REGIONAL PREPARATIONS FOR WSIS

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Regional Preparations for WSIS
by R. B. KUMARAPATHIRANA Director, Project
Development Asia-Pacific Telecommunity
(APT) kuma_at_aptsec.org
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REGIONAL PREPARATIONS FOR WSIS

• APT SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY
• INTERAGENCY COORDINATION
• SEMINAR ON DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALLICT AND
  FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY
• AIIS MEETING

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APT SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY

• The Asia Pacific Summit on Information Society
  was organised by the Asia Pacific Telecommunity
  (APT) from October 31-November 2 in Tokyo.The
  summit which was hosted by MPT Japan was
  attended by 249 participants including 30
  ministers

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PLEDGE BY THE MINISTERS
We ministers declare,that we will do our best,
in both domestic efforts and through
international cooperation, to enable people in
the Asia Pacific region to have access to the
internet by the year 2005 to the extent possible,
including access from public facilities such as
schools and post offices.
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TOKYO DECLARATION

• It addresses the following key aspects
• Forming a shared vision
• Bridging the digital divide
• Developing Information communication
  infrastructure
• Essential applications of the Information society
• HRD enhancement of ICT literacy
• Regional Co-operation and Global Co-ordination

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SUMMIT ACTION PLAN
Forming a Shared Vision
Bridging the Digital Divide
Developing Information and communication
infrastructure
Essential applications for the Information
Society
HRD and Enhancement of ICT Literacy
Regional and Global Co-operation
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• Interagency Coordination on ICT
• Regional Interagency Working Group on ICT
• - Asia Pacific Network on ICT

Initiated by APT, ESCAP and ITU
1st When 22 August 2001, Where UN Conference
Centre
2nd When 4 February 2002, Where UN Conference
Centre
3rd When 11 March 2002, Where UN Conference
Centre
Objectives - Exchange views on a regular basis
on developments and trends in ICT  - Identify
areas which require enhanced complimentarity and
synergy to avoid duplication of existing ICT
related activities of member agencies. -
Initiate and pursue, to the extent possible,
joint undertaking of interagency projects,
missions, studies and other activities on ICT.  -
Liase with relevant global, regional and
sub-regional bodies - Preparation for WSIS-03
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Web site of the Interagency Working Group on ICT
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Seminar on Digital Opportunity for All ICT and
Fight Against Poverty

• 29 July to 1 August 2002, Chiangrai Thailand
• 96 Participants from APT member countries,
• regional and international organizations, NGOs
• and Academia
• 15 Recommendations

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CHIANG RAI SEMINAR Recommendations

• 1. It is desirable to establish an Asia-Pacific
  Institute of Information Technology for Poverty
  Reduction (AIITPR) with multi-donor support for
  the development of critical intervention on
  strategies of developing ICT capability in
  developing countries and enable the development
  agencies to play a more catalytic and responsive
  role in developing countries to address the
  issues relating application of ICT to poverty
  reduction. APT should take initiative in
  starting dialogue with the Asian Development Bank
  and other bilateral and multi-lateral donors to
  meet this objective.

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• 2. APT members should use success stories on
  e-agriculture, e-governance, e-education,
  e-health, to guide them in their development.
  The experience gained in the pilot project should
  be replicated to promote the growth of ICT
  applications.

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In order to enhance ICT for poverty reduction
APT Members should launch programmes to create
3.

• A knowledge-based and well informed workforce

• An ICT infrastructure that facilitates poverty
  reduction in both rural and urban areas

• Information content that is both appropriate and
  effective in enabling poverty reduction taking
  advantage of existing ICTs but not limited to
  Internet based technologies

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4.
To enhance peoples participation, all APT Members
should work towards an environment to bring
Government to the people and people to the
Government focusing upon information sharing,
delegation of authority, transparency and user
friendliness
It is also important to improve infrastructure
and connectivity
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If ICTs are to succeed in poverty alleviation
they should receive the support of the
governments at all levels in
5.

• Partnership Projects,
• Participation by private sector,
• Infrastructure development,
• Involvement of people in its e-government
  initiatives

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Development of more rural tele-centres should be
promoted
6.
7.
Technology is a tool that can increase income
generation and Promote good governance. However,
the focus should be on the needs and applications
of ICT
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Regional efforts to promote the goals of
sustainable development should be intensified,
especially on leveraging the potential of ICT
towards these efforts and building on success
stories of the region.
8.
Access to television should be made a priority of
ICT policies, as this is commensurate with market
demand, and could become an anchor in rural
communities for development of other technologies.
9.
10.
Keeping in mind the goals of the Millenium
Declaration, As well as the World Summits on
Sustainable Development (Johannesberg, August
2002) and Information Society (Geneva, December
2003), regional initiatives on ICT and
sustainable development should be promoted.
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11.
The regional initiative such as ICT and the
environment in the Asia-Pacific (ICTEAP) and
others should continue regional networking, pilot
projects, and capacity building efforts so as to
promote the linkages of ICT and sustainable
development.
Noting that efforts are being made in many areas
from the UN General Assembly to village
communications centres provided by a single
telephone , it is essential that input
be gathered from all people. To this end APT in
collaboration With UN agencies should provide the
opportunity for rural Practitioner to
participate and contribute in the work.
12.
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13. To facilitate the above a process needs to be
developed to bring the rural
practitioners together possibly using link
on the APT/UN interagency website, publications,
etc.
14. For effective dissemination of the concept of
ICT and Poverty Reduction, the
universities should be requested to
incorporate ICT and Poverty Reduction related
courses in their regular degree, continuing
education and extension worker courses.
15. The mailing of the participants in the
seminar is an important resource. Each
participant should at least communicate
with one another person in the list by the
next month
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2nd AIIS MEETING

• Accelerate the implementation of the Summit
  Action Plan
• Holding a Digital Development Conference
• Establishment of country and subject specific
  ICT action
• plans
• Accelerate the development of e-Government
• Promote partnership projects and resource
  mobilization
• National, sub-regional and regional level
  discussions on
• ICT network development
• Country level projects for extending Internet
  access
• to rural areas using low cost radio solutions
• Participation of end users of ICT applications
  in open fora

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Thank you