Date: October 24, 2024 | 3:30 to 6:30 PM
Location: AWS Headquarters (Arlington, VA)
Aligned with the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings taking place from October 25-27, 2024, in Washington D.C., the Portulans Institute, in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), is hosting a high-level session on October 24, from 3:30 to 6:30 PM.
This session will focus on the critical role of AI in driving economic and social transformation within the global majority, highlighting how innovations in generative AI are accelerating transformation of public services. It will underscore the importance of global benchmarking tools, such as the Network Readiness Index (NRI), in measuring the progress and impact of digital readiness, including emerging technologies such as those driven by AI and cloud computing, helping governments align their strategies with key development goals.
The session will feature keynote speeches from representatives of the Portulans Institute, AWS, and the World Bank, alongside participants from diverse economies attending the World Bank Group’s flagship event. Following the speeches, a brief presentation on the Network Readiness Index data will set the stage for a panel discussion on “Harnessing AI for Economic Transformation: Building the Digital Foundations for Economic Development.”
Event Agenda
03:30 – 04:00 | Welcome Coffee
04:00 – 04:30 | Keynote Addresses
- Soumitra Dutta, Dean, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford & President, Portulans Institute
- Shannon Kellogg, Vice President of Public Policy, Amazon
- Casey Torgusson, Global Program Manager, Connectivity, Cybersecurity, Digital and Climate, World Bank Group
04:30 – 05:00 | Presentation
- Rafael Escalona Reynoso, CEO, Portulans Institute
05:00 – 06:00 | Expert Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A:
This session will bring together experts to explore the investment and foundational technologies required to unlock AI’s potential and drive digital transformation. Through real-world case studies and strategic insights, the panel will discuss how these technologies not only transform services but also generate precise data measurements that guide decision-making at local, regional, and global levels.
- Diego Molano, Former Minister of Information Technologies and Communications of Colombia
- Soumitra Dutta, Dean, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford & President, Portulans Institute
- Yaron Shilat, Director of Public Policy Israel, Amazon Web Services
- Moderator: Camila Saad, Principal, Social Impact, Amazon Web Services
06:00 – 06:10 | Intermission
06:10 – 06:40 | Networking Reception
