Role of international cooperation in development of smart countries: Interview with Andrew Whitten

The realization of the "smart country" concept represents an immense and intricate undertaking. No single nation possesses adequate resources to independently tackle such multifaceted challenges, underscoring the paramount importance of international collaboration in this domain. This viewpoint was articulated during a discussion with NEWS.am Tech by Andrew Whitten, the Trade Counsellor and Regional Director for Policy and Investments of Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the UK Department for Business and Trade.

During the Silicon Mountains 2023 summit, which took place in Yerevan on October 17, Andrew Whitten participated in a panel session centered on the topic of "smart countries." In his discourse, he illuminated the interconnections between international trade, sustainable practices, and the development of smart cities, nations, and regions.

"My key message from the panel was that no one country will have all the solutions to deliver something like smart countries, it's too big and too complex a problem. And what that means is there's huge opportunity for international collaboration and international trade,” he emphasized.

According to Whitten, international cooperation in general, and sound trade policies in particular, play a pivotal role in the advancement of smart cities, countries, and regions. In this context, he believes that international trade agreements and robust policies in this sphere can contribute to the "smart" and sustainable development of Eastern European and Central Asian nations, including Armenia.

"Trade policy is all about removing barriers to business. I think agreements like CEPA (Comprehensive Enhanced Partnership Agreement) and other trade policy accords are really important because if there are barriers to business, you're missing out on part of the market. And it might just be that part of the market has the solution you need. So you want to be open to as many opportunities as possible, and trade policy facilitates that happening,” the expert highlighted.

Furthermore, in his perspective, astute trade policy can serve as a pivotal instrument in attaining numerous sustainability and climate goals. 

“A smart city is a sustainable city. We know that to achieve our climate objectives, countries will need to become more sustainable. I'd say again that it's about reducing barriers. And that's the key role of trade policy so that you can have access to all the sustainable solutions that exist in the world,” Whitten underscored.

Discussing specific initiatives and projects pertaining to the development of "smart" cities in Armenia, the expert highlighted the GovTech project, funded by the UK Government and implemented by the Armenian Government and the Municipality of Yerevan, in collaboration with the World Bank. This initiative aids in the digitalization of public services and products, facilitating the integration of novel technologies in this sphere.