Ms Helen McDONALD Assistant Deputy Minister, Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications, International Telecommunications Policy & Coordination, Industry Canada Canada relies upon telecommunications to link all parts of a very vast land. We believe that the digital infrastructure and a digitally skilled workforce are the foundations for a successful economy and inclu-sive society. We depend on an effective international telecommunication framework to connect with the world and bring the benefits of telecommunications to all countries. Over the past years the ITU has been able to success-fully address the significant challenges posed by the rapid development of telecommunication technolo-gies because it has applied its resources and its unique capabilities in the sectors where Member States re-quire it the most: Radiocommunications and the fu-ture of wireless communications, the development of standards to ensure a seamless interconnection of telecommunication systems, and in capacity building activities and programs for the benefit of developing and less developed countries. All are important and Canada believes they all contin-ue to be worthy as we chart a course forward for this organization. We face new challenges and opportunities. Increasingly our economies are becoming digital, featuring innova-tive Muchas gracias señor Presidente, En nombre del Gobierno de Canadá permítame expresarle nuestras más sinceras felicitaciones y sat-isfacción mobile services based on wireless and satellite technologies. This transition will intensify the demand for timely decisions, and most importantly, for an im-proved management of the radiofrequency spectrum and allocation of satellite orbits. Canada believes that these pressing challenges and op-portunities will be successfully addressed in the years por su designación como Presidente de esta to come by a senior management team at the ITU, a team with substantial knowledge and experience in radiocommunications and wireless technologies, but conferencia, asi como nuestra gratitud con el Gobierno de México y con la ciudad de Guadalajara, por recibir-nos con tanto afecto y hospitalidad. Thank you 128