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Speeches

Speeches at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2014 (PP-14) 

Closing Ceremony

  • 7 November 2014 - Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General:
    What an incredible three weeks we have had here together! - Three weeks ago, we were honoured by Korea’s President, Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, who noted that we had reached an inflection point in the hyper-connected digital revolution – and that we needed to address the global ICT gap “so that telecommunications and ICT can serve to improve human rights and welfare for all humankind, irrespective of region, country, gender or class.”...
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  • 7 November 2014 - Yanghee Choi, Korean Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning:        
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  • 7 November 2014 - Suh Byung-soo, Mayor of Busan:      
    As we are now bringing to a close the three week-long ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, I would like to offer my deepest appreciation and commend you all for the hard work and dedication you have shown in striving to achieve common prosperity for all mankind as well as the continued development of the ITU...
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  • 7 November 2014 - Wonki Min, PP-14 Chairman:      
    Congratulations! We have now come to the end of the 19th Plenipotentiary Conference. And what a great 3 weeks it has been! We have achieved so many important outcomes and have delivered a very successful PP-14.  Each and every one of us played an important role in this wonderful achievement...
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ITU’s New Management Team

Open Letter from the Broadband Commission on Digital Development to PP-14

    • 28 October 2014 - Speech from H.E. Mr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda
      I am pleased to be here at this important conference, that is charting the way of the union into the future. It is pertinent that this meeting is taking place in the Republic of Korea, which is an exceptional model of technological development in general, and ICT in particular...
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GEM-TECH Awards

  • 28 October 2014 - Speech from Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General : GEM-TECH Awards Ceremony
    This is an important moment in the history of ITU – because today we are celebrating the very first edition of the GEM-Tech Awards.These awards recognize excellence, and they recognize outstanding performers and role models in Gender Equality and Mainstreaming in ICTs...
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  • 21 October 2014 - Speech from Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General : GEM-TECH Women's Ministerial Breakfast
    It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 GEM-Tech Awards Breakfast with Women Ministers. This is wonderful opportunity to gather together and I am delighted to be provided with this platform for informal networking with women decision makers...
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  • 21 October 2014 - Speech from Doreen Bogdan, Chief, Strategic Planning & Membership, ITU : GEM-TECH Women's Ministerial Breakfast
    It’s also a special breakfast because it is the first in a series of four Gender Equality and Mainstreaming events that will take place here at the Plenipotentiary Conference. On the 28th of October we will host the First Gender Equality and Mainstreaming in Technology Awards, known as the GEM-Tech Awards...
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Press Conference on Busan Initiative

  • 27 October 2014 - Speech from Mr Suh Byung-soo, Mayor of Busan :       
    Busan and the ITU share the idea that ICT can contribute to the development of mankind.We both firmly believe that the major issues facing us heading into the new millennium are the recruitment and development of young people in the ICT field, the alleviation of the digital divide and the interoperability of the IoT...
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  • 27 October 2014 - Speech from Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General : 
    Around the world, youth in both developed and developing countries, face disproportionate exposure to poverty and unemployment.Today, almost half the world's population is under the age of 25, and nearly a quarter are aged 12 to 24...
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Policy Statements


Post-election Press Conference

  • 23 October 2014 - Speech from Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General Elect :       
    I would like to thank you for coming here this afternoon. It is a tremendous honour to have been elected as the 19th Secretary-General of the ITU this morning, and I look forward to taking office on 1 January 2015...
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​ITU 150th Anniversary Launch Event

  • 21 October 2014 - Speech from Mr. Adeeb Al Blooshi, young inventor from UAE :      
    It is a great pleasure and a privilege to be here at the 19th ITU Plenipotentiary Conference which is being held in the beautiful city of Busan.Allow me please to congratulate ITU and all its membership to the successful launch of celebrations for the 150th anniversary of ITU. It is millions of youth like me around the globe who are some way or the other utilizing the benefits of this wonderful organization...
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  • 21 October 2014 - Speech from H.E. Mohammad Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA),United Arab Emirates:      
    Today's world is changing at an accelerated rate and most countries are rapidly witnessing various breakthroughs and developments at many areas and levels. With ever evolving technology, this era is often described as the "Age of Communication and Information Technology". This makes us contemplate on the reason behind choosing this particular term...
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  • 21 October 2014 - Speech from Dr. Win Mlambo, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Republic of Zimbabwe :      
    When the ITU was founded in Paris in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, none of its founding visionaries ever contemplated the magnitude of impact to the extent the Union has managed to transform the complexion of ICTs and the lives of people during these 150 years of its existence. As we look back and celebrate its 150th anniversary we should always remember that the Union's phenomenal achievements bear undisputed testimony to the accomplishments that can be made to humanity if institutions are governed well and run for the purposes for which they were created...
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  • 21 October 2014 - Speech from Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General :
    Next year, on 17 May, ITU will be celebrating 150 years since the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telegraph Union. And for a century and a half, the ITU has been at the centre of advances in communications... ...
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Opening Press Conference

  • 20 October 2014 -H.E. Minister Yanghee CHOI, Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning:
    This year's Plenipotentiary Conference is the first Plenipot held in Asia in 20 years.I still remember the overwhelming feeling I had four years ago, when Korea was designated to play host to the 2014 Plenipotentiary Conference at the Plenipot held in Guadalajara, Mexico...
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  • 20 October 2014 - Suh Byung-soo, Mayor of Busan:
     First of all, it gives me and all the citizens of Busan great honor to be able to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference here in our city, an event often referred to as the "ICT Olympics".Since 2011 when Busan was officially selected as the host city for the PP-14, many relevant officials have been staying in Busan to make all the necessary arrangements...
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  • 20 October 2014 - Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General:
    It is both a pleasure and a privilege to be with you in Korea's proud 'second city', which has become one of the world's most vibrant international hubs.Korea is, I think, a particularly appropriate and fitting venue for this landmark ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, because no other country in the world has so enthusiastically and successfully harnessed its national development to the power of ICTs...
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  • 20 October 2014 - Wonki Min, PP-14 Chairman-Designate:       
    At this Conference we will have the opportunity to celebrate 150 years of ITU achievements that have helped to provide the unprecedented level of global connectivity we enjoy today. At the same time, Member States will also have the opportunity to position the ITU to make important contributions to the global development agenda beyond 2015...
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Opening Ceremony

  • 20 October 2014 - Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU Secretary-General:
    As we all know, Korea is famous as a global leader in terms of ICT development, and is the perfect venue for ITU’s 2014 Plenipotentiary Conference.Our Korean hosts will be truly inspiring here because of all they have achieved in less than sixty short years of nationhood...
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  • 20 October 2014 - Yanghee Choi, Korean Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning:       
    It is a great pleasure to address this gathering that discusses the future vision for global ICT. As the head of the competent ministry of the host country, I offer you great respect and appreciation for the efforts of ITU and member states...
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  • 20 October 2014 - Suh Byung-soo, Mayor of Busan :      
    It is a great honor to host the Plenipotentiary Conference of ITU, an organization with a history of 150 years.On behalf of the citizens of the coastal city Busan, I'd like to extend my warmest welcome to all of you...
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  • 20 October 2014 - Park Geun-hye, President of Korea :       
    We live in a world that is shaped and impacted by the digital economy driven by the proliferation of broadband and smartphones. And thus it is very meaningful for Busan to host the PP-14 of ITU, for it is the premier global policy-making body for telecommunications and ICT...
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  • 20 October 2014 - Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General:       
    I am pleased to greet the International Telecommunication Union's Plenipotentiary Conference.I thank the Government and people of the Republic of Korea for hosting and for their commitment to the United Nations...
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