LocationsUsing AI in the public interest: Civil servants exchange experiences at the UN Public Service Forum
June 26, 2026
More than 40 government officials and practitioners from Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Tbilisi on June 24-25 for the workshop “AI in Governance: Balancing Efficiency and Public Interest”, held within the framework of the 2026 United Nations Public Service Forum.
Representatives of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics of Romania shared their experience in the field of artificial intelligence. Their presentations focused on international experience and best practices in AI governance, digital infrastructure development, accountability, and the responsible use of AI in the public sector.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Alikhan Baimenov, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Astana Civil Service Hub, noted that the era of human–AI interaction presents new opportunities to improve public governance. At the same time, he stressed that the rapid advancement of AI requires particular attention to transparency, data protection, human rights, and ethical principles, as well as maintaining a balance between efficiency and the public interest. He emphasized that the opportunities and challenges associated with AI are global in nature and require international cooperation and knowledge-sharing.
Mr. Jinhong Sim, Director of the AI Government Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea, presented Korea's vision of an “AI Democratic Government”. The concept promotes AI not only as a technology, but also as a tool for improving citizens' quality of life, expanding public participation in governance, building a more open, responsive, and people-centred government, and ensuring an inclusive digital transformation.
Welcoming remarks were also delivered by Ms. Tamar Zodelava, Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, H.E. Faqir Mahbub Anam, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, speaking on behalf of the participating countries, and Mr. Douglas Webb, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia.
In addition to the workshop, Mr. Alikhan Baimenov, Head of the Astana Civil Service Hub, held bilateral meetings with H.E. Faqir Mahbub Anam, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology of the People's Republic of Bangladesh; H.E. Vandeth Chea, Minister of Post and Telecommunications of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Mr. David Almirol, Undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology of the Republic of the Philippines; and Mr. Thavisak Manodham, Director General of the Ministry of Technology and Communications of the Lao PDR. He also met with representatives of the United Nations and the Council of Europe. During the meetings, the parties discussed opportunities for further cooperation in the field of digital government.
The workshop was held as part of an interregional project implemented by UNDP, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) of the Republic of Korea, the National Information Society Agency (NIA) of the Republic of Korea, and the Astana Civil Service Hub. The project aims to strengthen the capacities of civil servants in 12 countries across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Asia-Pacific region. From 2024 to 2026, the project includes workshops, research activities, and study visits to the Republic of Korea to advance digital transformation and digital governance in participating countries.
The Ministry of Justice of Georgia co-organized the event.
Related
content
content
