THAILAND REAFFIRMS READINESS TO HOST ITU TELECOM WORLD 2013 Industry flagship event, held in conjunction with Connect Asia-Pacific Summit 2013, to boost ICT progress in the region

Bangkok/3 May 2013 – To mark the commencement of official cooperation between Thailand and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to organize ITU Telecom World 2013 in Bangkok, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the Royal Thai Government and ITU recently signed the Host Country Agreement in a ceremony held at the Shangri-la Hotel, Bangkok.

The Host Country Agreement signing ceremony sees was overseen by representatives from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, including Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap, Minister of Information and Communication Technology, and Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union. Other participants in the ceremony included Colonel Dr Settapong Malisuwan, Vice Chairman and Board Member National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and Mr Sumate Sudas na Ayuthaya, Board of Director, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization).

Thailand is fully prepared and assures its full cooperation in planning and organizing ITU Telecom World 2013, scheduled to take place from 19 to 22 November 2013 at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre, Bangkok. Three key government agencies have been assigned to host the industry flagship event - the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.

For Thailand, this event will be an important business platform to demonstrate the country’s progress and high potential in the field of information and communication technology (ICT), and to promote opportunities for business matching and knowledge sharing at the global level.

Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap, Minister of Information and Communication Technology expressed Thailand’s readiness to host the world-class ICT event in Thailand, saying that, “MICT has the confidence to host “ITU TELECOM WORLD 2013” and “Connect Asia-Pacific Summit 2013” as Thailand can provide world class facilities, conferences and exhibitions. There is also the availability of good infrastructure such as utilities, modern communications and transportation, where Bangkok is considered as an aviation hub to serveserving over 500 international flights per day that links more than 190 countries worldwide. In addition, International airport is also connected to the city center via the Airport Link. Also, we can provide a readiness of ICT infrastructure as well as tourist destination places. I can say that Thailand is the gateway for building business opportunities in the ASEAN region. As a host of the industry’s flagship events, this is a good opportunity to show Thailand’s potential that will build confidence among the foreign investors to invest in Thailand. On behalf of the Government of Thailand and Thai people, it is an honoured to host and welcome more than 10,000 delegates from around the world for ITU TELECOM WORLD 2013 and Connect Asia-Pacific Summit 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand."

Bangkok will also host the Connect Asia-Pacific Summit immediately preceding ITU Telecom World 2013 on 18 November, 2013. With the objective of connecting and strengthening ministerial partnerships and strategic debate at the highest level among key decision makers within and beyond the region, the Summit will be held in conjunction with ITU Telecom World 2013, and brings together regional public and private sector leaders with international and local financing and development agencies to meet face-to-face and forge new partnerships.

ITU Telecom World 2013 is also an ideal forum to promote international trade, investment and tourism, and will provide a major boost to international investor confidence. As the Host Country, the organization of ITU Telecom World 2013 is in line with Thailand’s emerging role as a gateway to the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 and showcases Thailand as a world-class destination for global business events. Thailand is already established as a regional hub for ASEAN’s exhibitions industry.

Reaffirming his confidence in Thailand as one of the pioneers defining ICT in the region, Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union commented, “We are honoured to be holding ITU Telecom World 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand, at the heart of South East Asia and gateway to the fast-growing ASEAN region. We look forward to working with the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and its partners to further our shared objectives of promoting the ICT agenda regionally and globally for the benefit of all. We are committed to making this event our most successful to date.”

ITU Telecom World 2013 is to be held under the theme of ‘Embracing Change in a Digital World’, focusing on five key topics: changes in the way people communicate with each other; the need for new business models in a data-centric era; shifting industry dynamics; changes in technology; and the need for new regulatory and standardization approaches.

As the lead UN Agency for the ICT sector, ITU is uniquely positioned to create a global networking platform, bringing together leading industry stakeholders from the public and private sector. The event will convene an audience of key stakeholders including Heads of State and Government, Ministers, Heads of UN Agencies, Heads of Regulatory Authorities, industry CEOs from across the entire ICT ecosystem, thought leaders, consultants, academics and digital innovators.

In addition, ITU Telecom World 2013 will offer unparalleled opportunities for networking through structured and unstructured occasions including high-level one-to-one meetings, social functions, ‘Big Conversation’ sessions and ‘Visionary Keynotes’, networking breaks and an online networking portal.

According to statistics from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, broadband penetration in Thailand has risen to 6.59 percent, while mobile penetration surpassed 128.77 percent in the first quarter of 2013, and there were approximately 20,100,000 internet users in Thailand (representing 30 percent of the population) at mid-year 2012 (30 June 2012), according to Internet World Stats.

Empowering the digital economy in 2013, there are almost as many mobile-cellular subscriptions as people in the world, with more than half in the Asia-Pacific region (3.5 billion out of 6.8 billion total subscriptions).

ITU Telecom World 2013, in conjunction with the Connect Asia-Pacific 2013 Summit, which will be held on 18 November, will contribute to Thailand’s growing reputation as a centre for the international trade fair business as well as a springboard to the emerging single market of the ASEAN Economic Community. Thailand is looking forward to welcoming an expected 10,000 delegates to both flagship events in Bangkok.

For more information about ITU Telecom World 2013, please visit http://world2013.itu.int/or contact the Public Relations Section, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, at Tel +66 2 141 6744.

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About ITU

ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology. For nearly 150 years, ITU has coordinated the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve communication infrastructure in the developing world, and established the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. From broadband networks to new-generation wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology and converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world.

For more information please contact:

Ministry of Information and Communication Technology

Public Relations Section

Tel: + 66 2 141 6744

Email: prmict@hotmail.com

Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau

Ms. Arisara Thanuplang

Tel: +66 2 694 6095

Email: arisara_t@tceb.or.th

Mr. Pishnu Plaikaew

Tel: +66 2 694 6000 ext 3014

Email: pishnu_p@tceb.or.th