On Friday 16 May 2014 ITU celebrated World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, marking 149 years since the establishment of the ITU on 17 May 1865.
Under the theme 'Broadband for Sustainable Development', Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré recognized the role of ICTs in advocating a post-2015 sustainable development agenda through their ability to deploy smart solutions to achieve economic growth, social inclusion and environmental balance. "Broadband connectivity is a critical element today in ensuring that ICTs are used as effective delivery vehicles for health, education, governance, trade and commerce, in order to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth," said Dr Touré.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon echoed this sentiment in a message to attendees, saying, "ICTs are powerhouses of the global economy, offering solutions for sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity."
During the event, Dr Touré presented the World Telecommunication and Information Society Award to Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, Park Guen-hye, President of the Republic of Korea (represented by Choi Mun-Kee, Korea's Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning), and Carlos Slim, President of the Carlos Slim Foundation. The distinguished laureates were recognized for their commitment in promoting the role of ICTs in the global economy and efforts in highlighting broadband connectivity as a means to achieving sustainable development |
ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré
speaking at WTISD 2014.
ITU elected officials and World Telecommunication and Information Society Award recipients at the WTISD 2014 awards ceremony.
(L-R) Brahima Sanou, Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau; Houlin Zhao, ITU Deputy Secretary-General; Carlos Slim, President, Carlos Slim Foundation and Chairman, Grupo Carso; Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General; Choi
Mun-Kee, Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Republic of Korea; Malcolm Johnson, Director, ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau; François Rancy, Director, ITU Radiocommunication Bureau.
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