UNION INTERNATIONALE DES TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
UNIÓN INTERNACIONAL DE TELECOMUNICACIONES
 


Regional Telecommunication Development Conference for Asia 
and the Pacific (AS-RDC 93)

Opening Address by Pekka Tarjanne 
Secretary-General
Singapore, 11 May 1993


Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,

	The Conference starting today is the last (though certainly not 
the least) of the first  global cycle of regional telecommunication 
development conferences.

	I am honoured to welcome you to the beautiful city of 
Singapore, where dynamic state-of-the-art technologies blend 
harmoniously with  graceful Asian traditional culture and 
hospitality. I am indeed indebted to the Government and to the 
Telecommunication Authority of Singapore for having provided such a 
beautiful setting, demonstrating that our hosts have spared no effort 
in offering the best facilities for such an important event.

	The fact that the Regional Development Conference for Asia and 
the Pacific is taking place in Singapore prompts my first remark, 
which is that  this part of the world, the Pacific Rim, offers 
concrete evidence that the expansion of telecommunication 
capabilities has gone hand in hand with explosive economic growth.

	The indirect benefits of telecommunications, a subject of many 
weighty studies and theoretical expositions by eminent researchers, 
actually exist here for all to see.

	The vast manufacturing potential, the natural inclination 
towards trade and the availability of advanced telecommunication 
facilities are the ingredients of the economic prosperity of the 
Pacific Rim, which is the home of the world's six fastest growing 
telephone companies.

	If such a success story could be applied to the whole of Asia 
and the Pacific, there would be little or no reason for us to be 
meeting here today. However, as we all know, striking disparities do 
exist in this region, and that is the essential reason why so many 
policy-makers and responsible officials have come to analyse and 
discuss how to bridge the gap by mobilizing international solidarity 
and cooperation within the framework of the ITU.

	In many countries and for many people,  access to 
telecommunication and information is far from satisfactory. The 
negative consequences are easy to imagine, in terms of social and 
economic impairment. Thus we should not forget that over and above 
their well recognized business supporting function, 
telecommunications should be given credit and consideration for their 
social and developmental function.

	Article 1 of the ITU Constitution states inter alia that one of 
the Union's purposes is "to promote the extension of the benefits of 
the new telecommunication technologies to all the world's 
inhabitants."  In order to do so, the ITU must play a meaningful 
catalytic and coordinating role so as to ensure that the right of 
single individuals to communicate is secured through the correct 
combination of political will and international cooperation 
(including mobilization of financial resources and adequate 
technology).

	In such a context, the Regional Telecommunication Development 
Conference for Asia and the Pacific can be seen as the ideal forum to 
analyse the present situation, determine priorities and define 
concrete lines of action designed to alleviate the disparities 
existing in the region.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

	Allow me to say a few words on how this Conference has been 
organized in order to fulfil such a challenging mandate. An ad hoc 
Task Force which met four times, concentrating on the most important 
issues, has prepared proposals for consideration by the Conference. 
These proposals will be dealt with by three Committees which will 
focus on the main areas where Members' involvement is needed in order 
to ensure accelerated telecommunications development.

COM A:	Policies, strategies and financing considerations

COM B:	Network harmonization, standards (including 
considerations on radio spectrum management)

COM C:	Human resources development and management

	The Conference is expected to produce a set of realistic 
medium-term objectives together with action plans for achieving them. 
This means that the adoption of a resolution or a recommendation here 
in Singapore will entail the deployment of  a certain amount of 
effort and resources by all partners. I do believe that the 
commitments made here during the next few days will be fulfilled. The 
ITU,  will obviously assist its Members in all possible ways; 
however, it would be able to do very little  without your full 
collaboration and clear guidance as to the right path to follow.

	Our Conference has all the ingredients of success, including 
high-level participation, splendid premises and excellent facilities. 
It also benefits from the experience gained in organizing similar 
events in the past.  As I remarked earlier,  it is the last of the 
cycle of regional development conferences and as such it constitutes 
a natural bridge between that cycle and the forthcoming World 
Telecommunication Development Conference to be held in Buenos Aires 
(Argentina) from 21 to 29 March 1994, which will define global 
objectives and establish an action plan for worldwide 
telecommunication development activities to be carried out by the ITU 
Development Sector. To that end, the Buenos Aires Conference will 
also establish a calendar for future development conferences and  set 
up development study groups to deal with thematic developmental 
issues as well as to ensure the continuity of GAS activities which 
have proven very beneficial for developing countries.

	As for today's agenda, my closing comment is that the success 
of this Conference as a tool for promoting  development  will be 
measured by  the number of ideas and tasks we will take home  with us 
from Singapore.

	I wish you a pleasant stay and fruitful deliberations.

	Thank you.