Abu-Ghazaleh Announces UN-GAID E-Millennium Development Goals Center

The Chairman of UN-GAID proposed to establish an E-Center to achieve the Millennium Development Goals to be named; UN-GAID E-Millennium Development Goals Center (E-MDG Center). The proposal was adopted and supported by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who accepted the honorary presidency of UN-GAID and E-MDG Center

RIYADH------ June 15, 2010------- Under the patronage of the GCC Secretary-General, Mr. Abdul Rahman Ibn Hamad Al-Attiyah, a seminar entitled ?E-solutions for MDGs? organized by the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the United Nations Global Alliance on ICT and Development (UN-GAID) concluded in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Deputizing for Mr. Al-Attiyah, GCC Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs Mr. Mohammed Obaid Al Mazroui said that the seminar is a valuable addition to the efforts exerted by the GCC states to accelerate steps towards the achievement of the sustainable Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

?The GCC states have utilized their financial resources to implement development programs and strategies which aim at realizing welfare for the citizens and prosperity for the whole region,? Al Mazroui said in a speech delivered on behalf of Mr. Al-Attiyah.

Experts from the six GCC countries participated in order to be introduced to the UN-GAID Millennium Development Goals E-Center developed by UN-GAID under the mandate and honorary chairmanship of the UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon and UN-GAID Chairman Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh.

The objectives and mission for the establishment of the UN-GAID Millennium Development Goals E-Center have been intensively discussed at the seminar

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh was entrusted by the UN Secretary General to develop a plan to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) before 2015.

The Chairman of UN-GAID proposed to establish an E-Center to achieve the Millennium Development Goals to be named; UN-GAID E-Millennium Development Goals Center (E-MDG Center). The proposal was adopted and supported by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who accepted the honorary presidency of UN-GAID and E-MDG Center.

Attending the seminar were Deputy of Saudi Minister of Commerce and Planning His Excellency Mr. Ahmad Alhakami, GCC Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs Mr. Mohammed Obaid Al Mazroui, Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh among others.

At the opening session of the two-day seminar, a rich dialogue brought together government representatives from the GCC states, researchers and academics, representatives from the private sector along with UN experts; the CEO of the E-MDG Center Mr. Sergei Kambalov, Honorary Advisor to GAID Chairman Ambassador Mr. Sarbuland Khan and Professor Amjad Umar during which the main goals of this vital development project were underscored.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh highly commended this interactive session and the valuable outcome which will enrich the Center and its development since it gathers all UN organizations and entities in addition to institutions of civil society and IT companies worldwide.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, in his plan to launch the activities of the Center, said that there shall be a preliminary meeting to be held at UN headquarters in New York to discuss the work and activities of the E-MDG Center and to launch the E-MDG Center in full at the World Summit by the Secretary General of the United Nations in September 2010. Also, the declaration on the right of access to the information society shall be presented at the annual conference of UN-GAID on December 6, 2010.

UN-GAID has started to arrange national and regional workshops and seminars to discuss the activities of the Center at the level of the Gulf Cooperation Council. After that, similar seminars that cover other areas around the world will be organized.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh referred to his meeting with His Royal Highness, Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz regarding holding a special seminar to discuss twining between the goals of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia five-year-plan and the five-year-plan of the Center and how to achieve the desired goals through electronic solutions centers to achieve development, which includes a matrix of information and communication technology, a comprehensive portal of technology, development and the electronic strategic plan and the best e-solutions complex, a consulting department, and the tools to achieve the program.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh also pointed out that the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain has offered to set up a regional center for capacity building of African States and to undertake training on the objectives of the center and to use the comprehensive portal and matrix. He also explained that the program would be taught by the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh College of Business in Jordan through granting an executive masters program which focuses on MDGs and achieving the same through the activities of the center.

The United Nations Global Alliance on ICT and Development (UN-GAID) was founded in response to a decision from the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) held in Tunis in 2005.

The (UN-GAID) chaired since the beginning of 2010, by Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, who succeeded former president, Mr. Craig Barrett, CEO and Chairman of Intel Corporation, the alliance is concerned about development and information technology. UN-GAID members include representatives of governments, the private sector, civil society and international organizations.

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