Committee on Information and Communications Technology, Science, Technology and Innovation, Fourth Session

The Fourth session of the Committee on Information and Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation will be conducted in a combination of physical and virtual means to take account of travel restrictions brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Bangkok based representatives of members and associate members and invited organizations will be able to attend in person at the United Nations Conference Centre, while capital-based representatives will be able to participate through the KUDO videoconferencing platform.

Given the technical limitations of conducting the Committee session in such a manner and in view of the mandates and operational requirements of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies, participation through KUDO will be prioritized for members and associate members and observer countries of the Commission. A limited number of connections may become available for participating organizations on a first come – first served basis.

Participants will be able to observe the proceedings virtually via YouTube broadcast. Details of the broadcast will be published on the website of the Committee on Information and Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation (CICTSTI), https://www.unescap.org/events/2022/committee-information-and-communications-technology-science-technology-and-innovation.

Observer organizations, intergovernmental organizations, other entities and non-governmental organizations that wish to make statements in connection with any agenda item, may provide these to the secretariat in advance in the form of power-point or plain text, and they will be uploaded to the Committee website as supporting materials. Oral statements and interventions by observers will not be heard during the session.

For delegates who will participate virtually, a test-run of the videoconferencing platform will be arranged in August prior to the Committee, the date and details of the test-run will be communicated to registered delegates directly. The connection of virtual participants will also be tested on the morning of the session, starting 30 minutes prior to the opening. ESCAP technical support will be available to all delegates throughout the session of the Committee. Delegates are requested to provide a phone number at which they can be reached by the technical support team if they lose connectivity during the session.

KUDO connection for virtual participation

Given the technical limitations of conducting the session through a virtual platform and in view of the mandates and operational requirements, member States and associate members of the Commission will be provided with <three> KUDO connection. Permanent observers of the Commission will be provided with <one> KUDO connection. The secretariat will send a link to the KUDO session only to those accounts identified on the letter of credentials and completed the online registration. Please note that the KUDO link is not transferable.

The KUDO technical guide will be shared with members of each delegation assigned to speak during the session. Delegates who receive KUDO link will also be invited to a Test Run prior to the session to test their connections and ensure smooth virtual participation.

Country interventions

The Committee on Information and Communications, Science, Technology and Innovation session will be recorded. By joining the session, participants consent to the recording and streaming of the event.

Due to time constraints and to taking account of any technical difficulties/delays that may occur through the videoconferencing platform, delegations are discouraged from delivering traditional country/national statements under each agenda item. Delegations are encouraged to prepare brief interventions under each agenda item in response to the items for the consideration of the Committee reflected in each background document, and to engage in interactive discussion on those items. Delegations are asked to limit their interventions to 3 minutes every time they are given the floor. Copies of full statements or speeches may be provided to the secretariat and published on the website of the Committee under the tab ‘presentations and statements’ after the session.

To participate in deliberations, delegates are requested to indicate which members of the delegations will have a speaking role during the session. A guide to using the Kudo videoconferencing platform will be shared with members of each delegation assigned to speak during the session.

Delegates participating physically at UNCC will be able to raise their country plate as per normal practice.

Each delegation is required to submit a letter of credentials, duly signed by the appropriate authorities of the respective Government, at the earliest convenience and prior to the opening of the session. Only delegates who appear on the credentials will be recognized in the list of participants. Letters of credentials can be sent via email the following address: [email protected] with copy to [email protected]. Originals should be sent to ESCAP at the address below.

Trade, Investment and Innovation Division
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand

Each delegate who appears in the aforementioned letter of credentials is required to register online at https://indico.un.org/e/CICTSTI4 as soon as possible before 10 August 2022. Only registration of accredited delegates will be accepted.

In conformity with standard United Nations security procedures, all participants must complete a mandatory online registration at https://indico.un.org/e/CICTSTI4. Participants are encouraged to complete this procedure well in advance of the meeting and no later than 24 August 2022. To facilitate the process, participants are encouraged to submit their photo in advance.

Participants are requested to register and obtain a visitor’s badge with ID picture on the first day of the meeting, i.e. Tuesday 30 August 2022 between 0800 hours and 1000 hours. This is done at the Registration Counter located on the ground floor of the UNCC. Participants who are not able to register during the time indicated above are requested to do so immediately upon their arrival at UNCC and before going to the conference room. This procedure is important for security reason and will also ensure that all participants’ names appear on the list of participants.

Please note that prior online registration is mandatory in line with standard security procedures to facilitate security clearance and entrance to the premises. A document containing tips on completing the online registration on behalf of another participant can be accessed on the registration portal, noted above.

For identification and security reasons, all participants are requested to wear their meeting badges at all times when on the United Nations compound, and also during the meeting and at social functions. The loss of a meeting badge should be communicated to the Conference Management Unit, located on the ground floor of the UNCC behind the registration counter, so that a new one can be issued immediately.

Questions related to this session of the Committee may be addressed to

• Mr. Jonathan WongChief of Technology and Innovation Section, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, by email ([email protected]) or telephone (+66 2 288 1370) and
• Mr. Tae Hyung Kim, Chief of the Information and Communications Technology and Development Section, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division, by email ([email protected]) or telephone (+66 2 288 1533).

The secretariat has adopted a paperless approach to meetings. As a result, participants are expected to get acquainted with all the meeting documents prior to the meeting. Should participants wish hard copies of the documents, they are expected to bring them to the meeting. Pre-session documents will be made available in Chinese, English, French and Russian and are accessible at https://www.unescap.org/events/2022/committee-information-and-communications-technology-science-technology-and-innovation.

Participants wishing to circulate any papers or literature at the meeting are requested to consult staff from the secretariat servicing the meeting for the necessary arrangements.

Draft report and evaluation:

The draft report of the session will be sent to virtually connected participants by e-mail and uploaded on KUDO. Hard copies will be circulated to participants attending in person at the UNCC. The adoption of the report will commence at 1400 hours on Thursday, 1 September 2022. The final report as adopted will be made publicly available on the Committee website in all languages following the session.

The report will comprise a list of items to be brought to the attention of the Commission, as well as a summary of organizational matters. The report will not include detailed proceedings. A summary of deliberations will be prepared after the session and annexed to the report as a Chair’s summary.

After the session, an evaluation of the virtual meeting will be undertaken to capture your feedback and recommendations for the secretariat to consider when planning future meetings.

Upon arrival at the port of entry in Thailand, participants who are nationals of or have traveled from/through countries listed below, which have been declared Yellow Fever infected areas, must provide an International Health Certificate proving that they have received a valid Yellow Fever vaccination at the Health Control Office upon arrival before proceeding to immigration. A valid vaccination certificate means that the vaccine was administered at least 10 days prior to travel to the affected country. The International Health Certificate must also be submitted together with the visa application form.

The countries/areas listed below have been declared yellow fever infected areas (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand dated 30 November 2022):

Zika virus

Zika is endemic in Thailand and cases have been reported amongst tourists. All travelers are advised to protect themselves from mosquito bites while in Thailand. Given possible transmission of the disease to unborn babies, pregnant women should consider postponing travel to Thailand or talk to their doctor about the implications of traveling to Thailand during this time.

In addition to the above, Medical Services Division at UNHQs advises that pregnant UN personnel should not undertake duty travel or be relocated to countries/areas where local transmission of Zika virus is known to occur. Women who are seeking pregnancy should obtain individual advice from their medical practitioner on risk management regarding their plans to travel into a Zika-affected area. For further information, please refer to the Zika virus FAQ.

Information on other non-vaccine preventable diseases to watch out for while in Thailand can be found here: Thailand - Traveler view | Travelers' Health | CDC.

Air pollution and Health

Bangkok, like many metropolitan Asian cities in the world, is periodically affected by high levels of air pollution, with haze and high concentrations of PM2.5 particularly of concern for sensitive groups.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand advises tourists to monitor Bangkok’s air pollution and take precautions when necessary. People who have existing asthma or are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution should consult their treating physician as to whether a trip to Bangkok is advisable at this time. Information on the Air pollution can be found Air4Thai website, maintained by the government of Thailand with daily information on air pollution.

Insurance and emergency medical service

Delegates are strongly encouraged to subscribe to a travel or health insurance which is valid in the Kingdom of Thailand, in order to cover any medical bills or hospitalization fees. In case of medical emergency, please call 1669. The nearest hospital to the UNCC is Bangkok Adventist (Mission) Hospital, which has English speaking medical support staff +662-282-1100.

When feeling unwell while in the UNCC: Anyone who feels unwell while already within the UNCC is advised to call any medical service staff at +66 2288 1352/1353/1761 during business hours, for further guidance. After business hours, they are advised to call the UN Medical Officer at +66 2288 1353 for further guidance. In case of a medical emergency within the UNCC, they are advised to call UN Security at +66 2288 1102/1120 for assistance in calling an ambulance.

Visa Requirements

Participants are REQUIRED to obtain an appropriate entry visa from the Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate-General before entering Thailand, EXCEPT for those nationals listed at List of Countries entitled for Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival.

Please note that participants holding UN Laissez-Passer (UNLP) travelling on official business to Thailand are also REQUIRED to obtain an appropriate visa before entering.

To apply for an appropriate entry visa to Thailand, participants are required to contact their nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General for the most updated information regarding visa application procedures and required documents. The list of Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate-General can be found at https://www.thaiembassy.org.

Participants who wish to apply for a visa outside their country of residence or reside in a country where there is no Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate, should check with the meeting organizer for the location where it is possible for them to apply for a Thai visa. Please note that certain nationalities, for security reasons, are not allowed to apply for a visa except at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General which has jurisdiction over the concerned territory.

Participants who may need further assistance from ESCAP on their visa application should contact the meeting organizer, well in advance, for necessary action.

Participants who wish to apply for a visa on arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Muang International Airport should follow the below requirements:

1. The applicant must possess a passport from the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to apply for visa on arrival (List of countries entitled for Visa on Arrival) with the validity of more than 30 days, at least one completely blank page, and be in possession of a valid return ticket with date of departure within 15 days of the date of entry.
2. The applicant must fill out an application form, which is available at the Visa-on-Arrival counter at the airport, supply one recent passport-sized photograph and a fee of Thai Baht (THB) 2,000.
3. QR code for online application is available at Visa On Arrival (immigration.go.th). Upon presentation of printed Transaction Reference Number, the applicant could obtain the visa at the Visa-on-Arrival counter at the airport before proceeding for immigration procedures.
4. The applicant must provide proof of means of living expenses at the amount of THB 10,000 per person or THB 20,000 per family.

NOTE: The information provided above is accurate as of October 2022.

Entry Requirements (as of 1 March 2023)

Thai Department of Disease Control (DDC), Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) issued “Public Health Measures for Foreign Travellers Entering Thailand”, which is effective from 1 March 2023 until further notice, as per the following:

• Proof of vaccination is No longer required.
• Proof of health insurance is No longer required.
• Any passenger having symptoms of COVID-19 on arrival shall be recommended to get COVID-19/RT-PCR test at arrival.

For more information, travelers can contact the DDC Hotline 1422.

The UNCC is fully wheelchair-accessible and houses the Accessibility Centre on Level 1. For more information, please visit the Accessibility Centre’s webpages

The American Express Global Business Travel (AMEX-GBT) office is located on Level 1, UNCC, and is open weekdays from 08:00 to 17:00 hours. Remote support is available on other days ([email protected])

Visitors are advised to be respectful of Thai customs at all times. Please note that Thailand has laws against making negative comments about the institution of the monarchy. Such laws are strictly enforced and are applicable to spoken, written, gestures and electronic communication, including social media.

Participants need to make their own transport arrangements to and from the UNCC. Metered taxis are readily available in the city and you may also book your transportation via applications such as Grab and Volt. Some hotels close to the UN building may provide complimentary transfer service on fixed schedule, to and from the UNCC, so please check with the hotel concierge.

The souvenir shop is located on Level 1 of UNCC. It is open from 09:00 to 16:00 hours, Monday through Friday. The shop can be contacted at +66 2288 1295.

For security and safety reasons, participants are reminded NOT to leave their belongings unattended. Belongings left unattended within the UNCC may be removed to the nearest Lost and Found counter or the Security Operations Centre.

All drone unmanned aircrafts are prohibited from flying over the UNCC as per the security requirements.

All occupants of the UNCC MUST comply at all times with all lawful directions given by the officers of the United Nations Security and Safety Section. Failure to do so may lead to the participant’s removal from the UNCC.

Contact numbers:

UN Security
Security Control Centre (24/7): +66.2.2881102
UN Security Emergency Number: +66.2.2881100
Mobile +66.81.8078471

Thailand Emergency Numbers:
Police general emergency call: 191
Fire: 199
Ambulance and rescue: 1669/1554
Tourism Police: 1155

Zero Tolerance towards harassment

The United Nations has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment, including sexual harassment, and will deal with such complaints promptly. Please refer to the United Nations Code of Conduct and report any incident to the Security and Safety Section either in person or by phone at +66 2288 1102.

Security protocols for UN personnel

In line with security procedures for UN staff, travel notification through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) is required prior to any official travel. Upon notification of travel on TRIP, UN staff members will automatically receive an updated security advice for UN visitors to Thailand. Please visit https://dss.un.org to apply for this travel notification.

In addition, the UN Department of Safety and Security requires all UN personnel, including interns and consultants, to complete the mandatory BSAFE Security Awareness Training These security certifications are required to be completed, prior to having commenced official travel.

Prayer and meditation rooms are located near CR2 on Level 2, UNCC.

Postal services are available at the United Nations branch of Thailand Post, located on the Ground Level of UNCC. It is open from 08:00 to 16:00 hours, Monday through Friday. The office can be contacted at extension 2911.

Many international airlines operate regular services to and from Bangkok. Participants are advised to secure their return bookings prior to their departure for Bangkok. If this is not possible, they should make firm return bookings immediately upon arrival in Bangkok. Travel services are available through the American Express Global Business Travel (AMEX-GBT) office located on Level 1, UNCC.

ESCAP Library facilities are available on Level 1, Service Building from 08:00 to 16:00 hours, Monday through Friday. For details on the use of the ESCAP Library facilities, please consult the staff on duty or call extensions 1329 and 1360. Further information about the ESCAP Library can be found on its website at http://www.unescap.org/library.

Free wireless internet access is available in all conference and meeting rooms and in the public areas of the UNCC. Please use UN-WiFi, no password is required. Use of internet at UNCC is governed by relevant Organizational policies and guidelines. Failure to adhere to policies may result in revoking of those services.

Hotels, located relatively close to ESCAP or by mass-transit routes, may be used by participants, should they choose to. The selection of hotels at a walking distance from the UNCC is encouraged to reduce participants’ local travel emissions and their exposure to traffic. Click here for a list of hotels, with indicative prices.

NOTE: ESCAP cannot vouch for accuracy of the information or rates contained in the document. The list is meant purely for reference and for ease of participants. The special discount rates provided are subject to change without notice. Please confirm the room rates with the hotel directly.

Participants are responsible for booking their own rooms and are requested to contact the hotel well in advance. Any cancellations, postponements or other changes should be reported to the hotel. Rooms not occupied may be charged to the participants as per the hotel’s policies.

Before departure from Bangkok, participants should settle directly with the respective hotels all accounts, including room charges and other expenses, such as for local and long-distance telephone calls, Internet usage, business center usage, laundry, room and hotel transportation services, mini-bar items, as well as restaurant and bar services. Participants are also responsible for any charges incurred with respect to rooms remaining vacant owing to late arrival or rescheduled departure for which inadequate prior notice is given.

Any person who brings or takes an aggregate amount of foreign currency exceeding USD 20,000 or its equivalent into or out of the Kingdom of Thailand shall declare such amount of foreign currency to a Customs Official. Failure to make such a declaration or making any false declaration to a Customs official is a criminal offence.

For reference, participants may use – at their discretion – online currency conversion tool, such as https://freecurrencyrates.com for indicative currency conversion rates.

The UNCC floor plans are available at https://www.unescap.org/uncc/our-rooms. The UN buildings are smoke-free. Smoking is permitted only in the designated areas outside of the buildings and in the UNCC, the designated smoking area is outside of the Public Foyer.

The electric power in Thailand is 220V running at 50Hz and the plug types used are either Type A, Type B, or Type C. A hybrid socket is almost universally found, which accepts a combination of the above plug types.

Delegates are strongly encouraged to carry their own adapters for use with laptops and other electrical appliances as the Secretariat will not be able to provide these. In case of need, adapters can be purchased from shops in the city dealing in electronic and electrical items.

Operating hours

Catering services are available at the following locations:

• International Cafeteria (Level 1, UNCC), which serves breakfast from 7.30 to 10.00 hours, and Thai, Halal and International menus for lunch from 11:00 to 14:00 hours on Monday through Friday.
• Coffee Corner (Level 1, UNCC), which serves assortment of bakery pastries and beverages, is open from 07:00 to 17:00 hours on Monday through Friday.
• Rajapruek Lounge (Ground Level, UNCC), which serves light meals and beverages, is open from 07:00 to 17:00 hours on Monday through Friday.

In line with the Sustainable United Nations (SUN) and Environmental Management System (EMS} principles, no single use plastic is available in the UNCC. Single-use food and drink containers have been banned within the UN compound in Bangkok. When purchasing coffee/tea at the Coffee Corner, meeting participants will be asked to pay a deposit of THB 100 for a cup, which will be returned upon return of the cup.

Dining venues at the UNCC also do not provide food storage boxes, plastic cutlery or straws for take-away orders. Diners wishing to take food away are advised to bring their own reusable food containers.

Banking services are available at the Siam Commercial Bank, United Nations Branch, located on Level 1 of the Service Building, from 08:30 to 15:30 hours during weekdays. (telephone extension 2168).

Siam Commercial Bank ATMs can be found near the registration desk, on the Ground Level of UNCC, and near its UN Branch office, noted above.

The weather in Bangkok is usually warm and humid. Light tropical clothing would be appropriate. The conference and meeting rooms at the UNCC are air-conditioned and the temperature is maintained in the range of 23-24 degrees Celsius (73-75 degrees Fahrenheit).