TRA Forms Higher Committee to discuss Hosting and Organizing the ITU Events to be Held in the UAE

Mobilk - In preparation to host the International TelecommunicationsUnion (ITU) events in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during Q4 2012, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has formed a committee concerned with hosting and organizing the three ITU events namely: the World Telecommunication Exhibition (ITU Telecom) to be held in conjunction with the GITEX Technology Week during 14-18 October, the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) to be held between 20-29 November, and the World Conference on International Telecommunications(WCIT) to be held from 3-14 December. The events will take place at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

H.E. Mohamad Ahmad Al-Qamzi Chairman of TRA Board of Directors issued a decision to form the committee chaired by H.E. Dr. Abdulqader Al Khayat TRA Board Member, with the membership of the following: H.E. Waleed Al Mansouri TRA Board Member (Vice Chairman), H.E. Mohammed Nasser Al Ghanim TRA Director General (Member), H.E. Jumaa Ali Al Romaithi Undersecretary for Presidential Protocol Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs (Member), H.E. Abdulsalam Al Romaithi Assistant Undersecretary for Protocol Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Member), H.E. Hussa Bu Hamid Executive Director of Excellence in Prime Minister’s Office (Member), Colonel Khalifa Matar Balqobaa Assistant Director of Entry and Residency Permits in the Ministry of Interior (Member), and First Lt. Omar Mata bin Muzainah from the General Department for Residency and Foreigner Affairs in the Ministry of Interior (Member). 

H.E. Al-Qamzi commented: “The formation of the committee is in line with the Cabinet Resolution on hosting the World Telecommunication Exhibition held in conjunction with the GITEX Technology Week during 14-18 October. The formation of this committee exemplifies our belief in proper preparations in order to achieve success and reflect the development of the UAE especially in the light of its leading regional position of the ICT sector and its established partnership with the ITU.” 

H.E. added: “We included a number of representatives from all parties that will be involved in the preparations of these events in this committee in order to achieve the highest possible level of coordination among these entities and ensure that all issues related to visas, receiving, transportation and other logistics are being handled. Looking at the membership of this committee and the experience each member has in their respective field, we are confident that the process will be seamless. We will present an honorable image of the UAE representing its position and reputation, and contribute to achieving the vision of our leadership in making the UAE one of the best countries in the world.” 

The resolution mandates the committee with a number of missions including: to supervise the successful organization of the events, issue the required directives to other subcommittees formed when needed, report to the TRA Board of Directors about the progress, form an executive committee or any other committees to organize and follow up with the ITU and other national entities, invite any entities whose memberships in the committee is deemed necessary upon the approval of the committee Chairman, and execute all other necessary tasks or tasks mandated to it by the TRA Board of Directors. 

The World Telecommunication Exhibition is a major international forum for the information technology society in the world in which stakeholders from across the global ICT sector meet to interact and cooperate and shape the future ICT world. This event brings together heads of states from developed and developing countries; CEOs of renowned companies worldwide; high level executives; main players in the sector including leading commercial companies, ICT companies, manufacturers, operators and applications and content providers, in addition to ICT regulators and public policies advisors.

The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly holds its meetings once every four years to identify the coming period required for standardization at the ITU. The event identifies the general policy of the sector, establishes study committees and chooses heads of these committees, and adopts the study programs for the four years. The resolutions of the assembly must align with the ITU constitution, agreements, and administrative rules. The assembly has to keep the financial impacts in mind when making decisions; it has to avoid adopting decisions that would exceed the budgets set by the conference of authorized delegates.

The World Conference on International Telecommunications is a key ITU event. The general principles of the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITR) to provide and operate international telecommunications will be amended during this event. The ITR is an international convention signed on by 178 countries.It sets the general principles related to providing and operating international communications; facilitates international linkage and common operation; supports development and effective operation of technical utilities; and promotes efficiency, benefits and availability of international communications. The conference provides a valuable opportunity to increase cooperation between countries, assists them to reach higher levels of social and economic development through effective communications, and makes the regulations acquire greater importance for member countries in the ITU to help respond to the challenges of the ever-developing ICT environment.