Ghana to host UNCTAD on ICT4D

Ghana is to host the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII) in April 2008, under the theme ‘Science, Technology, Innovation (STI) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)s for Development (ICT4D)’.

According to the secretary general of UNCTAD, the event comes at a time when UNCTAD is preparing to host the 12th UNCTAD quadrennial ministerial conference, also on the heels of another meeting; the science, technology, innovation and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for development, to be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on December 6, 2007.

All experts, he said, are encouraged to prepare and submit brief papers related to one or several relevant issues, as well as those relating to their countries´ experiences in the area of science and technology, innovation and ICTs.

“The contribution of STI and ICTs to the achievement of broader development objectives,” he urged.

The scribe equally said that issues bordering on global and regional cooperation in the areas of STI and ICTs are welcome, adding that such papers will be made available to the meeting in the form and language in which they are received.

“States members of UNCTAD, specialized agencies, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations wishing to attend the pre-event are requested to inform the UNCTAD secretariat of the name of their representative at an early date,” he said.

UNCTAD’s mission is to promote the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy and has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work is also to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on domestic policies and international action that are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development.

Remmy Nweke - HANA Correspondent in Lagos - Nigeria