UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan joined Intel Board Chairman Craig Barrett at the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development to promote the spread of a digital revolution.
Barrett and Annan are urging leaders from business, finance, government and the media to help change that by participating in the alliance and help increase access to technology that can realise a vision of a prosperous global information society. In a prepared statement, Annan praised Silicon Valley for answering his call to devote more energy to meeting the needs of the poor. Annan said the alliance had the potential to expand on that work and promote development while empowering millions of people around the world. He commended the alliance's decision to focus on the special challenges facing women, youth and marginalised groups, as well as indigenous people. One of the early goals is to support African efforts to build infrastructure and add broadband connectivity. The alliance will also focus on Latin America, parts of Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
