Opening ceremony of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), 23 May 2011, Geneva
Excellencies, distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen. It is an honour and pleasure for me to join all of you here today at the beginning of an important session of the CSTD.
I am speaking here on behalf of the International Chamber of Commerce, its Commission on E-Business, IT and Telecoms, and the BASIS initiative, Business Action to Support the Information Society. ICC is the world business organization. We represent thousands of member companies in over 120 countries. ICC was founded in 1919 by a group of businessmen who believed that good business and fair world trade offer a path to world peace and prosperity. The membership spans fortune 500 companies, SMEs, as well as chambers of commerce, business and trade associations. ICC’s mission, to promote international trade and investment through a rules-based multilateral system, has not changed in over 90 years. Today more than ever creating an enabling environment for enterprises of all sizes and sectors to develop, invest and innovate is the route to a more stable, peaceful and prosperous world.
