Fourth Annual Global Forum

United Nations, New York
Co-sponsored by the United Nations University - New York Office

Bottom Line: A number of academic and professional sources suggest that information and communication technologies (ICTs) promote sustainable development and new market opportunities by enabling low-income individuals to gain access to the internet, developing e-exports such as outsourcing and data processing, supporting economic diversification and job creation, and establishing network connectivity to lower the costs and increase benefits from network externalities.  The ICT also facilitates communication, increases public sector efficiency and transparency, and provides citizens access to basic information and services.

Objective: Designing innovative social ventures focused on ICT integration in the development plans addressing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Mechanism:  To achieve the objective two elements are explored and highlighted

• Enhancing and building Human Capital
• Engagement in Social Entrepreneurship

Analysis:  Athgo’s 4th annual Global Innovation Forum at the United Nations headquarters titled “Politics and Economics of Information and Communication Technologies” explores ways ICT enhances economic development and how its integration advances the MDGs.  The program also analyzes the necessity for improvement in governance, accountability, and transparency; and the role of all relevant stakeholders, including  government and international organizations, private sector, NGOs, and young people to properly address the demand for human capital and social entrepreneurship.

Discussion areas include:

• Economic Stimulus
• ICT Privatization fosters access and flow of information benefiting the governments, the private sector, and private individuals.  Privatization enhances economic well-being of the sector by encouraging healthy competition which in return develops better infrastructure and increased access to general public.  It encourages new and foreign investments and helps create employment opportunities, consequently increasing demand and enhancing economic development.
• Political Factors
• Government Oversight: discussions include the impact of government policies and legislation on ICT development including intellectual property rights, tax structures, foreign ownership rights of business, as well as sector regulations and its affect on ICT development.
• Public and Private Partnership
• Opening New Markets: discussions include mutually profitable overlaps between the private sector, public sector, and individual interest that lead to short and long-term multi-sectoral collaborations.
• Investment in Educational Sector to encourage innovation and build skill set securing sustainable business development.
• Media
  • Awareness: using media in educating general public and in some cases governments about the importance of ICT in development.