A Week of ICT Development
25 Jun 2003'Bridging the Digital Divide' was the main concern of Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, the Vice-Chairman of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT TF) and the Chairman of the ICC Commission on E-Business, Information Technology and Telecoms (EBITT), for the past week.
- Egypt: Wednesday, June 25 - 2003 at 16:19
- PRESS RELEASE
Following the successful Lebanon Country Strategy Conference that was held earlier this month under the patronage of President Emil Lahoud and chaired by Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of the Arab Regional Network, Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh continued his dedicated efforts in trying to bridge the Digital Divide by participating in the working session on ICTs for achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and chairing the session on Rebuilding Iraq: Information Technology and National Security, EBITT's meeting, and the Wireless Internet Opportunity for Developing Nation's Conference.
The working session discussed at its meeting held on June 17th, on ICTs for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, linking the UN Millennium Project with the UN ICT TF and the mapping of ICTs against each Millennium Development Goal.
This was followed by “The Net World Order: Bridging the Global Digital Divide”, which was organized by the Business Council for the United Nations and the United Nations Association of the United States of America (CeBIT) on June 18th and 19th at the Jacob Javits Center, NY. The conference discussed innovative business solutions for expanding IT in the global economy.
In his statement, the UN Secretary General called for more ideas and innovation and said: "The United Nations is committed to doing its part, and has established an Information and Communication Technologies Task Force where industry leaders and experts can discuss with government representatives and others how best to bridge the Digital Divide. Information technology is not a magic formula or panacea. But it is a powerful force that can and must be harnessed to our global mission of peace and development."
On June 24th, the ICC Commission on E-Business, IT and Telecoms, chaired by Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, discussed the overall strategic issues for the commission and developing a mandate for the commission. The meetings included discussions and decisions regarding strategy, goals, and proposed actions/activities for the following taskforces on international harmonization efforts, protection of personal data, telecoms policy, Internet security and authentication, cybercrime/cybersecurity, consumer policy for e-business, and jurisdiction and applicable law in e-commerce. The EBITT Commission Chairman updated the members on international regional outreach efforts showcasing ICC's work and presence in the UN ICT TF, in addition to discussing the preparations of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
Representatives from inter-governmental organizations were invited to attend as observers to encourage their valuable contribution and exchange of information. The meeting will be followed by a meeting with representatives from the European Commission's Directorate General- Information Society (DG InfoSoc) on June 26th.
In response to the Secretary General, HE Kofi Annan's challenge to the Silicon Valley Community on the 5th of November 2002, the Wireless Internet institute (W2i), will join forces with the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task force and hold a conference at the UN headquarters, "The WiFi Opportunity for Developing Nations", on June 26th, 2003. Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh will chair the conference, in addition to delivering the statement of the UN Secretary General.
Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) allows internet connection without wires, through a technology similar to that of cellular phones. It enables computers to send and receive data anywhere within the range of a base station that it is much faster than cable modem connections. WiFi Internet technologies offer vast development opportunities, particularly for people living in poverty and in rural areas. Connecting local communities in the developing regions to the Internet will have a positive impact on the education as well as the health system in these regions, as it complements the locally available information and also improves and accelerates knowledge flows.
According to Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, "One possible recommendation that could emanate from the conference is to present to the next Prepcom of the WSIS, in September, a Global Development Plan. This Global Plan would reflect the outcome of the discussions and make specific proposals to how key stakeholders can advance the global effort to overcome the Digital Divide and to promote WiFi opportunities for the developing world. We could call for a donor conference to raise the financial resources required to support the elaboration and subsequent implementation of the Global Development Plan".
The conference will seek to establish strategies necessary to overcome those obstacles and to develop environments favorable to the broad deployment of WiFi infrastructures. It aims at creating the conditions for informal dialogue and brainstorming among industry, government representatives, and international development experts.
”This event is a wonderful illustration of how private organizations like W2i can, within the framework of the ICT Task Force, foster public-private partnerships,” said Jose Maria Figueres-Olsen, Chairman of the UN ICT TF. “I look forward to the impact this initiative will undoubtedly have in raising private and public stakeholders' awareness of the potential WiFi presents as an economic development tool for underserved populations in developing nations.”
The working session discussed at its meeting held on June 17th, on ICTs for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, linking the UN Millennium Project with the UN ICT TF and the mapping of ICTs against each Millennium Development Goal.
This was followed by “The Net World Order: Bridging the Global Digital Divide”, which was organized by the Business Council for the United Nations and the United Nations Association of the United States of America (CeBIT) on June 18th and 19th at the Jacob Javits Center, NY. The conference discussed innovative business solutions for expanding IT in the global economy.
In his statement, the UN Secretary General called for more ideas and innovation and said: "The United Nations is committed to doing its part, and has established an Information and Communication Technologies Task Force where industry leaders and experts can discuss with government representatives and others how best to bridge the Digital Divide. Information technology is not a magic formula or panacea. But it is a powerful force that can and must be harnessed to our global mission of peace and development."
On June 24th, the ICC Commission on E-Business, IT and Telecoms, chaired by Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, discussed the overall strategic issues for the commission and developing a mandate for the commission. The meetings included discussions and decisions regarding strategy, goals, and proposed actions/activities for the following taskforces on international harmonization efforts, protection of personal data, telecoms policy, Internet security and authentication, cybercrime/cybersecurity, consumer policy for e-business, and jurisdiction and applicable law in e-commerce. The EBITT Commission Chairman updated the members on international regional outreach efforts showcasing ICC's work and presence in the UN ICT TF, in addition to discussing the preparations of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
Representatives from inter-governmental organizations were invited to attend as observers to encourage their valuable contribution and exchange of information. The meeting will be followed by a meeting with representatives from the European Commission's Directorate General- Information Society (DG InfoSoc) on June 26th.
In response to the Secretary General, HE Kofi Annan's challenge to the Silicon Valley Community on the 5th of November 2002, the Wireless Internet institute (W2i), will join forces with the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task force and hold a conference at the UN headquarters, "The WiFi Opportunity for Developing Nations", on June 26th, 2003. Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh will chair the conference, in addition to delivering the statement of the UN Secretary General.
Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) allows internet connection without wires, through a technology similar to that of cellular phones. It enables computers to send and receive data anywhere within the range of a base station that it is much faster than cable modem connections. WiFi Internet technologies offer vast development opportunities, particularly for people living in poverty and in rural areas. Connecting local communities in the developing regions to the Internet will have a positive impact on the education as well as the health system in these regions, as it complements the locally available information and also improves and accelerates knowledge flows.
According to Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, "One possible recommendation that could emanate from the conference is to present to the next Prepcom of the WSIS, in September, a Global Development Plan. This Global Plan would reflect the outcome of the discussions and make specific proposals to how key stakeholders can advance the global effort to overcome the Digital Divide and to promote WiFi opportunities for the developing world. We could call for a donor conference to raise the financial resources required to support the elaboration and subsequent implementation of the Global Development Plan".
The conference will seek to establish strategies necessary to overcome those obstacles and to develop environments favorable to the broad deployment of WiFi infrastructures. It aims at creating the conditions for informal dialogue and brainstorming among industry, government representatives, and international development experts.
”This event is a wonderful illustration of how private organizations like W2i can, within the framework of the ICT Task Force, foster public-private partnerships,” said Jose Maria Figueres-Olsen, Chairman of the UN ICT TF. “I look forward to the impact this initiative will undoubtedly have in raising private and public stakeholders' awareness of the potential WiFi presents as an economic development tool for underserved populations in developing nations.”
Follow us
