Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with much pleasure that I address you once again at the close of this Connect Asia-Pacific Summit 2013.
This has been an extraordinary Summit. The Summit included some 554 participants from 37 ITU Asia-Pacific Member States, including 7 Heads of State or Government, 30 Ministers, deputy ministers and Ambassadors, 14 Observers from ITU Member States outside the Asia-Pacific region 19 international and regional organizations, 31 private sectors and service providers.
I am proud to see active participation of leaders from the different stakeholders - including governments, private sector, industry, development partners gathered here to set the vision for Asia-Pacific 2020: Smartly DIGITAL and commit to achieve its implementation through policy and regulatory initiatives, multi-stakeholder partnerships and projects.
In particular, I am very pleased to see the beginning of the implementation of the Leaders' Vision by the strong commitment of the Ministers around this table
The Communique you just adopted sets 6 priority areas we will take forward as we prepare the World Telecommunication Development Conference. The priority areas set in the communiqué will definitely guide ITU future programme for the Asia Pacific Region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to add my voice to that of Dr. Touré, Special thanks to Royal Thai Government and in particular your Excellency Group Captain Anudith Nakorntap Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MICT), and the people of Thailand for the warm welcome and the excellent facilities put at our disposal.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A total of 88 Project Proposals were submitted and the Summit identified a market opportunity of approximately 53 billion USD.
As the Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau, BDT, I am personally committed, and let me assure you the, Telecommunication Developement Bureau, all ITU will do everything to help achieve these noble goals for Asia Pacific Region and indeed for the world.
We will monitor the implementation of the of the outcomes of the Connect Asia pacific and report to you periodically.
I have full confidence that the Asia-Pacific region will rapidly succeed in realizing the vision for Asia-Pacific 2020: Smartly DIGITAL.
Together, let us make the difference. I am ready
