The Pan-Arab Regional Conference on WSIS

MCIT Background

“The spell of ancient Egypt may have enthralled the world for thousands of years, but the promise of Egypt's future truly captures the imagination. Trade barriers of the past have come tumbling down. Internet and communications satellites link opposite ends of the earth, making old and expensive methods of communication obsolete.”

Investment Opportunities

The law works hand-in-hand with the Telecom Act (TA) drafted by MCIT. The Act lays the foundation for licensing national companies for management and operation of networks and services.

Objectives of the Egyptian National Communications and Information Technology (CIT) Plan:

• Create a vibrant and exportable CIT industry
• Support the development of a state-of-the-art national telecommunications network that provides an enabling environment for business and electronically links Egypt with the rest of the world.
• Create a vibrant and exportable CIT industry
• Support the development of a state-of-the-art national
• Increase employment opportunities in the communications and information technology sectors
• Build an information society capable of absorbing and benefiting from expanding sources of information
• Develop and upgrade CIT systems to improve standards of living and support competitiveness in international CIT market

Affiliates:

• Telecom Egypt
• Smart Villages
• Software Engineering Certification Center
• National Center for Documentation of Cultural & Natural Heritage
• Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
• Egyptian Tele-Medicine Network
• National Telecommunication Institute

Project Areas:

• Development of the Communication and Information Industry
• Human Development Projects
• Communication Infrastructure Development
• Developing the information structure and increasing the local demand
• Database Update Plan
• E-government

For more information: www.mcit.gov.eg

Egypt Investment Climate

As 2003 approaches, Egypt's place in the global information society is quickly taking shape. There are limitless Information Technology and telecom investment opportunities in Egypt. The signs are everywhere: a proliferation of Internet café's, and mobile mania across the country. A combination of Egypt's emerging information society with the nation's stable, growing economy, low inflation, and professionally trained human resources make the country a perfect place for international investments.

Egypt's is experiencing a remarkable economic recovery. The government has initiated an extensive economic and social reform program to bring the country into the global economy. As an emerging market, Egypt holds a multitude of investment opportunities for foreign investors. In addition, a skilled and cost-effective labor force makes it an ideal investment destination.

The government is not just upgrading and expanding its CIT sector, over the last 20 years it has invested $72 billion in upgrading the nation's infrastructure, building and installing new airports, highways, industrial cities and agricultural centers such as Toshka, as well as water and electricity networks.

In addition to the investments in the nation's infrastructure, the government is also creating a strong human base by investing in the nation's youth. New generations of Egyptians are now receiving a quality education and have plenty of opportunities for skills development and professional training.

This strong economic foundation works hand-in-hand with an expanding financial market, and provides an excellent business climate for local investors.

The growing number of joint ventures between Egyptian companies and multinational corporations speaks to this."Over the past two years, we've witnessed a small revolution - the government is working on all levels to open up the IT/telecom market and we are very optimistic," says Siemens (Germany)/EGTI.

There are promising and substantial investment opportunities in Egypt's IT and telecommunications services sector. MCIT encourages investments that provide technology transfer, as well as financing, deployment, operations and maintenance.

The most immediate opportunities lie in the core backbone, public data and Internet services, wireless local loop networks, the mobile network, offshore development, and e-Egypt.

The Full Article

For more information: www.citegypt.com

League of Arab States Background

By the end of the millennium, the League of Arab States celebrated its 55th anniversary; which postdated the emergence of an Arab Regional system, assuming a unique character, which has then become a distinctive and indispensable characteristic, namely: the national quality.

General Structure and Administrative Organization:

	1.	General Secretary of the Arab League
	2.	Deputy General Secretary of the Arab League
	3.	The Council of the Arab League
	4.	Arab Economic & Social Council
	5.	Technical Committees
	6.	Specialized Ministerial Councils
	7.	Arab Specialized Organizations
	8.	Arab Unions
	9.	Joint Arab-Foreign Chambers Of Commerce
	10.	Missions
	11.	General Secretariat Departments
	12.	General Secretariat Sub Departments

Members:

	1.	Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
	2.	Kingdom of Bahrain
	3.	Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros
	4.	Republic of Djibouti
	5.	Arab Republic of Egypt
	6.	United Arab Emirates
	7.	Republic of Iraq
	8.	The Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan
	9.	State of Kuwait
	10.	Republic of Lebanon
	11.	Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
	12.	Islamic Republic of Mauritania
	13.	Kingdom of Morocco
	14.	Sultanate of Oman
	15.	State of Palestine
	16.	State of Qatar
	17.	Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
	18.	Republic of Somalia
	19.	Republic of Sudan
	20.	2Arab Republic of Syria
	21.	Republic of Tunisia
	22.	Republic of Yemen

HOT ISSUES:

•	2Arab Republic of Syria
•	Republic of Tunisia
•	Republic of Yemen

Issues at Hand:

(Disarmament department) League of Arab States - UNIDIR Symposium On Building a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East: Global Non-Proliferation Regimes and Regional Experiences Cairo 24 - 25 February 2003

League of Arab States - UNIDIR Symposium On Building a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East: Global Non-Proliferation Regimes and Regional Experiences

Feasibility Study on Establishment of a Genebank for Plant Genetic Resources in the Arab World
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) - Genetic Resources Unit

For more informations: www.arableagueonline.org

WSIS Background:

The WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) idea was triggered by resolution 73 of the International Telecommunications Union (USA, 1998). The Summit began as an initiative of the 1998 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference when it was recognized that the gap between information 'haves' and 'have nots' was increasing while at the same time telecommunications were playing an increasingly important role at the political, social and cultural level.

Organizational Role:

A.	UN Secretary-General and Chairman of the UN System Chief Executive Board for Coordination (CEB formerly ACC [United Nations Administrative Committee on Coordination]), patron
B.	HLSOC (High-Level Summit Organizing Committee)

	HLSOC activities:	Coordinate UN efforts in preparation, organization and holding of WSIS
		Reports directly to the CEB
		Oversees the work of the Executive Secretariat
	HLSOC Composition
		Chairman; The Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union
		• Members:
			1. Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General
			2. Executive Heads of the following UN specialized agencies: FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ILO, IMO, ITU, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
			3. Director General of WTO
			4. Executive Director of UNITAR
			5. Executive Secretaries of the UN Regional Economic Commissions
			6. President of the World Bank. serves as Chairman of the HLSOC
C.	Executive Secretariat
	Assists in the preparation of WSIS and includes:
	• Staff from Member States
	• Staff from the UN specialized agencies participating in the HLSOC
	• Staff from the private sector
	• Staff from NGOs and Civil Society
D.	ITU
	ITU is the leading UN agency with the scientific, technical, economic and policy expertise. In 2001, the ITU Council decided to hold a Summit in two phases:
	Phase I: from 10 to 12 December 2003, in Geneva, Switzerland
	Phase II: from 16 to 18 November 2005 in Tunis, Tunisia
UN General Assembly 56/183

• Endorsed the framework for the Summit adopted by the ITU Council.
• Endorsed the leading role of the Union in the Summit and its preparation, in cooperation with other interested organizations and partners.
• Recommended that preparations for the Summit take place through an open-ended intergovernmental Preparatory Committee that would define the agenda of the Summit, decide on the modalities of the participation of other stakeholders in the Summit, and finalize both the draft declaration and the draft plan of action.
• Encouraged contributions from all relevant UN bodies and other intergovernmental organizations, including international and regional institutions, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector to actively participate in the intergovernmental preparatory process of the Summit and the Summit itself.

WSIS Mission

The roles of the various partners (Member States, UN specialized agencies, private sector and civil society) in ensuring smooth coordination of the practical establishment of the information society around the globe will also be at the heart of the Summit and its preparation

Why WSIS?

• To provide a unique opportunity for all key stakeholders to assemble at a high-level gathering and to develop a better understanding of this revolution and its impact on the international community.
• To bring together Heads of State, Executive Heads of United Nations agencies, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, media representatives and civil society in a single high-level event.

Involvements:

1. All governments, whatever their level of national income or their infrastructure facilities
2. Private sector: The private sector input to the Summit is being facilitated by the Coordinating Committee of Business Interlocutors (CCBI), chaired by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
3. Civil Society
4. United Nations Family: The United Nations system and its specialized agencies will be deeply involved in the organization and holding of the Summit, with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) taking a lead role.
5. Media

Funding

Funding will come from the host countries, as well as private and public sector partners. The development of an equitable information society will create significant returns on investment for public and private sector partners in both the developing and developed world.

Deliverable
To come out with a clear statement of political will and a concrete plan of action for achieving the goals of the Information Society, while fully reflecting all the interests of different stakeholders.

For more information: www.itu.int/wsis