Message from from Dr. Hamadoun I. Touré ITU Secretary-General These are extraordinary times for the ICT industry. In the wake of the global economic crisis, the critical role played by technology in socio-economic development has taken centre stage, as governments around the world announce stimulus packages designed to drive the roll-out of new ICT infrastructure. This is because ICT has not only proved a highly resilient sector in its own right, but has the power to spur recovery in other sectors – through e-commerce, e-education, e-health, e-government, and compelling new services that are continuing to drive user demand. ICTs are among the most powerful tools available to firms to improve efficiency and reduce costs. That’s why demand for bandwidth and new applications continues to grow, despite the downturn, and data volumes look set to increase. Crisis is the mother of innovation, so astute players view this time as an opportunity – to break into previously impenetrable markets and to pioneer new, disruptive technologies that meet today’s vital business needs. ITU continues to engage closely with the ICT industry and to debate the fundamental issues shaping the future of ICTs. As part of our ongoing commitment to connecting the world, we have strengthened the role of the Forum as a key interactive platform for debate and devoted many sessions to the hot topics that the industry faces today. Many Ministers, CEOs and other leading policy-makers will be present at ITU TELECOM WORLD 2009 to debate the future direction of the industry; key debates will focus on innovative technologies, climate change and threats to cybersecurity, as well as changing business models and regulatory challenges. ITU provides a unique public/private forum where governments, regulators and industry can meet to catalyze debate, exchange views openly and learn from each other. This year, we have created a new ‘Development Track’ to ensure that the growth opportunities and innovation in emerging markets are debated at the core of the Forum. The Youth Forum is also 6