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Conversations begin at ITU Telecom World 2014
Vibrant opening ceremony opens doors to “Future in Focus”
Doha, 7 December 2014 – ITU Telecom World 2014 opened
its doors today to a packed programme of conversations and debates on the
theme “Future in Focus”. A spectacular Opening Ceremony at the
Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha brought together a glittering
line-up of high-level participants, including (in speaking order):
- Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ooredoo Group,
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani,
- Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin
Khalifa Al Thani,
- Minister of Information and Communications Technology,
ictQATAR, Hessa Sultan Al Jaber,
- ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré,
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of
Directors Ooredoo Group took the opportunity to highlight the need for
partnership and collaboration between the world’s key players, saying,
“Amongst us are many of the world’s largest technology companies. We are
joined by many high ranking government representatives, policy shapers, from
across the region and the world, as well as a new generation of
entrepreneurs and app-developers. Feel our power, our combined experience
and know how. Together we can make the future happen sooner.”
“We are extremely proud to host a great number of telco corporations as
an important hub,” said H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani,
Prime Minister of Qatar in his Opening Ceremony address. “To meet here and
to debate is an opportunity to exchange ideas about new opportunities which
can contribute to changing and transforming the world.”
“With the increasing interconnectivity between sectors, no one can work
alone, as in the past,” said Dr Hessa Al Jaber, Minister of Information and
Communications Technology (ictQATAR). “We must work together to help bring
these technologies to the rest of the world.”
Highlighting the tremendous potential of technology as a tool for
improving lives, ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré noted in his
opening address: “Never before in human history have so many developments in
technology, in science and business come together with such tremendous
potential to improve the lives of people everywhere. Never before have the
challenges of ensuring that the changes happening are fair, equitable and
ethical been so considerable.”
Organized by ITU, the United Nations Specialized Agency for ICTs, the
event is hosted by the Government of Qatar, with the support of leading
international communications company, Ooredoo.
The Opening Ceremony marked the beginning of an action packed few days of
high-level debate, networking and knowledge-sharing, with the
Leadership Summit on the future launching the debate in
the afternoon of 7 December.
The Forum will bring together the industry’s leading names who
will explore
three major scenarios of disruption, cross-sector partnerships
and the intelligent future. Sessions will take a variety of formats from
panel sessions, keynotes and high-level debates to global media-moderated
Big Conversations.
The
show floor highlights technologies and investment opportunities
through the presence of National and Thematic Pavilions and Industry
Showcases. Top global players include Alcatel Lucent, Huawei, Intel, LS
telcom, Nokia, Ooredoo and ZTE, along with countries from across the world
such as Argentina, Azerbaijan, China, Nigeria and the Smart Africa Zone
(Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda).
Innovation will be a core component of the event. The
InnovationSpace will host the Lab, featuring state-of-the-art demos and
technological, social and design innovations. The show floor is also home to
the Young Innovators Competition finalists, young social entrepreneurs
between ages 18 and 30 from around the world with innovative digital
solutions with positive social impact.
- Full highlights of each days discussions and key events
are available
here
- See the full event programme click here
- See the speaker line-up here
- For a full set of background blogs on the event,
including from Leadership Summit speakers, please visit our
event blog
Media Note: Media accreditation for ITU Telecom World
2014, 7-10 December 2014, enables free access to the event for registered
media and analysts. Accreditation is compulsory. UN Press accreditation is
valid, but registration is required to obtain an event badge.
Media registration is now open at the ITU Telecom World 2014 on site at
the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha: Monday-Tuesday, 8-9 December
2014, 08:00 – 18:00 and Wednesday, 10 December, 08:00-16:00.
Accredited media will gain full access to all the different components of
the event, including the Leadership Summit, Forum sessions and Show floor as
well as the Media Centre and be able to take part in a host of networking
opportunities alongside leading public/private sector representatives.
Videos and photos from ITU Telecom World 2013 and 2014
are available.
Videos: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpoIPNlF8P2N0iBXOtP2bD5_u-8xy_Pba
Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/sets/72157638139301335/
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For more information, please
contact: |
Media
accreditation enquiries: |
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
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