ITU/94-9
21 March 1994
ORIGINAL: English

Africa TELECOM 94 Exhibition and Forum on schedule

The regional TELECOM event - organized by the International Telecommunication 
Union (ITU) for the African region - is on schedule to be the largest 
International event of its kind to focus on Africa and the Middle East.

Hosted by the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Africa TELECOM 94 will 
take place in the Cairo International Conference Centre, Egypt, from 25 to 29 
April 1994. 

Plans are being made for H.E. Mr. Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab 
Republic of Egypt, to preside over the Opening Ceremony and formally declare the 
Exhibition open. As of today, 47 Ministers and 42 Directors-General have 
confirmed their participation in the event, including 27 Ministers from Africa 
and 8 Ministers from the Middle East.

EXHIBITION

For Africa TELECOM 94 the level of interest has exceeded all expectation and 265 
exhibitors representing 37 ITU Member countries will occupy over 13,000 m2 of 
floor space. Ten National Pavilions have been organized by: Canada, Egypt, 
Finland, France, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Switzerland and the United 
Kingdom.  By comparison Africa TELECOM 90 had an exhibition area of 3,000 m2 
with 124 exhibitors.

FORUM

211 eminent Speakers, from 65 countries and 28 international organizations, 
including 32 Ministers and 33 Directors-General, have accepted an invitation to 
address plenary, panel and workshop sessions. This interactive programme has 
been designed to give those attending the opportunity to discuss with high-level 
representatives from both the public and private sectors, ways in which the 
African and Middle East regions can work together towards bridging the 
telecommunications development gap and making concepts for the future an actual 
reality.

CONSULTATIONS TO BRING TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS INTO CONTACT WITH INVESTMENT BANKS

Many Member countries have identified suitable technology and demonstrated the 
political will to proceed with projects to develop their telecommunication 
infrastructure only to find that a lack of resources halts or delays 
implementation.  Arrangements will be made at Africa TELECOM 94 for 
administrations involved in the Forum to meet with representatives of the 
development banks for informal "roundtable" discussions on the problems and 
opportunities of obtaining funding when planning for telecommunications 
development projects.  Representatives of the World Bank, African Development 
Bank, Africa Import/Export Bank and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic 
Development will be available to take part in such discussions during the five 
days of Africa TELECOM 94.

ITU PRESS CONFERENCE

An ITU Press Conference will be held in the Press Centre, Cairo International 
Conference Centre on Sunday, 24 April 1994 at 17h00.  Dr Pekka Tarjanne, 
Secretary-General of the ITU and H.E. Mr Soliman Metwally Soliman, Minister of 
Communications, Transport and Civil Aviation, Government of the Arab Republic of 
Egypt, plan to make statements.

For press enquiries, please contact:
 
Francine Lambert
Chief, Press and Public Information
International Telecommunication Union
Tel: +41 22 730 5969
Telefax: +41 22 730 5939
E-mail: X400: s=lambert;a=arcom;p=itu;c=ch
Internet:  francine.lambert@itu.ch

For any other information about Africa 
TELECOM, please contact:

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 22 730 6444