Abu-Ghazaleh Discusses at the UNESCO Expert Meeting the Global Project: Development through IT

Abu-Ghazaleh is heading todays closing session to formulate the required recommendations that draw the roadmap for boosting development


PARIS --- March 2, 2010 --- Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org), chairman of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA-GAID), delivered the key remarks at the Expert Meeting ?Knowledge Societies: The Way Forward? March 1-2, 2010.

During first day of the event, organized by the UNESCO at its Headquarters in Paris, Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh discussed the Global Project: Development through IT; tackling the importance of preparing the Matrix through the use of ICT project to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were set during the World Summit in 2000 and called for in the eighth Millennium Development Goal pointing out that this is the year of development.

Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh took part in the first days discussions entitled "National Initiatives and Knowledge Societies Approaches".

In addition, Abu-Ghazaleh is heading todays closing session to formulate the needed recommendations that draw the roadmap for boosting development.

The meeting is set out to examine the theory of knowledge societies and to connect it with practice. It is expected to update the concept of knowledge societies and to further develop UNESCOs role in its implementation.

National and regional policy makers, academics, representatives from civil society, private sector and intergovernmental organizations from different parts of the world are taking part in this venue to exchange their experiences and ideas.

Mr. Abu- Ghazaleh has been appointed as the Chairman of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA-GAID) to succeed Craig Baret, Intel CEO.

Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, who became the first Arab to chair the global Information Society body, received a letter from the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) HE Sha Zukang inviting him to lead the Alliance, composed of representatives from public, private and civil society sectors as well as international organizations.

GAID was established by the UN Secretary General in March 2006, to meet the need for an inclusive, multi-stakeholder global forum and platform for policy dialogue and partnership building, to promote the use of ICT for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and to enable and catalyze multi-stakeholder partnerships for action under the GAID umbrella.

###