Your Excellencies,
Honourable Safuneituuga Paa’aga Neri, Minister of Communication and Information Technology of Samoa,
Ladies and gentlemen
 
It is a pleasure for me to be here with you this evening to bring this global forum on youth to a conclusion. During the last three days, you have all worked extremely hard to give shape to the outcome of this event, enabling our youth to go forward and lead the process of using ICTs to win wars against hunger, poverty and other hardships currently afflicting mankind.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of the Arab Republic of Egypt, who kindly shared with us her aspirations for young people, and whose enthusiasm and support continue to advance the mission of youth and peace through ICTs.
 
Let me also thank all those who enriched the outcome of this forum by sharing their ideas and experiences.
 
Ladies and gentlemen,

Young people embrace new technologies with an energy and enthusiasm that is an inspiration to us all.  That is why I believe strongly in harnessing their potential, especially in the field of ICTs. They are our present and our future. We are here together today because we recognize the importance of investing in young people and giving them the means to use their creativity for the good of the world.  On behalf of all of us, our co-organizer the UN-DESA through the Global Alliance for ICTs and our other partners and sponsors, I thank you all for joining us on this important occasion.
 
 
During the last three days, the young leaders have come up with an Action Plan and strategy which addresses the main themes of this forum:

•  Youth, ICTs & Education including work,
•  ICTs and Health
•  Political participation and activism.

Their contribution is crucial in these areas if we are to meet the Millennium Development Goals and create a better future. It is therefore fully appropriate that the young leaders have chosen to focus on these areas that are so important for social and economic development.
 
To our young leaders,
 
I hope that this event has made a positive impact on your lives and given you an opportunity to express and share ideas and initiatives for using ICTs to their full potential. I hope, and believe that during these three days, you have created a wide network of talented individuals from all around the world who will continue to actively encourage the use of ICTs to improve their own lives as well as those of their communities. May all the enthusiasm and energy that you have shown here in Geneva help to sustain this network and spread the benefits of ICTs.
 
It is also my belief that we, the older generation will benefit from your involvement and your influence on decision-making processes in aspects such as health, education, governance, and self-development. As some of you have said, “You have to trust in yourself and the possibilities you have to make a difference in your communities”.
 
Finally, I would like to ask you to keep in touch with ITU, letting us know what you have done, sharing with us your success stories and the challenges you have faced.
I would like to conclude by inviting you all to share a cocktail with us and wish you a very safe journey home.