of the proposed project that will enable TCRC to develop a road map or strategy document for future application.

Sikyong expressed in his key remarks the assurance of acquiring guidance from experts in the attendance for discovering the most efficient and cost-effective ways for developing applications requisite in future. He lauded the participation of every department and office of CTA in the meeting. Acknowledging the challenges of bulging staff at CTA, Sikyong apprised the gathering about seeking cooperation from the younger Tibetan generations proficient in IT to create a suitable position for them to contribute to the common cause. Having said that, he presented the idea of gathering a list of Tibetan youths educated in IT-related occupations and then assembling them in the month of December to figure out their inclinations regarding whether to work independently or collaboratively with CTA. The aim behind this as he explained was to create groups among these youths in developing necessary applications and other software for the use of CTA. Sikyong also acknowledged in commend the persistent assistance from Volexity and others in the IT field for CTA.

Rafal Rohozinski, the CEO of Zeropoint Security Corporation, apprised the pros and cons of the digital world through virtual address and underscored the provision of opportunities in the digital world for communities like exiled Tibetans in maintaining a sense of nationhood and identity regardless of geographical location, adding, “digital identity means being able to organise for your rights and to preserve a sense of one’s culture across a time, space and generations”.

In addition, he believes that digital transformation for CTA is an important strategic choice given China’s employment of advanced digital equipments in scrutinising and repressing Tibetans.

“Building a digital future, Tibetans require partnership”, therefore, “I reconfirm our commitment to supporting the CTA’s digital transformation and Tibet’s digital future through a comprehensive program of assistance in developing strategies, action plans and building a solid and secure foundation for CTA’s digital capabilities,” said CEO Rafal Rohozinski.

The staff of TCRC presented their respective topics covering IT Infrastructure and Security, Citizen Oriented Application (Cloud), CTA Application (Cloud), CTA Department Centric Application (Local), IT Policy and Guidelines, and E-Governance.

Apart from attendees from the CTA, other key attendees in the meeting include Geshe Lobsang Monlam (CEO of Monlam IT), Lobsang Sither (Director of Technology at Tibet Action Institute), Steven Adair (President of Volexity), Sean Koessel (Vice President of Volexity), K Venkatachalam (Technical Director at Fortune Computers Technology Pvt Ltd), Bob Ankerson (Vice President of The Tibet Fund), Jamal Siddique (Deputy Chief of Party at NDI), Evan Summers (Senior Cybersecurity Program Manager at NDI), Tenzing Donyo (Program Advisor at IFES), Shraddha Khrel Pandey (Asian Program Director at ICMA), Anil Prakash (Institutional Strengthening Advisor at ICMA), Arvo Ott (Director of e-Government Technologies, member of the Management Board, EGA), Tiina Viiderfeld (Client Relations Manager at EGA), Heiko Vainsalu (Programme Director of Technology at EGA), Karin Rits (Product Owner and IT Project Manager at EGA), Namgyal Lekshey (Director of TCRC), Tenzin Tsultrim (Deputy Director of TCRC), and Lobsang Tenzin (Senior MEL Officer at SARD).