| |
|
| photo credit: Telecommunications Regulatory Authority/United Arab Emirates |
|
From left to right: Mohamed Al Ghanim, Director-General of the
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the United Arab Emirates and
Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General
|
| |
ITU is to become the home of a new museum where visitors
can explore the history and impact of information
and communication technologies (ICT) upon people’s lives
worldwide, and catch a glimpse of the exciting future and
ITU’s role in helping to connect the world.
ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré and the Director-General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
(TRA) of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed Al Ghanim
signed an agreement on 8 November 2009 on the establishment,
at ITU headquarters in Geneva, of a new state-of-the-art “ICT Exploratorium”. The agreement sees the
Government of the United Arab Emirates and TRA become
founding partners of the museum, through a donation of
USD 2 million towards its design and construction.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held in the UAE capital,
Abu Dhabi, Dr Touré said ITU was honoured to accept
the support of UAE and TRA. “As we all know, ICT are not
just about technologies any more: they are closely linked
with every aspect of our daily lives. This is why ITU — as
the unique body dealing with ICT issues from a global
perspective — has been committed to establishing an ICT
Exploratorium. And this is also why we are so pleased to
accept the United Arab Emirates’ vital contribution.”
Responding to Dr Touré’s comments, Mr Al Ghanim said
“the ICT Exploratorium is an exciting and distinctive initiative
of ITU that will enable visitors to appreciate the innovation
of the ICT sector. The United Arab Emirates and TRA
feel privileged and honoured to be part of this ITU project
and anticipate that our status as founding partners will be
a testimony of the long-standing, cordial relationship between
the UAE and ITU.”
Planned to open later in 2010, the new museum will be accessible to the general public, ITU delegates and visiting experts free of charge. Alongside its permanent collection, it will host rotating exhibitions on key topics and new inventions.
|