Approval of Item 4.
Election of the chairperson (Delegate from Malasya) and 5 vice chairpersons (Chile, Lithuania, Lesotho and Austria).
Adoption of Item 6: Provisional Agenda and documentation for the eleventh session of the Commission is approved and recommended to the ECOSOC, remarks made by Cuba will be put in the final report.
Item 7: Adoption of the report of the Commission on its tenth session: Regarding paragrapgh 15 the US accept it if it includes implicitly new businesses who have not participated in previous commissions. The Rapporteur A. Ventura from Jamaica says the language of this pargrapgh is in line with relevant ECOSOC resolutions. Item is approved.
Concluding remarks: Secretary General of UNCTAD, SG of ITU: Makes reference to regional inititaives like the asia initiative for broadband access, says the commission is useful for implementing the WSIS, even though he fears that the multiformat programm (a theme a year) will create too many resolutions and thus slow innecessarly the implementation process.
LB
vendredi 25 mai 2007
mardi 22 mai 2007
Commission on Science and Technology for Developement, 21st May by AM
Morning sessions
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador Stefan Moravek
As a co-chair of that opening session, Mr Guy Sebban (Secretary-General, International Chamber of Commerce) stressed that the access to ICT should be provided beyond international level but also by governments at national level. Government should put in place the needed condition to enhance the development of ICT in their respective countries. In that regard, they are key actors that should facilitate trade and attract investments.
Then Mr. Houlin Zhao (Deputy Secretary-General of ITU) recalled the involvement of private-sector in the U.N. work in supporting numerous and various U.N. programmes. As private-sector is a dynamic and exciting sector its task is all the more challenging. Indeed the private-sector should provide quality and speed in ICT access and it should also guarantee affordability of those ICTs. Despite the growing number of Internet and mobile users, Mr. Zhao drew the assembly's attention to the remaining differences in the world regarding ICT's access. Finally, Mr. Zhao recalled the role played by ITU, a forum where diverse stakeholders concerned by ICT's development can discuss together on many issues such as the new market opportunities.
Dr. Tim Evans (Assistant Director-General, WHO) took then the floor and said that ICT diffusion was one of the goals –and a transversal one- bound to be achieved in the MDGs. He declared that ICT are playing a vital role in the field of health. In fact, ICT can bring people together, it can enable people to learn and solve problems and it can accelerate health equipments.
In the last part of that introductory phase, a video of Mr. Ban Ki-moon was broadcasted. The Secretary General of the United Nations underlined the vital role played by ICT and he called for strong partnerships between private-sector, civil society, NGOs, academies and U.N. agencies in order to improve access to those technologies.
Session 1
How are innovative uses of ICT concretely contributing to achieving individual goals and targets?
Moderator: Ms. Maria Cattaui, Member of the Board, Petroplus Holdings, Switzerland; Member of the Board, ICT4Peace Foundation
Professor C.K. Prahalad (University of Michigan) expressed his concern and looked at the ICT issue in a broader perspective. Indeed, to him, the fundamental problem is the fallowing question: "How to democratize commerce?" He raised attention on the asymmetric access to information and called "poverty penalty" the fact that poor people pay more for goods and services than richer parts of population. Such an observation remains true regardless of which country we are actually considering. This unfair situation includes developed countries such as U.S.A.
Mr. Erkki Ormala (Vice-President of Technology and Policy, Nokia) considered as evidence that mobile communication increases prosperity and economic growth. According to him, the most important impact is at a grass-root level. He asked for much more affordable solutions for accessing to data but also to Internet.
Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen (Executive Director, Association for Progressive Communications) insisted on the need to take into account the capacity of learning of the population to whom the different programmes are dedicated to.
According to H.E. Mr. Gaoussou Drabo (Minister of Communication and New Technologies, Mali) a massive equipment of developing countries is not a good solution. There should be extremely realistic projects such as the implementation of ICT in schools. The material aspect should also be done with special trainings for pupils, students and their teachers. The positive effect of such policies could be effective at two levels. On the teachers' side, access to technology is a way to recover the willingness to get informed and to improve their teachings. On the pupils and students' side, introduction of ICT in learning would enable their awakening.
Mr. Walter Fust (Director-General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) shared the same ideas as he told that we had to invest on young people. He added that information is power; it is an access to change life and an access to democratization of access to commerce.
Finally, Mr. Chris Kabwato (University of Rhodes at Grahamstown) emphasised that media which are consumers of ICT had also an important role to play in ICT development. The expression "Information Society" should be well understood by the journalists and they should contribute to the demystification of ICT by changing their perception.
Session 2
What will it take to stimulate and support ICT innovation in developing countries?
Moderator: Ms. Hilary Bowker, Former Anchor, CNN
As the first panellist to intervene in that second session H.E. Mr. Kong Cho Ha, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (Malaysia) put emphasize on the need to establish a system able to encourage innovations. He also insisted on the needed infrastructure, considering material goods, knowledge and adapted legislation. To him, a multi-sectorial approach that implicates both public stakeholders, industries, NGOs, financial agencies and scientists is the most convenient approach in the ICT field.
The role of governments is to behave as facilitators that would decrease bureaucracy and encourage innovation in ICT in their respective countries.
Fallowing the statement concerning the role of Governments in ICT innovation and answering to the question raised by the moderator concerning the legal environment, Mr. Juan Rada (Senior Vice-President, Public Sector and Education Global Business Unit, Oracle Corporation) expressed private-sector expectations in that regards: deregulation of the communications in developing countries. He laid stress on the need to encourage deregulation rather than encouraging inter-connectivity as the numeric gap was partly due to the different standards that exist in developing countries.
Mr. Jos Engelen (Deputy Director-General and Scientific Director, CERN) underlined the role that are currently playing –or that should be able to play- universities and academies in ICT development.
According to Professor Liu Chuang (Leading Professor of Global Change, Information and research Centre, Chinese Academy of Sciences) one of the most important challenge of developing countries was to attract or to give the young researchers the willingness and the desire to go back and stay in their native country. The governments should provide them an appropriate environment for their researches and a stable employment.
Ms. Heather Creech (Director, Knowledge Communications, International Institute for Sustainable Development) finally added a remark concerning the evolving perception of the "national identity" or even the "family" for the coming generations. To her, their homes would be –or are already- much more flexible and virtual. For that reason, it would be difficult for them to identify themselves to one country or to limit their perspective of work to the same one. According to her, the workers will have a growing opportunity to work everywhere.
Afternoon sessions
Before the opening of the third session, Mr. Sanjiv Ahuja (Chairman of the Board, Orange, "Liberating Digital Opportunities For All") delivered a speech concerning liberalisation of communications. He laid emphasis on the role played by mobile phones in development and economic growth. He talked about several issues including: regulation, taxation and cooperation. He concluded by saying that there should be a "bottom-up development" with a liberalization of the market, a creation of the right environment and then, "operators, suppliers and customers will close the digital divide by themselves".
Session 3
Are the ITC innovations that are truly making "value at the bottom of the pyramid"?
Moderator: Mr. James P. Dougherty, Director, Foreign Policy Association and Fellow, Council of Foreign Relations
Mrs. Anh-Nga Tran-Nguyen (Director, Division for Services Infrastructure for Development, UNCTAD) gave examples of various programmes developed in order to grant access to ICT in areas far from the principal towns of certain countries (a programme was settled in Gambia to allow the population of rural area an access to advices through Internet concerning how to cure some diseases). She also said that in its Poverty Reduction Strategy, Gambia has included the issue of ICT in each targeted actions.
Mr. John Gage, Chief Researcher and Vice-President of the Science Office, Sun Microsystems
Mr. John Daly, ICT Consultant
Mr. Daniel Salcedo, Executive Director, CATGEN
Mr. Sami Al-Basher, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU
Session 4
What innovative uses of ICT and partnership are delivering e-government services?
Moderator: Mr. Abdul Waheed Khan, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO
Before the floor was given to the panellists, the moderator gave a definition of "e-governance". "E-governance" is a term used to describe the various use of ICT that contribute to an increase in transparency, an improvement of internal organization and the promotion of democratic practices (for example by increasing participation of citizens that are not able to move to the decision centres or to enable a communication between political actors and their electorate).
Mr. A.S. Panneerselvan (Executive Director, Panos South Asia) first asked a question: how can ICT help parliamentarians to become more informed decisions, to become more informed?
Mr.Mincho Vikto Spasov (International Parliamentarians Association for IT, Member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria) underlined that ICT are useful in the exercise of the three kinds of powers (judiciary, executive and parliamentary powers) and he gave an answer concerning the third one. Granting access to ICT to the Parliaments would improve transparency and discussions between parliamentarians and people in general. At the same time, having the necessary means to get the right information at the right moment would help to optimize the production of legislation. It would also provide parliamentarians an adequate feedback distinguishing the wrong and the right effects of legislation once implemented.
Ms. Danielle Mincio (Library of the University of Lausanne, IFLA) underlined the role of libraries in ICT diffusion. Not only do the libraries are diversifying their supports but also are they playing a determining role in the training of users. She also recalled that most of the libraries have a free access and are a good place to enhance ICT use.
H.E. Mr. Montassar Oualili, Minister for Information Technology (Tunisia) main actor in the organization of the Tunis World Summit on the Information Society talked about a project implemented in his country and called "madaniyya". This Arabic word means "citizenship" and the first part of the project organized an electronic collect of data and access to civil status. This project has clarified a complex and imprecise situation. The Tunisian citizens do not have to reiterate annual declaration as they are all registered and the evolvement of their situation is taken into account by the system. Currently, Tunisia is implementing "madaniyya 2" and this program is already successful.
Mr. Parminder Jeet Singh, Executive Director of Research, IT for Change ended the morning session by underlying the role of civil society in ICT saying that such a role goes far beyond "access to information".
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador Stefan Moravek
As a co-chair of that opening session, Mr Guy Sebban (Secretary-General, International Chamber of Commerce) stressed that the access to ICT should be provided beyond international level but also by governments at national level. Government should put in place the needed condition to enhance the development of ICT in their respective countries. In that regard, they are key actors that should facilitate trade and attract investments.
Then Mr. Houlin Zhao (Deputy Secretary-General of ITU) recalled the involvement of private-sector in the U.N. work in supporting numerous and various U.N. programmes. As private-sector is a dynamic and exciting sector its task is all the more challenging. Indeed the private-sector should provide quality and speed in ICT access and it should also guarantee affordability of those ICTs. Despite the growing number of Internet and mobile users, Mr. Zhao drew the assembly's attention to the remaining differences in the world regarding ICT's access. Finally, Mr. Zhao recalled the role played by ITU, a forum where diverse stakeholders concerned by ICT's development can discuss together on many issues such as the new market opportunities.
Dr. Tim Evans (Assistant Director-General, WHO) took then the floor and said that ICT diffusion was one of the goals –and a transversal one- bound to be achieved in the MDGs. He declared that ICT are playing a vital role in the field of health. In fact, ICT can bring people together, it can enable people to learn and solve problems and it can accelerate health equipments.
In the last part of that introductory phase, a video of Mr. Ban Ki-moon was broadcasted. The Secretary General of the United Nations underlined the vital role played by ICT and he called for strong partnerships between private-sector, civil society, NGOs, academies and U.N. agencies in order to improve access to those technologies.
Session 1
How are innovative uses of ICT concretely contributing to achieving individual goals and targets?
Moderator: Ms. Maria Cattaui, Member of the Board, Petroplus Holdings, Switzerland; Member of the Board, ICT4Peace Foundation
Professor C.K. Prahalad (University of Michigan) expressed his concern and looked at the ICT issue in a broader perspective. Indeed, to him, the fundamental problem is the fallowing question: "How to democratize commerce?" He raised attention on the asymmetric access to information and called "poverty penalty" the fact that poor people pay more for goods and services than richer parts of population. Such an observation remains true regardless of which country we are actually considering. This unfair situation includes developed countries such as U.S.A.
Mr. Erkki Ormala (Vice-President of Technology and Policy, Nokia) considered as evidence that mobile communication increases prosperity and economic growth. According to him, the most important impact is at a grass-root level. He asked for much more affordable solutions for accessing to data but also to Internet.
Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen (Executive Director, Association for Progressive Communications) insisted on the need to take into account the capacity of learning of the population to whom the different programmes are dedicated to.
According to H.E. Mr. Gaoussou Drabo (Minister of Communication and New Technologies, Mali) a massive equipment of developing countries is not a good solution. There should be extremely realistic projects such as the implementation of ICT in schools. The material aspect should also be done with special trainings for pupils, students and their teachers. The positive effect of such policies could be effective at two levels. On the teachers' side, access to technology is a way to recover the willingness to get informed and to improve their teachings. On the pupils and students' side, introduction of ICT in learning would enable their awakening.
Mr. Walter Fust (Director-General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) shared the same ideas as he told that we had to invest on young people. He added that information is power; it is an access to change life and an access to democratization of access to commerce.
Finally, Mr. Chris Kabwato (University of Rhodes at Grahamstown) emphasised that media which are consumers of ICT had also an important role to play in ICT development. The expression "Information Society" should be well understood by the journalists and they should contribute to the demystification of ICT by changing their perception.
Session 2
What will it take to stimulate and support ICT innovation in developing countries?
Moderator: Ms. Hilary Bowker, Former Anchor, CNN
As the first panellist to intervene in that second session H.E. Mr. Kong Cho Ha, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (Malaysia) put emphasize on the need to establish a system able to encourage innovations. He also insisted on the needed infrastructure, considering material goods, knowledge and adapted legislation. To him, a multi-sectorial approach that implicates both public stakeholders, industries, NGOs, financial agencies and scientists is the most convenient approach in the ICT field.
The role of governments is to behave as facilitators that would decrease bureaucracy and encourage innovation in ICT in their respective countries.
Fallowing the statement concerning the role of Governments in ICT innovation and answering to the question raised by the moderator concerning the legal environment, Mr. Juan Rada (Senior Vice-President, Public Sector and Education Global Business Unit, Oracle Corporation) expressed private-sector expectations in that regards: deregulation of the communications in developing countries. He laid stress on the need to encourage deregulation rather than encouraging inter-connectivity as the numeric gap was partly due to the different standards that exist in developing countries.
Mr. Jos Engelen (Deputy Director-General and Scientific Director, CERN) underlined the role that are currently playing –or that should be able to play- universities and academies in ICT development.
According to Professor Liu Chuang (Leading Professor of Global Change, Information and research Centre, Chinese Academy of Sciences) one of the most important challenge of developing countries was to attract or to give the young researchers the willingness and the desire to go back and stay in their native country. The governments should provide them an appropriate environment for their researches and a stable employment.
Ms. Heather Creech (Director, Knowledge Communications, International Institute for Sustainable Development) finally added a remark concerning the evolving perception of the "national identity" or even the "family" for the coming generations. To her, their homes would be –or are already- much more flexible and virtual. For that reason, it would be difficult for them to identify themselves to one country or to limit their perspective of work to the same one. According to her, the workers will have a growing opportunity to work everywhere.
Afternoon sessions
Before the opening of the third session, Mr. Sanjiv Ahuja (Chairman of the Board, Orange, "Liberating Digital Opportunities For All") delivered a speech concerning liberalisation of communications. He laid emphasis on the role played by mobile phones in development and economic growth. He talked about several issues including: regulation, taxation and cooperation. He concluded by saying that there should be a "bottom-up development" with a liberalization of the market, a creation of the right environment and then, "operators, suppliers and customers will close the digital divide by themselves".
Session 3
Are the ITC innovations that are truly making "value at the bottom of the pyramid"?
Moderator: Mr. James P. Dougherty, Director, Foreign Policy Association and Fellow, Council of Foreign Relations
Mrs. Anh-Nga Tran-Nguyen (Director, Division for Services Infrastructure for Development, UNCTAD) gave examples of various programmes developed in order to grant access to ICT in areas far from the principal towns of certain countries (a programme was settled in Gambia to allow the population of rural area an access to advices through Internet concerning how to cure some diseases). She also said that in its Poverty Reduction Strategy, Gambia has included the issue of ICT in each targeted actions.
Mr. John Gage, Chief Researcher and Vice-President of the Science Office, Sun Microsystems
Mr. John Daly, ICT Consultant
Mr. Daniel Salcedo, Executive Director, CATGEN
Mr. Sami Al-Basher, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU
Session 4
What innovative uses of ICT and partnership are delivering e-government services?
Moderator: Mr. Abdul Waheed Khan, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO
Before the floor was given to the panellists, the moderator gave a definition of "e-governance". "E-governance" is a term used to describe the various use of ICT that contribute to an increase in transparency, an improvement of internal organization and the promotion of democratic practices (for example by increasing participation of citizens that are not able to move to the decision centres or to enable a communication between political actors and their electorate).
Mr. A.S. Panneerselvan (Executive Director, Panos South Asia) first asked a question: how can ICT help parliamentarians to become more informed decisions, to become more informed?
Mr.Mincho Vikto Spasov (International Parliamentarians Association for IT, Member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria) underlined that ICT are useful in the exercise of the three kinds of powers (judiciary, executive and parliamentary powers) and he gave an answer concerning the third one. Granting access to ICT to the Parliaments would improve transparency and discussions between parliamentarians and people in general. At the same time, having the necessary means to get the right information at the right moment would help to optimize the production of legislation. It would also provide parliamentarians an adequate feedback distinguishing the wrong and the right effects of legislation once implemented.
Ms. Danielle Mincio (Library of the University of Lausanne, IFLA) underlined the role of libraries in ICT diffusion. Not only do the libraries are diversifying their supports but also are they playing a determining role in the training of users. She also recalled that most of the libraries have a free access and are a good place to enhance ICT use.
H.E. Mr. Montassar Oualili, Minister for Information Technology (Tunisia) main actor in the organization of the Tunis World Summit on the Information Society talked about a project implemented in his country and called "madaniyya". This Arabic word means "citizenship" and the first part of the project organized an electronic collect of data and access to civil status. This project has clarified a complex and imprecise situation. The Tunisian citizens do not have to reiterate annual declaration as they are all registered and the evolvement of their situation is taken into account by the system. Currently, Tunisia is implementing "madaniyya 2" and this program is already successful.
Mr. Parminder Jeet Singh, Executive Director of Research, IT for Change ended the morning session by underlying the role of civil society in ICT saying that such a role goes far beyond "access to information".
lundi 21 mai 2007
Commission on Science and Technology for Developement, 21st May by MP
Morning session
Opening Ceremony
· Welcoming remarks by the Chairman of CSTD, Ambassador Stefan Moravek,
· Opening statement by Mr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-general of UNCTAD,
· Statement by Mr. Moritz Leuenberger, Former President of Switzerland, Head of the federal department of the Environment, transport, energy and communications; Switzerland, host country of the first phase of WSIS,
· Statement by Mr. Montasser Ouaili, Minister of Communication Technologies of Tunisia; host countries of the second phase of WSIS,
· Statement by Mr. Dusan Caplovic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Slovak Republic, for Knowledge-Based Society, European Affairs, Human Rights and Minorities,
· Statement by Mr. Robert Aymar, Director General of CERN,
· Statement by Mr. Houlin Zhao, Deputy Secretary-General of ITU,
· Statement by Mr. Abdul Waheed Khan, Assistant Director-General for communication and information, UNESCO,
· Statement by Mr. Tim Evans, Assistant Director-General – Information, Evidence and Research, WHO,
· Statement by Mr. Guy Sebban, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce,
· Statement by Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen, Secretary General of the Association for Progressive Communications,
· Statement by Mr. Andres Johansson, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENTS
All communications references to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The WSIS, which took place in two phases, in 2003 at Geneva and in 2005 at Tunis, adopted a common vision and commitment “to building a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society”, substantive theme of the tenth session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD).
The Geneva Summit in 2003 adopted a Plan of Action, which seeks to translate that vision into concrete objectives, goals and targets, to be met by 2015, along a series of action lines and main themes. The Tunis Summit in 2005 established a mechanism for implementation and follow-up at national, regional and international levels.
Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi pointed out that information and communication technologies were not an end in themselves, but powerful tools for improving human welfare.
Thus, the concept of “knowledge society” was created.
In fact, the digital divide was not only technological; it expressed more fundamental human and social inequities.
That’s why Mr. Moritz Leuenberger underlines that one of the most important achievements of WSIS had been to show that the information revolution was embedded in larger social progresses, particularly in science, education and culture. It can also conduct to growth developing countries.
Everybody was agree to affirm that the WSIS had led to a new, more integrate and holistic vision of the information society.
Dr. Supachai emphasized the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for development and the several possibilities offered by those technologies, particularly for reducing the inequality between developed and developing countries. In fact, ICT would have the greatest effect on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Mr. Andres Johansson reported several essential elements in the building of a people-centred, development-oriented and inclusive information society; thus, one of the most important was democratic governance, but accountability and transparency were also crucial.
Mr. Guy Sebban stressed the important role that the private sector and business community can play in leveraging technology and finance. Business is not only a key stakeholder in the deployment of infrastructure, but also a key driving force in technological development.
Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen pointed out the role of civil society, which played an important role in the field of advocacy for ICT for development, poverty reduction, empowerment, social justice and human rights.
Item 1. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.
In accordance with established practice, the Commission, at its ninth session on 18 May 2006, elected by acclamation the bureau for the tenth session, with the following composition:
Chairperson:
Mr. Stefan Moravek (Slovakia)
Vice-Chairpersons:
- Mr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane (Lesotho)
- Mr. Hilal Al-Hinai (Oman)
- Mr. Bernd Michael Rode (Austria)
- Mr. Arnoldo Ventura (Jamaica)
Afternoon sessions
Item 2. Substantive theme: Promoting the building of a people-centred, development-oriented and inclusive information society.
Presentation by the Secretariat of the report of the Secretary-General on the substantive theme of the Commission.
Presented by:
Mr. Mongi Hamdi , UNCTAD
Mr. Tim Kelly, ITU
ECOSOC Resolution 2004/46:
CSTD appointed to assist ECOSOC as the focal point in the system-wide follow-up to the outcomes of the WSIS…A Summit convened in response to growing concerns over the digital divide.
Action lines:
1- Internet governance:
* Multi-stakeholder policy dialogue,
* Inaugural meeting in Athens, entitled “Internet Governance for Development” was attended by about 1 350 participants,
* Issues addressed. Openness, diversity, access and security,
* Creation of “dynamic coalition”,
* Stocktaking session held in Geneva in February 2007,
* Second ICG meeting to take place in Brazil in 2007.
2- Financing mechanism:
* Voluntary “global digital solidarity fund” established in 2005 in Geneva for infrastructure development and capacity building:
- Implemented pilot projects in Africa and Asia
* Several existing mechanism, such as those of development agencies and other solidarity fund initiatives.
3- Measuring the information society
* Partnership on measuring ICT for development,
* Other initiatives: Digital opportunity index, ICT opportunity index, ICT diffusion index.
Conclusions:
* The report reviews WSIS implementation by action lines and agencies. It presents a number of recommendations that the Commission may wish to make for effective implementation.
* The digital divide is shrinking, but new gaps in quality are emerging:
· Availability of newest services
· Affordability of broadband
* Many countries are experiencing much higher levels of ICT growth:
· Successful strategies based on multi-stakeholder partnerships
* New risk threaten cyberspace: Spam, viruses, phishing, identity theft, etc
Ministerial High-level segment
* Mr. Gaoussou Drabo, Minister of communication and new technologies, Mali
He emphasized the need to reinforce collaboration in Africa. The most urgent development needs were in Africa, and science and technology could have the greatest leveraging effect, particularly for education, formation and rationalization of administration.
* Mr. Ch. Nouraiz Shakoor Khan, Federal Minister of science and technology, Pakistan
If education and capacity building are critical steps into the new global economy, e-learning should be considered a critical facet of development.
Information technology systems in the developing world need adequate infrastructure and connectivity. A growing difference in market liberalization of the internet-access and supply is leading to another kind of digital divide on the global scale.
The number of the internet users in Pakistan is growing fast, and the government has undertaken important initiatives.
The government has evolved an enabling environment for promoting competition and providing investor friendly atmosphere.
* Ms. Ligia Amada Melo de Cardona, Secretary of State for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dominican Republic
The country has undertaken important initiatives to promoting ICT to reduce poverty:
· Massive investment in education, especially IT/virtual universities,
· Infrastructure development
· Formation
· Broadband and Mobile telephony development
Thus, Dominican Republic has the higher growth rate in the world (10.7% in 2006).
* Mr. Balkrishna Prasai, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, science and technology, Nepal.
Nepal is building a peace edification process. Thus, some progresses have to be realized to information and communication development.
The country pointed out the crucial role of ICT diffusion in contributing towards development and growth.
In spite of recent progress in developing countries in bridging the digital divide, the gap remained wide between nations, but in the country, there were also domestic digital divides between urban and rural areas.
The country considers the ICT promotion like a priority for its economic and social development.
* Mr. Reno Harnish, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Oceans, environment and scientific affairs, USA.
USA cooperates with several developing countries to develop science and technology, for example, in Jordan.
Chairman considers that these statements constitute a good base for the debate and underline positive emotional context.
Opening Ceremony
· Welcoming remarks by the Chairman of CSTD, Ambassador Stefan Moravek,
· Opening statement by Mr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-general of UNCTAD,
· Statement by Mr. Moritz Leuenberger, Former President of Switzerland, Head of the federal department of the Environment, transport, energy and communications; Switzerland, host country of the first phase of WSIS,
· Statement by Mr. Montasser Ouaili, Minister of Communication Technologies of Tunisia; host countries of the second phase of WSIS,
· Statement by Mr. Dusan Caplovic, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Slovak Republic, for Knowledge-Based Society, European Affairs, Human Rights and Minorities,
· Statement by Mr. Robert Aymar, Director General of CERN,
· Statement by Mr. Houlin Zhao, Deputy Secretary-General of ITU,
· Statement by Mr. Abdul Waheed Khan, Assistant Director-General for communication and information, UNESCO,
· Statement by Mr. Tim Evans, Assistant Director-General – Information, Evidence and Research, WHO,
· Statement by Mr. Guy Sebban, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce,
· Statement by Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen, Secretary General of the Association for Progressive Communications,
· Statement by Mr. Andres Johansson, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENTS
All communications references to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The WSIS, which took place in two phases, in 2003 at Geneva and in 2005 at Tunis, adopted a common vision and commitment “to building a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society”, substantive theme of the tenth session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD).
The Geneva Summit in 2003 adopted a Plan of Action, which seeks to translate that vision into concrete objectives, goals and targets, to be met by 2015, along a series of action lines and main themes. The Tunis Summit in 2005 established a mechanism for implementation and follow-up at national, regional and international levels.
Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi pointed out that information and communication technologies were not an end in themselves, but powerful tools for improving human welfare.
Thus, the concept of “knowledge society” was created.
In fact, the digital divide was not only technological; it expressed more fundamental human and social inequities.
That’s why Mr. Moritz Leuenberger underlines that one of the most important achievements of WSIS had been to show that the information revolution was embedded in larger social progresses, particularly in science, education and culture. It can also conduct to growth developing countries.
Everybody was agree to affirm that the WSIS had led to a new, more integrate and holistic vision of the information society.
Dr. Supachai emphasized the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for development and the several possibilities offered by those technologies, particularly for reducing the inequality between developed and developing countries. In fact, ICT would have the greatest effect on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Mr. Andres Johansson reported several essential elements in the building of a people-centred, development-oriented and inclusive information society; thus, one of the most important was democratic governance, but accountability and transparency were also crucial.
Mr. Guy Sebban stressed the important role that the private sector and business community can play in leveraging technology and finance. Business is not only a key stakeholder in the deployment of infrastructure, but also a key driving force in technological development.
Ms. Anriette Esterhuysen pointed out the role of civil society, which played an important role in the field of advocacy for ICT for development, poverty reduction, empowerment, social justice and human rights.
Item 1. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.
In accordance with established practice, the Commission, at its ninth session on 18 May 2006, elected by acclamation the bureau for the tenth session, with the following composition:
Chairperson:
Mr. Stefan Moravek (Slovakia)
Vice-Chairpersons:
- Mr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane (Lesotho)
- Mr. Hilal Al-Hinai (Oman)
- Mr. Bernd Michael Rode (Austria)
- Mr. Arnoldo Ventura (Jamaica)
Afternoon sessions
Item 2. Substantive theme: Promoting the building of a people-centred, development-oriented and inclusive information society.
Presentation by the Secretariat of the report of the Secretary-General on the substantive theme of the Commission.
Presented by:
Mr. Mongi Hamdi , UNCTAD
Mr. Tim Kelly, ITU
ECOSOC Resolution 2004/46:
CSTD appointed to assist ECOSOC as the focal point in the system-wide follow-up to the outcomes of the WSIS…A Summit convened in response to growing concerns over the digital divide.
Action lines:
1- Internet governance:
* Multi-stakeholder policy dialogue,
* Inaugural meeting in Athens, entitled “Internet Governance for Development” was attended by about 1 350 participants,
* Issues addressed. Openness, diversity, access and security,
* Creation of “dynamic coalition”,
* Stocktaking session held in Geneva in February 2007,
* Second ICG meeting to take place in Brazil in 2007.
2- Financing mechanism:
* Voluntary “global digital solidarity fund” established in 2005 in Geneva for infrastructure development and capacity building:
- Implemented pilot projects in Africa and Asia
* Several existing mechanism, such as those of development agencies and other solidarity fund initiatives.
3- Measuring the information society
* Partnership on measuring ICT for development,
* Other initiatives: Digital opportunity index, ICT opportunity index, ICT diffusion index.
Conclusions:
* The report reviews WSIS implementation by action lines and agencies. It presents a number of recommendations that the Commission may wish to make for effective implementation.
* The digital divide is shrinking, but new gaps in quality are emerging:
· Availability of newest services
· Affordability of broadband
* Many countries are experiencing much higher levels of ICT growth:
· Successful strategies based on multi-stakeholder partnerships
* New risk threaten cyberspace: Spam, viruses, phishing, identity theft, etc
Ministerial High-level segment
* Mr. Gaoussou Drabo, Minister of communication and new technologies, Mali
He emphasized the need to reinforce collaboration in Africa. The most urgent development needs were in Africa, and science and technology could have the greatest leveraging effect, particularly for education, formation and rationalization of administration.
* Mr. Ch. Nouraiz Shakoor Khan, Federal Minister of science and technology, Pakistan
If education and capacity building are critical steps into the new global economy, e-learning should be considered a critical facet of development.
Information technology systems in the developing world need adequate infrastructure and connectivity. A growing difference in market liberalization of the internet-access and supply is leading to another kind of digital divide on the global scale.
The number of the internet users in Pakistan is growing fast, and the government has undertaken important initiatives.
The government has evolved an enabling environment for promoting competition and providing investor friendly atmosphere.
* Ms. Ligia Amada Melo de Cardona, Secretary of State for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dominican Republic
The country has undertaken important initiatives to promoting ICT to reduce poverty:
· Massive investment in education, especially IT/virtual universities,
· Infrastructure development
· Formation
· Broadband and Mobile telephony development
Thus, Dominican Republic has the higher growth rate in the world (10.7% in 2006).
* Mr. Balkrishna Prasai, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, science and technology, Nepal.
Nepal is building a peace edification process. Thus, some progresses have to be realized to information and communication development.
The country pointed out the crucial role of ICT diffusion in contributing towards development and growth.
In spite of recent progress in developing countries in bridging the digital divide, the gap remained wide between nations, but in the country, there were also domestic digital divides between urban and rural areas.
The country considers the ICT promotion like a priority for its economic and social development.
* Mr. Reno Harnish, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Oceans, environment and scientific affairs, USA.
USA cooperates with several developing countries to develop science and technology, for example, in Jordan.
Chairman considers that these statements constitute a good base for the debate and underline positive emotional context.
UNCTAD Session 1 Briefing South Centre/G77 on the main theme for unctad XII
Heiner Flassbeck (UNCTAD): Main opportunities brought by the globalization process are:
High revenues in commodity-exporting countries thanks to better terms of trade in the last 10 years which has led to current account surpluses in many countries and a sustained global growth. Risks are identified in practices like carry trade which devaluate currencies in a unfair manner (by intervening in the markets) and create important distortions in global trade patterns, to the disadvantage of countries with relative high levels of interest rates. Another trend is that of fierce competition for higher competitiveness among industrialized countries by means of low corporate taxes, inter alia. Another potential risk lies in the global account imbalances which might lead to abrupt adjustments in the global finacial system.
UNCTAD XII should address issues such as short-term policies for growth (macro-policies, education, investment promotion) as well as find regional solutions to the practice of carry trade.
Mark Halle (IISD): In order to take into account the environmental aspects of globalisation it is important to overcome the current approach in governance which is too much based on states and include other actors from civil society such as entreprises. The competition between states for rare ressources poses a potential threat to stability;the same applies for local communities whose security is menaced by pollution.
Discussion: The problem of how to quantify globalisation or openness of an economy remains highly controversial and difficult. Indices must be treated with caution. One
reason for this lies in the dynamic nature of globalisation which is hard to capture in an instant shot of an indice. It is crucial to avoid a one size fits all approach when it comes to policy measures and the right degree of government intervention: The case of Singapor is interesting as it is one of the most open economies of the globe, and where more than 90% of the firms are state owned.
Links:
http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub.aspx?pno=862
http://www.flassbeck.de/index.html
LB
High revenues in commodity-exporting countries thanks to better terms of trade in the last 10 years which has led to current account surpluses in many countries and a sustained global growth. Risks are identified in practices like carry trade which devaluate currencies in a unfair manner (by intervening in the markets) and create important distortions in global trade patterns, to the disadvantage of countries with relative high levels of interest rates. Another trend is that of fierce competition for higher competitiveness among industrialized countries by means of low corporate taxes, inter alia. Another potential risk lies in the global account imbalances which might lead to abrupt adjustments in the global finacial system.
UNCTAD XII should address issues such as short-term policies for growth (macro-policies, education, investment promotion) as well as find regional solutions to the practice of carry trade.
Mark Halle (IISD): In order to take into account the environmental aspects of globalisation it is important to overcome the current approach in governance which is too much based on states and include other actors from civil society such as entreprises. The competition between states for rare ressources poses a potential threat to stability;the same applies for local communities whose security is menaced by pollution.
Discussion: The problem of how to quantify globalisation or openness of an economy remains highly controversial and difficult. Indices must be treated with caution. One
reason for this lies in the dynamic nature of globalisation which is hard to capture in an instant shot of an indice. It is crucial to avoid a one size fits all approach when it comes to policy measures and the right degree of government intervention: The case of Singapor is interesting as it is one of the most open economies of the globe, and where more than 90% of the firms are state owned.
Links:
http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub.aspx?pno=862
http://www.flassbeck.de/index.html
LB
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