[WSIS CS-Plenary] Fw: Open Source at ICT4D Forum at WSIS, Geneva, Friday December 12, 10:00-11:30

[Bill Kagai]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paula Uimonen" <>
To: <>; <>; "Bill Kagai" <>
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 8:54 PM
Subject: Open Source at ICT4D Forum at WSIS, Geneva, Friday December 12,
10:00-11:30

PLEASE FORWARD, APOLOGIES FOR CROSS-POSTINGS
The ICT for Development Platform (ICT4D Platform) will enrich the World
Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), by showcasing the development
dimension of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Held on 9-13
December at Hall 4 in Palexpo, Geneva, the ICT4D Platform is organised by
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) jointly with the
Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP). Representing a main summit event, the
ICT4D Platform is the largest event of its kind ever organized and it is
open to the public. In addition to an exhibition showcasing innovative
projects from around the world, the ICT for Development Platform will also
host a high-profile conference programme, the ICT for Development Forum
(ICT4D Forum). At the Forum, key innovators and world leaders from
government, international organisations, private sector and science will
debate trends, perspectives and lessons learnt in ICT for development.

One of the highlights of the ICT4D Forum is an interactive panel debate on
"Open Source Software: Pros and Cons from a Development Perspective" on
Friday 12 December, 10:00-12:30, in Conference room 2+3, Hall 4, Palexpo.
The panel will discuss the respective merits and shortcomings of open
source, from a developing country perspective. It will look at the different
underlying business models of open source and proprietary systems and their
potential for stimulating economic development, innovation and job creation.
Panellists are: Mr Edgar David Villanueva Nunez, the Peruvian congressman
who made international headlines with his proposed open source legislation;
Robert Kramer from CompTIA, a leading global IT trade association; Bildad
Kagai from the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA);
Pedro Urra, Director of Infomed in Cuba; and Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman
Shariffadeen, President and CEO of MIMOS, one of Malaysia's leading R&D
Institutes.

The panel debate will be open to the general public and registration can be
done on site or online at www.ict-4d.org.
For more information, see www.ict-4d.org or www.wsis-online.net.

paula uimonen
ICT4D forum focal point