The following is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Pooja Jhunjhunwala:

Yesterday, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick participated in meetings with officials of the Government of Finland.

Deputy Glick had the opportunity to meet with Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari. Joined by U.S. Ambassador to Finland Robert Frank Pence, the Deputy Administrator and the Ministers discussed supporting emerging market countries’ adoption of open, interoperable, reliable, inclusive and secure digital ecosystems, including 5G. They also spoke about USAID and Finland’s international responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Afghanistan Conference that will take place next month.

Also during her visit, Deputy Administrator Glick participated in a roundtable with Business Finland and principals from the Finnish telecommunications sector. The group discussed how to secure data in their digital infrastructures and emerging technologies like Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN). They also spoke about the regulatory structures necessary to create enabling environments for investment and privacy protection so that citizens are empowered by digital innovations.