Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital Age
January 20, 2021President Joseph R. Biden Jr.The White House1600 Pennsylvania AvenueNW Washington, DC 20500Dear President Biden:On behalf of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA),we congratulate you on winning this important election and on having been inaugurated as the 46th United States President. Looking ahead and facing the wide-ranging impacts of the pandemic, it is more important than ever for the United States to provide global leadership on a range of issues affecting its national prosperity, including international trade, climate change, sustainability, rule of law and support for a rules-based global economy.WITSA is the leading recognized international voice of the global ICT industry, whose members from over 80 countries and economies represent more than 90 percent of the world ICT market. We are dedicated to advocating policies that advance industry growth and development; facilitating international trade and investment in ICT products and services. On this basis, we are looking forward to becoming a partner with your Administration on policies that foster greater opportunity for families across all communities, in the United States as well abroad. From closing the digital divide to investing in research and development to a renewed collaboration with allies to achieve U.S. trade, economic, and national security objectives, our industry is committed to working constructively with yours to ensure that the United States adopts policies that support the well-being of all Americans as well as people around the world.WITSA envisions itself as the leader in Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital Age for everyone. Your engagement with the wider world, including government and business leadership working together is indispensable to this effort. Such a comprehensive multi-stakeholder strategy will need to build upon America’s strengths in its innovation, entrepreneurship, know-how, educational system and world-class work force. It should seek to further leverage business to reinforce your global leadership and effectively engage with multilateral institutions for international rules that support business innovation and competitiveness. It should also insist that those institutions become more accountable to and inclusive of key global stakeholders, including the private sector, in pursuit of shared goals and values.It is our mission to promote and facilitate the global growth of the ICT industry through public policy development and advocacy, and the promotion of global trade and investment. WITSA members are leaders in a globally interconnected marketplace. Because the challenges facing the ICT industry are undisputedly global in nature, WITSA members work together to achieve a shared vision on important issues of common interest. WITSA makes it possible for its members - ranging from Mongolia and Argentina to Kenya and the United States - to identify common issues and priorities, exchange valuable information, and present a united position on industry issues.We are ready to work with your Administration to realize the Promise of the Digital Age to everyone -in America and around the world- and to reap the gains from participation in global markets and trade, to advance sustainable development, and to deliver benefits in the form of jobs and opportunities in the U.S. and beyond. These objectives should be pursued together as the U.S. moves to build forward better and stronger, in partnership with its allies worldwide.RespectfullyYannis SirrosChairmanDr. Jim PoisantSecretary General
