Excitement Builds for ICANN81 Annual General Meeting in IstanbulSeher Sagiroglu

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As we approach the ICANN81 Annual General Meeting (AGM), taking place in Istanbul from 9-15 November 2024, the city is ready to welcome members of the global Internet community.

We are pleased to share an update on our outreach and engagement efforts leading up to the ICANN81 AGM.

As highlighted in Baher Esmat's latest blog, ICANN's Middle East Global Stakeholder Engagement (GSE) team has been actively engaging with business stakeholders, technical community members, nongovernmental organizations, and governments to inform them about the upcoming ICANN81 AGM and to provide updates on ICANN's key initiatives (for example, the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: Next Round, Universal Acceptance, etc.). In addition to raising awareness about these efforts, we are also seeking further collaboration by understanding local needs.

Engagement Activities Aligned with the Republic of Türkiye

With a 50 percent compound annual growth (in TRY) in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector between 2019 and 2023, the Republic of Türkiye has steadily increased its prominence in the tech world and taken a more active role in shaping advancements in the industry.

As the home of ICANN's Middle East and Africa office and the host country for ICANN81, the GSE Middle East team is committed to expanding outreach and engagement efforts across the Republic of Türkiye. Locating the ICANN Middle East and Africa Regional Office in Istanbul has allowed us to establish and maintain close relations with various stakeholders.

As ICANN81 approaches in November, we have been engaging with regional stakeholders. In October, we plan to host a webinar for Middle East Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) members to discuss topics related to ICANN81 in İstanbul, and to encourage their participation in the meeting.

Our outreach also has extended to gTLD registries, ICANN-accredited registrars, and Turkish ICT organizations that advocate for Internet user rights. These efforts have helped to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among relevant ICANN groups.

Looking ahead, we have planned three pre-ICANN81 webinars with universities in October that will focus on the legal, technical, and geopolitical aspects of the Domain Name System (DNS). These sessions will connect young professionals with ICANN experts, thus helping to shape the next generation of Internet leaders.

We'll also host a meeting with local business stakeholders in October and are co-organizing a technical engagement event with RIPE NCC in early November. This meeting will focus on ICANN's technical role and Internet measurement tools for network operators in the Republic of Türkiye.

Lastly, stay tuned for the Middle East Space session at ICANN81, which will cover the New gTLD Program Applicant Support Program, Registrant Rights, and DNS Security. Keep an eye on the schedule for more details.

Thank You!

We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks to the Information and the Communication Technologies Authority of the Republic of Türkiye for their efforts and dedication in hosting ICANN81.

We would also like to thank each and every stakeholder for their commitment to supporting our local engagement efforts. We look forward to continuing our to work together to strengthen the Internet ecosystem and foster innovation across the Middle East region.