About the forum
ABOUT KIGF 2025 — Internet for Sustainable Development and Digital Inclusion
In an increasingly interconnected world, the Internet continues to shape how we interact, innovate, and evolve as a society. In 2025, the Internet’s role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promoting digital inclusion has never been more critical. Bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to digital technologies are essential steps toward building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies. The theme of KIGF 2025 — Internet for Sustainable Development and Digital Inclusion — reflects Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to leveraging digital technologies to empower communities and create inclusive digital futures.
The Kyrgyzstan Internet Governance Forum (KIGF), as a national initiative aligned with the global IGF process, serves as a vital multistakeholder platform for dialogue and collaboration between government, the private sector, civil society, academia, and international partners. KIGF 2025 will facilitate open discussions on key issues such as inclusive access to the Internet, digital rights, the role of ICT in achieving SDGs, and policies that support inclusive innovation.
Kyrgyzstan recognizes that ensuring universal, affordable, and meaningful access to the Internet — particularly for marginalized groups, rural communities, women, and youth — is crucial for sustainable development. This year’s forum will spotlight strategies and policies aimed at narrowing the digital divide, strengthening community networks, and enabling local innovation ecosystems that support digital entrepreneurship and social inclusion.
As digital technologies transform public services, education, and economic development, KIGF 2025 will also explore inclusive digital transformation strategies, emphasizing the need for participatory governance, data ethics, and human-centered digital policy design. Cybersecurity and digital trust will remain essential elements of the agenda, with a focus on safeguarding vulnerable communities and critical services while promoting transparency and accountability in cyberspace.
Furthermore, KIGF 2025 will examine the importance of fostering inclusive digital governance frameworks that reflect diverse perspectives, support gender equality, and address the needs of underrepresented populations. Special attention will be given to empowering youth as drivers of digital innovation and champions of sustainable development in the digital age.
Participants:
KIGF 2025 will bring together a diverse range of participants, including representatives of public institutions such as the Ministry of Digital Development, telecom and ICT regulators, the State Agency for Personal Data Protection, the Ministry of Education and Science, and other key state bodies; private sector stakeholders from telecom, fintech, and digital innovation sectors; civil society organizations working on inclusion, gender, and youth empowerment; technical and academic experts; and representatives of international organizations such as ICANN, RIPE NCC, UNDP, and others contributing global perspectives and expertise.
Forum Format:
KIGF 2025 will be held in a hybrid format, combining in-person plenary sessions, interactive panel discussions, and online contributions from international experts. The forum will also feature youth-led sessions, community roundtables, and practical workshops to ensure diverse participation and inclusive policy outcomes.
