Internet Governance Forum kicks off in Egypt

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The fourth version of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), a multi-stakeholder dialogue on public policy related to Internet governance issues, kicked off Sunday in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Ambassador Sha Zukang, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, addresses the fourth version of the Internet  Governance Forum (IGF) in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on  Nov. 15. 2009. The fourth version of the IGF, a multi-stakeholder  dialogue on public policy related to Internet governance issues, kicked  off in Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday, with the participation of 1,500 delegates from 100 countries and regions around the world.  (Xinhua/Chen Gongzheng)

The UN-sponsored annual forum was attended by some 1,500 delegates from 100 countries, who are divided into 80 workshops.

Internet security, cloud computing, IPv6, social networks, openness and privacy are among the hottest topics of the four-day event, whose overall title is "Internet governance -- creating opportunities for all".

"The overall theme for our forum is timely and appropriate," said Ambassador Sha Zukang, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, at the opening ceremony, adding that "the voice of developing world must be heard."

Stressing the urgent need of managing critical resources for Internet development and increasing the penetration of the tool, he said "democratic Internet governance is a means of achieving development for all."

For his part, Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said in a keynote speech that Egypt has benefited from the Internet in recent years.