Abu-Ghazaleh Tackles MDGs at the UN Council for Technology and Development in Geneva
Special to TAG-IT News Agency
GENEVA - Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman of the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN-GAID), highlighted on Monday the steps needed to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through using Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Speaking at the 13th meeting of the United Nations Council for Technology and Development, Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh outlined the task entrusted to him by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that aims at the creation of an electronic portal in a horizontal and vertical matrix of the latest and most successful applications of technology in every aspect of economic, social, health and education infrastructure. The matrix shall include solutions, virtual advisers and tools for development planning.
The main session conducted by the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs was attended by heads of international organizations including the International Telecommunications Union, UNCTAD, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Basel Convention, the European Council, the World Trade Organization, FAO and WHO in addition to others.
It was stated that since the announcement of the project two weeks ago, around 15 countries expressed their desire to implement the project on a country level.
Subsequently, the board of directors of the Global Alliance, which is comprised of representatives of governments and companies, information technology and international organizations, held a work session to discuss a program to achieve the Millennium Development Goals through the use of ICT and it was decided to hold the first meeting at a regional and country level through holding a symposium at the headquarters of the GCC States in Riyadh which shall be hosted by the Secretariat of the Council which council? on the thirteenth and fourteenth of June.
It should be noted that the Global Alliance is currently studying, with 15 Arab and foreign governments, arrangements for holding similar events to clarify the procedures applied to implement the program which aims at achieving sustainable development on ground.
Meanwhile, Abu-Ghazaleh will send invitations, on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to government and private organizations concerned with achieving the Millennium Development Goals through ICT to attend the summit that will be held on July 29 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in preparation for the UN World Summit in September.
