Welcome Message from the Minister, H.E. Mr Yanghee CHOI
Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning of the Republic of Korea
It is a great honour and privilege for Korea to serve as the host country for the 19th International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-14). The Conference, ITU’s top policy-making body, is essential for its 193 Member States to set the general rules, strategic direction and future role of the Union, thereby determining the course of the ITU’s activities for the next four years. For its 150 years of history, the ITU has been the leading institution for the advancement of ICTs, the tools that have been empowering citizens around the world, by playing a pivotal role for global coordination and cooperation. I am certain that the ITU, through PP-14, will produce meaningful results that will once again contribute to the development of humanity by enabling Member States, international institutions and businesses to engage in constructive discussions, exchange knowledge and build political momentum to promote change.
Since the ITU and the Republic of Korea have been working together, we have been able to achieve much advancement in the ICT sector. This is shown by the fact that the Republic of Korea ranked top in the ITU’s ICT Development Index (IDI) for four years in a row. During the Conference, to be held in the vibrant city of Busan, the Republic of Korea’s second largest city and renowned for its beautiful natural environment, we will share our lessons learned and strive to establish a vision of ICT development needed for a socio-economic transformation and shared prosperity worldwide.
To enrich PP-14 and provide more opportunities, various special events, including the ICT Industrial Exhibition, the Global ICT Conference and cultural events, will be held alongside the Conference. We hope that all participants will enjoy our warm hospitality and Korea’s beautiful autumn scenery and leave with pleasant memories at the end of the Conference. I look forward to welcoming you in Busan.
