TRA Receives the ITU Delegation in Charge of Reviewing the Preparations to Host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018

Mobilk - The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) received recently a high-level delegation from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), who visited the UAE to review the ongoing preparations for hosting the 20th Session of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, which will be held at Dubai World Trade Center in late 2018.

The visiting Delegation was headed by Dr. Ahmed El-Sherbini, Head of Conferences in the ITU. The Delegation also included a group of experts in the fields of information technology, protocol, safety, security, and matters relating to the technical aspects and consultations of media and others. The delegation were received by H.E Mohammad Al Kitbi, Acting Deputy Director General for Support Services Sector at the TRA and Engr. Nasser Bin Hammad, Director International Affairs and member of the ITU Radio Regulations Board, as well as a delegation representing Trade Center headed by Ahmed Al Khaja, Senior Vice President at Dubai World Trade Center.

The visit began with a welcoming speech delivered by H.E Mohammad Al Kitbi, in which he stressed that the UAE, represented by TRA, has the necessary experience to host major and important events listed on the ITU list, following the successful hosting of ITU major events in 2012 and 2014. Afterward, the Delegation members were provided with detailed explanatory presentation by the management of the World Trade Center (the event location) on the capacities and services provided by the center for such conferences. This has been followed by holding a closed meeting during which they discussed the most prominent organizational, administrative, technical and protocol matters related to organizing this event in the most appropriate way on the ITU level as well as the global level, and to reflect the leading position of the UAE in hosting major international events and forums.

Commenting on this visit, H.E Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General, said: Holding the Plenipotentiary Conference in the UAE for the first time represents a continuation of our close relationship with the ITU. It reflects the confidence of the ITU and all its members in the ability of the UAE to provide all the necessary elements of the events success, similarly to many previous major events hosted by the UAE in previous years. We would like to commend on the cooperation and coordination between all the concerned parties to host this events, from government entities and private sector, that work together as one national team to provide an honorable image that reflects the vision of our wise leadership aiming to achieve top ranks, as well as presenting an honorable image of the UAE that truly reflects the size of our technical, urban and humanitarian development. 

Commenting on the preparations and capabilities reviewed during the visit, Dr. Ahmed El-Sherbini, head of the ITU Delegation, said: We are delighted to be present today in the UAE, where we are used to successful and excellent hosting of several ITU conferences, which is a source of pride for all of us. We express our confidence and satisfaction of what we have seen from the preparations and serious willingness by the events organizers in the UAE through the immediate response and action to meet all the requirements to host a conference of this importance, which is held every four years. Today, we work as one team to ensure that this conference, which is of great importance to all states members, is one of the most successful ITU Plenipotentiary Conferences.

In his turn, Ahmed Al Khaja, Senior Vice President at Dubai World Trade Center, said: We are delighted to host the next session of the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in 2018, since this major event represents a great importance to us in the Dubai World Trade Center, as a destination of events, and organizers of many of the worlds largest events in various sectors including GITEX Technology week, one of the most important events in the ICT sector globally.

He added: We are confident that our long experience in organizing and hosting the worlds biggest events, and what we can offer to your esteemed conference of excellent services throughout the event, will have a direct contribution in making the next session one of the best sessions.

Engineer Nasser Bin Hammad, added that this conference is held once every four years, and it is considered as the General Assembly and the World Summit of the international ICT sector. During this Conference, which lasts for nearly three weeks, the supreme management of the organization is elected, including the Secretary-General, his deputy, heads of the three sectors, in addition to electing the ITU member states, consisting of 48 members, as well as the members of the ITU Radio Regulations Board, which is considered the highest component of the ITU, consisting of 12 members.