ITU/93-6
16 May 1993
Original: English
EGYPT TO HOST PRESTIGIOUS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS EVENT - Africa TELECOM 94
The Africa TELECOM 94 Exhibition and Forum will be held in Cairo, Egypt from 25 to 29 April 1994. The Forum will be held under the theme: "Integrating Africa Regionally and Globally - A Challenge for Telecommunications and Development".
Hosted by the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Africa TELECOM 94 is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - a world body with the ability to attract top-level participants, and committed to the development of telecommunications throughout the world. At Africa TELECOM 94, the influential members of the telecommunications community will be invited to share their thoughts and review policies for both the regional and global telecommunication integration of Africa and the Middle East.
Following on from Africa TELECOM 86 in Nairobi, Kenya, and Africa TELECOM 90, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa TELECOM 94 will provide an unequalled platform for countries of the region to voice their needs and expectations to partake in the economic growth stimulated by telecommunications. It will place great emphasis on applying the latest advances in telecommunication technology with a view to alleviating existing disparities in the availability of services and facilities between industrialized and developing countries in the African and Middle East regions. Africa TELECOM 90 was acclaimed as an overwhelming success, attended by 174 VIPs including Ministers of Communications and Directors-General of Telecommunication Administrations. The Auditorium of the Harare International Conference Centre was filled to capacity by over 550 delegates from 94 countries. The Forum highlighted different strategies to strengthen the position of developing countries in the world telecommunication network. The Exhibition provided a showcase for 124 companies from 22 countries to display and demonstrate their products.
Africa TELECOM 94 will be held at the Cairo International Conference Centre, a venue offering conference and exhibition facilities of the highest standard.
Given that Cairo is perfectly situated to serve states from both Africa and the Middle East, Africa TELECOM 94 will also, for the first time, address the Middle East region. It will examine the diverse needs of large and small states, developed and developing, sophisticated cities, vast deserts and remote rural areas. The Africa and Middle East regions cover an area encompassing countries that are already implementing ambitious expansion schemes, as well as remote communities which do not yet enjoy the most basic services. 
The Africa TELECOM 94 Exhibition will occupy over 11,000 square metres of floor space. Over 150 exhibitors will demonstrate the most advanced telecommunications equipment and present their concepts for the future.
The Forum, running in parallel with the Exhibition, aims at bringing together administrators, investors, researchers, manufacturers, users and telecommunications operators to participate in a programme that will combine policy, economic, regulatory and technical issues. The sessions will focus on the specific problems - and their solutions - of both Africa and the Middle East, particularly the urgent the need for continuing development of telecommunications to promote economic growth and satisfy social needs. The Forum will comprise plenary sessions, parallel panels and workshops where interaction between speakers and audience will be encouraged.
Africa TELECOM 94 will take up the challenge of leadership in the further development of a balanced telecommunications structure - both within the region and with the rest of the world.
The ITU has an enviable track record of attracting visitors from its Member countries to the TELECOM series of events, where its objectives are to bring together, in productive dialogue, representatives of the private and public sectors, and to promote the practical techniques and solutions offered by telecommunication. The Africa TELECOM 94 Exhibition and Forum aims at continuing this success. It is the next TELECOM event to take place after Asia TELECOM.

For additional information, please contact:
Mr Tom Dahl-Hansen
Executive Director,TELECOM
or
Ms Suzan Hee-Sook Lee
Project Manager, Africa TELECOM 94
International Telecommunication Union
Place des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Tel:	+41 22 730 5811
Fax:	+41 22 740 1013
	+41 22 730 6444