October 05 Monday Opening/Closing 16:00 – 18:00 Session OpCl. 2 Room A & B Open Summit: ICTs for Economic Growth The global financial crisis has caused economic growth to slow or to reverse in countries around the world, proving especially hard for the poorest countries and individuals. The worst recession in eighty years has increased the pressure to generate fresh economic growth, with ICTs recognized as playing important roles, both as a sector in its own right and as an input to other sectors. Some countries are making significant investments in ICTs as an economic stimulus to create jobs and to boost the economy. Yet growth has to be both economically and environmentally sustainable. KEY QUESTIONS: – How can ICTs contribute to regenerating and accelerating economic growth? – What can governments do or not do to maximize economic growth from ICTs? – Will the recession delay the achievement of the ICT Millennium Development Goals? – How has the global financial crisis changed the goods and services that customers are willing to pay for? Moderator Mr Adrian Finighan, Anchor and Correspondent, CNN (United Kingdom) Panellists His Excellency Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister, Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (Australia) His Excellency Dr Tarek Kamel, Minister, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) (Egypt) Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman & Group CEO, Bharti Enterprises (India) Honourable Mr Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce (United States) 13