[APAC-Discuss] Fwd: [PICISOC] Press Release: Asia-Pacific countries meet to review and ICT for sustainable and inclusive development

Mon Oct 24 20:03:43 UTC 2011

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Daniel James Munoz Smith <djms at unapcict.org>
Date: Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 10:56 PM
Subject: [PICISOC] Press Release: Asia-Pacific countries meet to review and
ICT for sustainable and inclusive development
To: Daniel James Munoz Smith <djms at unapcict.org>

*Asia-Pacific countries meet to review and strengthen role of information
and communications technology (ICT) for sustainable and inclusive regional
development *

* *

Incheon, Republic of Korea (UN ESCAP Strategic Communications and Advocacy
Section) – Over 300 government representatives and development stakeholders
from 35 Asia-Pacific countries are meeting in Incheon, Republic of Korea
this week to review achievements in the use of information and
communications technology (ICT) to promote sustainable and inclusive
development in the region.

The *Second Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on ICT Human Capacity Development*:
‘Where are we, Where are we going and What will it take to fill the gap?’ is
being organized from 24 to 28 October by the Incheon-based United Nations
Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication
Technology for Development (APCICT), a regional institute of the United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Participants will share national ICT human capacity development experiences,
lessons learned and deliberate on ICT challenges and gaps in order to
formulate a collaborative roadmap to enhance regional ICT human resource
capacities.

While several Asia-Pacific countries are successfully using ICTs to address
economic, social and environmental challenges, many others lack adequate
access to ICTs. The Forum aims to promote understanding of the importance of
building human capacity and formulating a regional consensus to bridge this
intraregional digital divide.

“This Regional Forum is a timely event that will help sustain the ICT
capacity successes of recent years and at the same time, work towards
helping extend ICT benefits to all in the Asia-Pacific region and address
emerging challenges,” … told the Forum.

Cyber security will be a focus area of the deliberations with participants
discussing ways to develop capacities to respond effectively to regional and
national cyber security threats. A Parallel Track event during the Forum
will enhance regional cyber security capacities utilizing the APCICT
flagship ICT human capacity development programme *Academy of ICT Essentials
for Government Leaders*.

“The importance of building national and regional capacities and regional
cooperation to combat cyber threats is increasing, and will continue to do
so as the Asia-Pacific becomes increasingly connected and integrated,” Mr.
See-Joong Choi, Chairman, Korea Communication Commission told the Forum.

The Forum will also discuss opportunities to extend ICT for development
(ICTD) human capacity building initiatives to young people, including
through the APCICT *Primer Series on ICTD for Youth* which will be launched
during a second Forum Parallel Track event involving university professors,
deans and chancellors from the region.

/…

- 2 -

“Today’s youth, are tomorrow leaders. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that
the next generation has the tools and knowledge to effectively take on this
role,” Dr. Hyeun-Suk Rhee, Director, APCICT told the Forum.

A third Parallel Track event at the Forum will discuss and formulate
recommendations to strengthen regional partnerships and improve knowledge
sharing and dissemination of national and regional ICTD expertise.

“Establishing strong working partnerships at this Regional Forum will help
us take the important step to develop a collaborative regional community of
practice that effectively shares important ICT capacity building knowledge,”
Yeong-Gil Song, Mayor of Incheon City told the Forum.

The Regional Forum marks the 5th Anniversary of APCICT which was set up to
strengthen ESCAP member states’ capacities to use ICT for socio-economic
development.

*For further information, please contact:*

* *

Hyeun-Suk Rhee, Ph.D.

Director, UN-APCICT/ESCAP

Incheon, Republic of Korea

T: + (82) 032 245 1700

E: director at unapcict.org

-- 
Daniel Munoz-Smith
Associate Public Information Officer
www.unapcict.org

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-- 
Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro aka Sala

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