Abu-Ghazaleh Highlights the Need to Bridge Digital Divide

Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Vice Chair, UN Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UN ICT TF), discussed the missions of non-profit multilateral organizations in the Arab region and their role in bridging the digital divide between the developed and developing countries.

Under the patronage of Egyptian President Mr. Mohammad Hosni Mubarak, and with the participation of high ranking officials and representatives of international IT firms, mainly Mr. Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft, a two-day conference entitled “Government Leaders Forum Arabia 2004” was held in Cairo on January 24 and 25, 2004.

In his presentation under the theme “The Role of Multilateral Organizations in Shaping the Arab Knowledge Society, 2010,"

Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, who is also the Chair of the Commission on E-Business, IT, and Telecoms, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), called on all concerned parties in the Arab world to cooperate in bridging the digital divide between the Arab region and the world in order to carry out the following goals:

?           To adopt Arabic characters as part of the Internet language.

-         To concentrate on the Arabic content on the web.

-         To adopt plans & programs to fight IT illiteracy in communities.

-         To draw practical strategies to promote Internet use in the Arab world through establishing the required infrastructure.

-      To reduce the cost of communications and to enhance Internet awareness in   the educational system.

?       To intensify the official initiatives within the private sector and the Arab  professional institutions to meet the requirements of an Arab digital society.

-         To adopt an Arabic DN Dispute Resolutio Center for Arabic Language similar  to the existing system of UDRP accredited by the ICANN.

At the closing session of the conference, an open discussion was held in which Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh took part along with Mr. Bill Gates, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mr. Ahmed Nazif, Bahraini Minister of Commerce Mr. Ali Bin Saleh AL-Saleh, and Executive Director of Tejari / Dubai Company Sheikha Lubna Al-Qasemi.