KATHMANDU, Oct 12: Experts from over 20 countries gathered in Nepal for a four-day conference on internet governance and artificial intelligence (AI), sharing insights on regulation, cybersecurity and emerging digital challenges.
The event, APSIG 2025, was organised by the Asia Pacific School on Internet Governance (APSIG), an institution with long-standing experience in the field and was held from October 7 to 10, according to APSIG Chairperson Baburam Aryal.
The conference featured 16 sessions and thematic presentations by 22 experts, covering topics such as responsible internet use, AI opportunities and challenges, cybersecurity, data protection, social media management, combating misinformation and improving internet access for marginalized communities.
Wakas Hassan, vice-chair of the conference, said 34 fellows from 16 countries, including government officials, IT professionals, academics, journalists, lawyers, activists and researchers, attended the event. Participants highlighted the value of sharing international practices and experiences to inform Nepal’s own digital governance strategies.
Nepali journalist Jeevan Bhandari, who attended the conference, noted that the discussions were comprehensive, covering the intersection of internet policy, AI deployment, and digital equity. Pakistani participant Maryam Rasheed said the event provided significant learning based on international experiences.
According to Sapana Shahi, director of the host organisation Internet Governance Institute, representatives from countries including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bhutan, Yemen, Mongolia, Pakistan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, and Japan participated in the conference.
Certificates were awarded to all participants at the closing ceremony by Lalitpur Metropolitan City Chief Chiri Babu Maharjan and APSIG Chairperson Baburam Aryal.