PM inaugurates Connect Asia Pacific Summit

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, November 18 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday opened the Connect Asia-Pacific Summit, jointly organized by her government and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at the Impact Trade and Exhibition Centre in Muang Thong Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok. Yingluck acknowledged in her opening speech that the Connect Asia-Pacific Summit 2013 was a platform for participating leaders to discuss sustainable growth in the region through the development of information and communication technology (ICT), which will then become the fundamentals for the regional growth. Yingluck said that access to telecommunications will help reduce social inequality, considerably boost the gross domestic products (GDPs) of worldwide countries, support remote medical treatment, develop education and offer chances for the freedom of expression. Yingluck pointed out that 250 million more people started to use the Internet last year and 40 per cent of the global population will have access to the Internet by the end of this year. The Thai premier also mentioned her government's policy on distributing tablet computers to pupils to provide them with considerable sources of information. The prime minister admitted, however, that she is concerned over the digital divide, as 80 per cent of developed nations have broadband Internet but developing countries have limited access to it. Besides, there must be attempts to prevent the abuse of the advanced technology to facilitate crime and terrorism and violate individuals' rights. The Thai leader recommended four solutions to the digital divide. Firstly, broadband Internet must become a fundamental public utility. Secondly, software personnel are to be more produced, especially in developing countries. Thirdly, governments and the private sector worldwide need to join forces to develop information technology (IT). Fourthly, people must realize that ICT is an important factor which will improve national growth, education and medical treatment. The prime minister stressed that ICT is a good instrument to enable countries to implement their development projects effectively. The Connect Asia-Pacific Summit was attended by national leaders, or their representatives, from 33 countries, including the Presidents of Micronesia and Nauru and the Prime Ministers of New Zealand, Pakistan, Tonga and Vanuatu, as well as leaders in the ICT industry region. The participants aired their visions and remarks on the digital world in the region, investment in telecommunications networks and applications and the ICT industry in Asia-Pacific in 2020. (TNA)