Abu Dhabi 6 December 2010 - The United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) Forum, hosted by the Government of Abu Dhabi and organized by the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC), drew to a close today following two days of discussions at the Yas Island Media Centre. Attended by His Excellency Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director General of ADSIC and His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of GAID, and a number of senior United Nations officials, delegates heard from more than 30 speakers from around the world.
H.E. Mr. Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, Director General of ADSIC said: "One behalf of ADSIC, organizers of the event, I'd like to thank all participants for travelling to Abu Dhabi - where they can now consider themselves to have a second home. We look forward to welcoming you at future meetings so that we may better share work experiences and best practice amongst professionals and decision-makers regarding the development of the IT community to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in our countries and across the world. The world today is now fully aware of the existence and nature of the work of GAID, its activities and objectives."
H.E. Dr. Talal Abu Ghazala, Chairman of GAID expressed his gratitude and sincere thanks for the hospitality received in Abu Dhabi over the last week: "Through this Forum we aim to achieve in order to create a better world that will enable us to work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDG eNabler is an important issue and I welcome the high level and quality of discussion and observations made by speakers through the Solutions Salons held over the last two days."
" As a subsidiary of the United Nations, we have important work to achieve, and what we aspire to do is to provide support and advice, through initiatives such as the MDG eNabler, a piece of important intellectual property, that will assist in the documentation of the efforts of experts who have worked on its establishment."
In officially closing the Forum, H.E. Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori formally presented the final recommendations of the discussions to H.E. Dr Talal Abu-Ghazaleh on behalf of Abu Dhabi, and thanked His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi for their wisdom and powerful messages that set the tone of the event in the opening session.
Recommendations and outcomes included:
An acknowledgement that the commitment, dedication and urgent call to action of the United Nations to the work of GAID is encouraging. GAID committed to renew its collective efforts to delivering its promises and acknowledged the support it receives from its partner UNDESA, the office of the Special Advisor for Africa and the Least Developed Countries, and the call to partner with GAID from the Secretary General's special advisor on the Millennium Development Goals, all partnerships that reiterate the relevance and importance of the mission.
The opening plenary session was declared inspiration. Panelists were in consensus that whilst great strides have been made in efforts to expand the reach and impact of ICT for development, there is still much that needs to be done. Work must continue to innovate and collaborate and to work closely with colleagues, especially those from Africa, to ensure that the work of GAID is reaching those whom need it most.
Discussions on the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) eNabler were extremely productive. Delegates committed to taking the next steps, in response to urgent demand, to set benchmarks and indicators to track the progress of the initiative, through which the Alliance's shift from advocacy to action will be shaped.
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Press Release 2010
