UN-GAID annual meeting starts in Monterrey

H.E. Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) delivered a welcome note on behalf of the UN Secretary General.

H.E. Mr. Natividad Gonzalez Paras, Governor of the State of Nuevo Leon delivered the opening remarks. H.E. Ms. Haiyan Qian, Director of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management, delivered also a statement during the opening session on the UN Agenda on e-governance and its role in the current crisis to support the MDGs.

In Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh opening statement, a special focus was on GAID's action plan for the coming year affirming that access of information is essential for achieving better life for all, help the people empower the world's most disadvantaged people by getting them connected to the world economy and take advantage of the new opportunities created by ICTs.

Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh presented to the Strategy Council three proposals made by members of the Steering Committee for the roundtable to discuss for approval namely: The declaration of right to access to information, and the U-movement proposal promoting the MDGs and a report of ICT and MDGs.

The Strategy Council comprises 60 members representing governments and non-governmental stakeholders, such as civil society, the private sector, international organisations, media, academia, youth and women's groups, and others. The Strategy Council provides overall strategic guidance to GAID, in particular by identifying priorities and themes to be addressed

The annual meeting of the UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) is jointly organized by UNDESA-GAID and the government of Mexico bringing together ICT and the development communities under the umbrella of GAID for a focused dialogue on emerging issues and challenges in the field of ICT for development, particularly in the areas of Innovation for Education, and foster cooperation among governments, private sector and civil societies.

The Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) is an initiative created by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2006 to contribute to transforming the spirit and vision of WSIS into action promoting the use of ICT for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.