His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Heads the Kingdom's Delegation and Delivers a Speech at the 2010 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference

His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Mohammed Jamil bin Ahmed Mulla, headed the Kingdom's delegation participating in the 2010 International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference, held in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico, during the period 4-22 October 2010, which was opened by His Excellency the President of the United Mexican States. This conference, held every four years, is one of the highest bodies responsible for setting the policies and legislation of the International Telecommunication Union, which determine the general directions and strategic, financial, and operational plans of the Union for the next four years.

His Excellency affirmed, in a speech he delivered at this conference, that the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gives special attention to the communications and information technology sector and the information society, and works to harness it to serve the community and other development sectors, given its effective and influential role in this regard. Based on this, the Kingdom's persistent pursuit of enhancing regional and international cooperation and solidarity in this vital field, and its support for every effort made in this regard, came about.

His Excellency noted that since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia became a member of the International Telecommunication Union in 1949, and a member of its Council in 1965, it has been harnessing its capabilities and human expertise to support its activities and actively participate in its various forums. Continuing this approach, and out of conviction in the Union's objectives, and in support of its continuation as a leading entity in the communications and information technology sector, the Kingdom announced its intention to increase its financial contributions to the Union's budget for the next four years by three additional units, bringing the total of its prescribed contributions to thirteen units.

His Excellency also affirmed in his speech the Kingdom's renewed request for candidacy for membership of the ITU Council, as well as its support for the re-election of its national, Mr. Sami Al-Basheer Al-Morshid, to the position of Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, in view of the achievements he has made since assuming the position of Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau in 2007.

It is worth noting that this conference, organized by the "International Telecommunication Union (ITU)" in cooperation with the Mexican government and the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, is attended by more than 2,500 participants from among the world's top communications and information technology policymakers, including government delegates, ministers, ambassadors, and representatives of the private sector, in addition to regional and international organizations.