WICS 2010 Slated for May 25-28 in Seoul

Coincides with World IT Show

Scores of ICT ministers and deputy ministers from 15 countries are expected to assemble at the World Information and Communications Summit 2010 (WICS 2010), to be organized by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) at the Shilla Hotel in downtown Seoul on May 25. The ministerial meeting will coincide with the World IT Show, to be slated for May 25-28 at COEX in southeastern Seoul.
Organizers said the participating ministers and minister-level delegates will discuss the broadcasting and communication sectors’ roles and visions amid the global economic crisis under the theme “Expanding Digital Economy and Culture.” Ministers and deputy ministers from about 15 countries including Mexico, Mongolia, Vietnam, Peru, Ghana, Rwanda and Indonesia are likely to participate at the ministerial conference. The KCC has also sent invitations to Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Norway, Russia, Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Turkey, France, the United States, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Paraguay, New Zealand, Australia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt and South Africa.
WICS was inaugurated in 2005 with the goal of sharing policy experiences and performances of participating countries to minimize the cost and loss of opportunities in ICT-related policies, thereby forming cooperative ties for future collaboration in the formation and execution of ICT policies; discussing policies and strategies to improve the quality of life, creating more jobs and achieving sustainable growth by tapping into the ICT field in the midst of the global economic downturn; and solidifying cooperation in global issues such as green growth, information security and resources use. The conference was held under the names World IT Summit in 2005 and 2006 and IT Ministerial Conference in 2007. The KCC has organized the ministerial conference with the name World Information and Communications Summits since 2008.
A keynote speech by KCC Chairman Choi See-joong will open WICS 2010, which will be followed by each participating minister presenting his or her government’s ICT policies to build a foundation for creating sustainable growth using ICT. The participants will also discuss ways of promoting collaboration for global co-prosperity.
WICS 2010 will also coincide with the World IT Show 2010, one of Korea’s largest IT exhibitions, which have been held annually since 2008. Organizers expect the exhibition to serve as an economic and diplomatic opportunity to publicize Korea’s advanced digital culture, broadcasting and communications technologies and services and act as an insight into the future direction of the global ICT industry by displaying the latest IT equipment and demonstrating advanced technologies.
Approximately 700 exhibitors specializing in broadcasting and communications fields in Korea and abroad are expected to participate in WICS 2010. As of April 7, 442 exhibitors, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, SK Telecom, KT, Qualcomm, Google, Motorola and Erickson have submitted applications to set up 1,184 booths. The KCC, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will jointly organize the upcoming exhibition, to be held under the theme “Feel IT, See the Next.”
Bilateral meetings and business meetings will also take place on the sidelines of WICS 2010.
ICT ministers and deputy ministers from 15 countries including Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Poland, Paraguay and Saudi Arabia participated in WICS 2009 at COEX in Seoul last June 17. The ministerial meeting also coincided with the Korea communications Conference 2009 and World IT Show 2009.
The participants discussed exchanges on the latest information of the broadcasting and communications field in an era of convergence of broadcasting and communications and presented their visions in the fields. WICS 2009 served as an opportunity to provide support for Korean broadcasting and communications firms’ entry into foreign markets.
Korea was given an opportunity to ramp up the nation’s standing by playing leading roles in policy-making in the emergence of broadcasting and communications and publicize the nation’s low-carbon, green growth paradigm by displaying and demonstrating the latest IT equipment.
The Korean side had eight bilateral meetings with the participating countries where Korea explained the nation’s technological prowess and service experiences in the ICT field and laid the foundation to expand international cooperation.
WICS 2009 was an opportunity to help such Korean convergence industries as WiBro, mobile Internet service, digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) and Internet Protocol television (IPTV) expand bridgehead centers for overseas market exploration, promoting personnel exchanges and establishing a foundation for international cooperation in the ICT sector. nw

Korea Communications Commission Chairman Choi See-joong, and ICT ministers from 15 countries, attend the World Information and Communications Summit 2009 (WICS 2009) at COEX in Seoul last June 17. WICS 2010 will open on May 25 for a four-day run in Seoul.

(from top) ICT ministers discuss exchanges on the latest information in the broadcasting and communications field in an era of convergence and communications during WICS 2009.

The participating ministers of WICS 2009.