USA - PRESIDENT Paul Kagame yesterday arrived in New York to attend the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit scheduled to take place on September 20.

The President will be attending a number of key subset programs, including a key event on "Global strategy on Women and Children’s Health”.

As part of the summit, President Kagame will be playing a prominent role in co-chairing a meeting of the MDG Advocacy group that will take place on Wednesday.

The MDG Advocacy group last met in Madrid in July this year to support Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in mobilising global action and building political support in the build-up to this MDG summit beginning Monday.

The UN has described the summit as ‘a turning point in the collective effort to achieve the Goals by the 2015 target date. The MDG summit which is a three-day event serves as a precursor to next week’s United Nations 58th General Assembly which President Kagame will also be attending.
On September 5, President Kagame hosted a one-day MDG consultative forum with several African Heads of governments, the AU and UN officials in Kigali.

During the meeting, African leaders agreed on what will be presented as Africa’s stand during the New York meeting.
While in New York, President Kagame will also co-chair the Global Broadband Commission for Digital Development. Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim Helu, is the other co-chair.

The body brings together some of the world’s eminent personalities in technology and business to devise strategies for universal access to broadband globally.

The commission which has been in place since May 2010 will present its final report and a declaration of broadband inclusion for all, to the UN Secretary General on 19th September 2010.

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