Digital Leaders Forum To Focus On Digital Inclusion Policy, Opportunities

Intel Corporation hosted the first meeting in Latin America to unite leaders representing 16 countries to set a new technology direction to support the region’s social and economic growth.

“Increasing access to technology can be a critical driver of economic growth, but it will require Latin America’s leaders to work together to create policy and make it happen,” said Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, who also chairs the United Nations Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Development. “This forum is designed to foster discussion and create action.”

The Digital Leaders Latin American Forum on ICT Competitiveness provided a platform for leaders to define digital inclusion policies to create growth through increased access to technology, enhanced education and leading-edge communications infrastructure. Represented countries account for 92 percent of the region’s total GDP and 88 percent of the population. The meeting received endorsements from Colombia’s Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Information Technology and the Inter-American Development Bank.

“Knowledge is your most valuable resource,” said Barrett in a speech before 100 government, industry, NGO and academic leaders. “Invest in your people and create the environment that fosters innovation through public policy to improve technology access, education and connectivity.”

Ricardo Carreon, Intel’s regional director for Latin America, added, “We have seen examples where Latin America can benefit from collaboration among governments, educators and businesses. The partnerships have tremendous opportunity to empower and unleash the potential of Latin America’s 500 million people.”

As an example of collaboration that is creating tangible results, Barrett described the Intel World Ahead Program. By working with the region’s government and industry, the program aims to extend access to PCs with high-speed Internet connections to millions of citizens and train over a million teachers in Latin America on the effective use of technology in the classroom.

Highlighting the impact of wireless communications on increasing access to technology, Barrett encouraged the build out of WiMAX communications infrastructure that would enable long-range, high-speed Internet access within cities and to rural areas.

“Wirelessly connecting cities and remote areas without relying on costly, legacy telecom networks will greatly accelerate access to the world’s medical, educational and commercial knowledge,” Barrett said.

In addition to Barrett’s keynote, the Digital Leaders Latin American Forum included speeches and breakout sessions led by officials from government, multi-laterals and NGOs, and education institutions, including the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas and World Bank. Keynote speeches addressed increasing competitiveness and ICT in the region. Breakout sessions focused on education, technology accessibility and Internet connectivity.

The forum attracted participants representing a range of economic, social and technological viewpoints. Nearly 30 percent of the participants were ministers, vice ministers and heads of regulatory agencies, while multi-laterals and NGO officials accounted for another 40 percent.