NEW YORK - President Paul Kagame, along with co-chair Carlos Slim, yesterday presented the Declaration of Broadband Inclusion for All and Final Report of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development, to UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, at an event held in New York, calling on the UN to own the work and integrate the recommendations into the mainstream development activities of all nations.

At the presentation ceremony, President Kagame said that the vision of universal broadband is timely and forward looking;

Nations that will not seize the opportunity presented by transformational technologies such as broadband will fail to compete in an integrated, service-oriented global economy- and remain trapped in poverty, illiteracy, disease and hunger that result in immense human suffering and loss of dignity, he said.

Kagame lauded the work of the commission, comprised of individuals from a range of sectors and regions of the world, and challenged stakeholders to take forward the ideas that have emerged.

If effectively implemented, the recommendations would undoubtedly shape the future of so many lives in so many nations, redefining how people will learn; how health systems will work; and how commerce and trade will operate in an interconnected world.

On receiving the report, Ban ki-Moon expressed his appreciation for President Kagames leadership in the work of the commission

President Kagame has been an extraordinary and stellar leader. Not only in this broadband commission, in peace and security of the world and development. He is one of the greatest leaders in making this MDG process move forward.

The presentation was preceded by the second meeting of the Broadband Commission, co-chaired by President Kagame and Carlos Slim to review and adopt the final report, as well as discuss the way forward for implementation of its recommendations.

Expressing his appreciation to the commissioners at the meeting, President Kagame said;

The outcome of the broadband commission presents not only our hopes and ambitions to accelerate progress towards meeting the MDGs, but also our desire to see affordable, equitable access to broadband brought within reach of all the worlds people  wherever they live, and whatever they do.

The inaugural meeting of the Broadband Commission held in Geneva, in July this year, set the vision for accelerating deployment of broadband worldwide, with the aim of leveraging it to improve service delivery across a range of social and economic sectors, accelerate progress towards attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and lay a solid foundation for sustainable economic development of all nations in an interconnected global economy.

Discussions on the way forward will focus on strategies for continued advocacy for universal broadband, partnerships at international level, financing mechanisms, as well as support mechanisms for the development of implementable National Development Plans.

President Kagame is today scheduled to attend the opening session of the UN MDG Summit and will address the summit on Tuesday.

Ends