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Harnessing the Power Opening Remarks 17 July 2000
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me begin by saying how delighted I am to have been invited here to address the topic, the United Nations and the global Digital Divide in this fine city of Albuquerque. I also would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation and thanks to the United Nations Business Council for hosting this important event and to Albuquerque Petroleum Club for providing their support for making this event possible. I wish to begin by sharing with you some statistics that clearly demonstrate that a digital divide does in fact exist and should be urgently addressed by the international community. Current worldwide statistics indicate that the number of internet hosts in all the developing countries is still less than 7 percent. In addition, it is also estimated that only 277 million out of 6 billion people worldwide are users of the internet with a growth rate roughly 150,000 persons a day. Moreover, 220 million devices were accessing the World Wide Web and almost 200,000 devices were added each day. Furthermore, E-commerce or business conducted over the internet totaled US$ 45 billion as recently as 1998 and an estimate in January 2000 projected it could explode to over US$ 7 trillion as early as 2004. Having considered these figures, we realize that billions of people still live untouched by the digital revolution and only 5% of the world’s population can claim connectivity and the greater majority of these are from the developed countries. With the world is in the midst of a dramatic transformation, the information revolution is on a par with that of the 18th century industrial revolution and one that is fundamentally changing the shape of the world we live in. This process has been gradually developing over the past few decades, and with collapse of the Berlin wall and the liberalization of trade and finance, globalization has surged ahead. Central to these advances is the rapid convergence of communication and computing technologies, the rapid growth in network computing and the sharp decline in the cost of information processing and transforming our notion on ideas of time and distance. In this regard, we must remember that it is only those economies with the highest level of connectivity that are being propelled to new and staggering heights of economic growth while those in developing countries will always left behind and are being bypassed by the tidal wave of the information revolution in its unrelenting sweep across the world. If we do not actively respond to the digital divide between the developing and the developed countries, it will, further widened. In this context, the ECOSOC chose the issue of information and communication technology for development as its main theme of the Ministerial discussion held in New York from 5 to 7 July 2000. The meeting was well attended by almost all of the Ministers in charge of ICT of the 54 member of the ECOSOC including also the President of Mali and Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus. The meeting has also set a precedence in being the first time in the history that the Treasury Secretary of the United States attended and addressed the Council. In addition, dialogues between government Ministers and CEO’s of private companies from both developed and developing countries were also organized and a exhibition of cutting edge information and communication technologies (ICT) were on displays and played a useful role in disseminating information and in educating delegations on the very existence of such technologies. Allow me therefore first of all to briefly inform you on this crucial issue discussed during the Ministerial meeting and later I will also share with you some of the important elements of the Ministerial Declaration adopted during the High-Level meeting of ECOSOC 2000. First and foremost, there is the excessive expense of connectivity. These cost factors tend to inhibit the spread of information and communication technologies and undermine their universal usage. Moreover, while it may be true that certain development problems can be resolved through technological leapfrogging without having to rise through the traditional stages of development, it is also true that access to such solutions presupposes a relatively high level of development, which many developing countries simply do not have. Moreover, while technological leapfrogging may be a seductive concept, it is also true that access to such solutions presupposes a relatively high level of development, which many developing countries simply do not have. In addition to that, some other pertinent issues addressed during the meeting were first, how to secure commitment at the highest level and to commit the necessary resources to implement the outcomes. Secondly, how to raise public awareness, promote best practices, and to share experiences particularly in the context of South-South cooperation. Thirdly, to promote the development of infrastructure, access and connectivity for all, especially in developing countries and to explore innovative approaches to the critical component of resource mobilization as well as to promote the transfer of technology and to devise incentives to attract private sector investment. Fourthly, it is also imperative to address cultural and linguistic diversity and local content in cyberspace and empower communities, to develop policy guidelines and globally accepted norms on regulatory issues, to promote global partnerships to foster knowledge flows for development as well as to strengthen collaboration and coordination among the relevant international organizations. Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, To overcome those challenges, the international community agreed to joint together in global collaborative actions to address the issue of digital divide by taking radical and decisive action. In support of these efforts, valuable inputs and recommendations were provided by a series of seminars, panel discussions and regional meetings over the pass few months prior to the ECOSOC meeting have proven to be very significant in identifying ways and means to address the issue and to pursue our common objectives at all levels. This was mainly done by involving all major stake-holders such as multilateral and bilateral donors and the private sectors. In this connection, delegations recognized that the role of the United Nations, including that of the ECOSOC, is very crucial in pursuing the goal of digital opportunities for all. In conclusion, allow me to highlight some of the most crucial decisions adopted in the Ministerial Declaration. First, there is a recognition of a wide consensus that information and communication technologies (ICT) are central to the creation of the emerging global knowledge-based economy and can play an important role in accelerating growth, in promoting sustainable development and eradicating poverty in developing countries as well as countries with economies in transition and in facilitating their effective integration into the global economy. Second, the ICT revolution not only opens new vast opportunities for economic growth and social development but also poses challenges and risks. Third, urgent and concerted actions, at national, regional and international levels, are imperative for bridging the digital divide and building digital opportunities and putting ICT firmly in the service of development for all. In this context, we recognize the need to address the major impediments to the participation of the majority of the people in the developing countries in the revolution of ICT. These constraints include those of infrastructure, education, capacity building, investment and connectivity. Efforts should also be strengthened at all levels to achieve universal connectivity, to enhance capacity (human as well as institutional), promote investment in education, including basic and digital literacy. Fourth, there is a general consensus that market forces are fundamental but they alone will not suffice to put ICT in the service of development. In this regard, effective and meaningful collaborative efforts are required involving governments, multilateral development institutions, bilateral donors, the private sector, the civil society, and other relevant stakeholders, to enhance the developmental impact of ICT. Fifth, we agree to develop at the national, regional and global levels a program to be included in the respective development strategies to address regulatory measures and the promotion of ICT development and its utilization, promoting partnerships, and establishing mechanisms within the UN system to coordinate the ICT development and its utilization for all. Thank you.
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