Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development Meeting Concludes in Kuala Lumpur

Abu-Ghazaleh elected Co-Chair of ICT and Development Steering Committee.

KUALA LUMPUR ----- June 20, 2006---- The conference of the Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development, hosted by the Malaysian government June 19th - 20th 2006, concluded its meetings by presenting several initiatives for the next phase.

Creating a Cyber Development Corporation, establishing resource centers to boost human capital, and setting up business networks and working groups to promote outreach and partnership were some of the suggested proposals discussed during the event.

Meanwhile, Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce Commission on E-Business, IT, and Telecom (Paris) was elected Co-Chair of the ICT and Development Steering Committee.

Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh delivered the inaugural session statement on behalf of the Business Community.

The Steering Committee which provides the alliance with the executive oversight and guidance includes in addition to Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh (business), Mr. Craig Barret, Chairman of the Board of Intel Cooperation, and the current chairman of the committee; Yoshio Utsumi, Secretary- General, International Telecommunication Union (international organizations); Walter Fust, Director General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (government); Datuk Seri Jamuldin  Jarjis , Malaysias Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation (government); Guy Sebban, Secretary-General, International Chamber of Commerce (business); Titi Akinsanmi, Global Teenager Project, School Net Africa (Civil Society). Reante Bloem, President, Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (civil society); and John Bernader, Director General, Norwegian Broadcasting (media).

Ex-officio members in the committee are Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Jose Antoni Ocampo and Sarbuland Khan, Executive Coordinator of the Secretariat of the Global Alliance and Director of the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination.

In the opening session Malaysias Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Secretary-General Mark Mallch Brown, delivered a message aiming at strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors in order to implement the best solutions and practices.

The Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development is a new initiative by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to foster information and communication technologies (ICT) in developing countries.