The tenth session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) is to be held in Geneva from 21 to 25 May 2007.
The Commission will address the substantive theme "Promoting the building of a people-centred, development-oriented and inclusive information society", with a view to enhancing digital opportunities for all people. The session will focus on the review of progress made in implementing the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) at the regional and international levels. It also aims to identify achievements, gaps and challenges, as well as future actions needed to further implementation. Participants will include Ministers and representatives of Governments, civil society, the business community and international organizations.
The session will open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 21 May, in Room XIX at the Palais des Nations. The first day will consist of a high-level ministerial segment, with the participation of a number of Ministers, CEOs and possibly one or two Prime Ministers/Heads of State. The second day will be a joint meeting of the Commission and the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), with high-level representation from the business community and civil society. The joint meeting will seek to promote the building of a multi-stakeholder partnership to bridge the "digital divide".
Travel expenses (not including per diem) are paid by UNCTAD for one representative of each member of the CSTD. International organizations and States members of UNCTAD that are not members of the Commission may attend the session as observers on the understanding that the cost of their attendance will be borne by their authorities.
Please inform the secretariat before 30 April 2007 of the composition of your delegation and the name of the focal point for the session, so that the necessary arrangements can be made to facilitate participation.
States members of the Commission should contact Mr. Mongi Hamdi in connection with the preparation for the tenth session (tel.: +41(0)22 917 5069; fax: +41(0)22 917 0122; e-mail: mongi.hamdi@unctad.org).
(signed)
Supachai Panitchpakdi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
19 April 2007
States Members of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development