ICTA supports GK3; biggest ICT4D event of 2007

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka will highlight its commitment towards being active change agents in the developmental industry worldwide by supporting the Third Global Knowledge Conference (GK3), a GKP Event on the Future. Themed “Emerging People, Emerging Markets, Emerging Technologies”, GK3 will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 11 to 13 December 2007.

GK3 will be a dynamic GKP Event focused on the Future. GK3 will explore concrete solutions and possibilities within the interplay, interface and interweaving of issues related to the Knowledge for Development (K4D) and Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) in the context of our globally evolving societies, economies and technologies worldwide.

This global platform will gather 2,000 policy makers, leaders, innovators, visionaries, knowledge management specialists, broadcasters, practitioners and futurists. It will be a genuine multi-stakeholder event, and will also attract participation from private businesses, governments, international organisations and civil society.

“ICTA’s presence as a sponsor further strengthens our principle that by bringing people together and sharing knowledge, we can bridge differences and play a part in meeting global challenges. We are proud to have the Agency on board, playing such a strong and important role this year,” said Dr. Harsha Liyanage, South Asia Regional Coordinator, GKP.

The key dimensions of people, markets and technologies will not be discussed in isolation at GK3: the main emphasis will be on the interplay, interfaces and dynamics among: technological, economic and social parameters. In this spirit, the GK3 is not just another ICT event, but an innovative and visionary debate giving equal attention to the three dimensions mentioned above in a systemic and broader knowledge and future oriented perspective.

ICTA, while sponsoring the event, will operate a stall showcasing its ICT4D work on the e-Sri Lanka initiative and will also conduct a conference session titled ‘Government call centers – improving a citizen-centric approach’, adopting a new and innovative format incorporating forum theatre. The ICT Agency will also sponsor a stall for the South Asian region GKP partners, thus giving all members equal opportunities to showcase their work.

“GK3 is an important event on the ICT calendar this year, and we are honoured to be playing such an important role this time around. While being a sponsor, we have also recognized the worth of our South Asian region partners, and are quite keen on assisting them by providing them with exhibition space, in order for them to achieve maximum mileage out this event as well,” stated Reshan Dewapura, Chief Operating Officer, ICTA.

Many organizations that make up GKP’s South Asian region network all echoed their appreciation towards ICTA for taking the initiative in this regard. A few responses include: “This is indeed great news and sincere appreciation to ICTA. Let us try and make South Asia the showcase at GK3,” said Naimur, OneWorld, South Asia; “Congratulations to ICTA for supporting the SA Pavilion at GK3. This is great news!” Jaya Chittoor, CSDMS, India; “We should all thank ICTA, Sri Lanka for their acceptance to sponsor the GKP South Asia Pavilion,” Dr. Madan Pariyar, Member Secretary, High Level Commission for Information Technology, Government of Nepal.

The ICT Agency of Sri Lanka is the Government of Sri Lanka’s apex body for ICT development and policy direction, functioning under the Presidential Secretariat. Its vision is of harnessing ICT as a lever for economic and social advancement by taking the dividends of ICT to every village, citizen, business and to re-engineer the way government thinks and works. Working on an integrated six-pronged programme structure, the ICT Agency focuses on ICT policy and leadership, building information infrastructure, re-engineering government, developing ICT HR capacity, developing the ICT/ITeS industry and using ICT to develop all aspects of society.

Category: Knowledge for Development