The Government of Republic of Azerbaijan, represented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies and the World Summit Award (WSA), jointly organize the GLOBAL ICT CONFERENCE BAKU - 2004. The initiative is held under the honorary patronage of the President of Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev, who will be personally present at the opening ceremony.

With the theme "Digital Divide and Knowledge Economy: Problems and Solutions", the Conference will showcase the world's best practice in quality e-Content in the framework of the World Summit Award Exhibition and place a special emphasis on value added and demonstrating the concrete benefits of quality e-Content to the ICT industry and the general public.

Apart from the general public and the press, we expect over 100 high level representatives of the ICT industry, government, civil society, academia and private sector from over 40 countries around the Globe. The presence at the Summit shall among others offer a perfect platform for establishing and fostering high level networking contacts with leading representatives of world's ICT sector on both governmental and business level.

I am convinced, that the World Summit Award (WSA) Initiative and its related activities are very challenging and will become one of the major driving forces behind bridging the digital divide and building sustainable World Information Society. The WSA together with its worldwide network has already become worldwide influential forces for creating good conditions and supporting building the knowledge economy in the global scale.

I believe, that only communication between the different cultures can make the idea of the new Global Information Society a success, and ICT's are the main instrument for the global dialogue. I am convinced that Azerbaijan, as the country, where the Eastern and the Western civilizations are bridging to each other, will offer a perfect location for hosting the "Global ICT Conference" in late 2004.

As an active participant of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), the Republic of Azerbaijan and its main governmental institute - the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies with honor confirms your initiatives and will fully support the organizing of the "Global ICT Conference, Baku - 2004".

I wish you success in all your initiatives and strongly believe in the success, which we together can obtain, would serve the development of the Information Society.