Kuwait: June 10th, 2014
Mrs. Sofie Maddens Speech
Representative of Internet society
His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah the Emir of the State of Kuwait
Honored Guests;
It is indeed a pleasure to convey my thanks and appreciation for the state of Kuwait, especially to His highness the Emir, and to His Highness Shaikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah informatics award. On behalf of the Internet Society, please allow me to share my feelings of pride and gratitude to receive this informatics badge of honor, wishing further progress and success for the Award.
The Internet Society operates at the intersection of policy, technology, and development. For more than 20 years, our global teams, working with partners around the globe, have been focused to engage, educate, and exchange information to advance our mission and to extend an open, interoperable, ubiquitous and accessible Internet for the fit of all people throughout the world.
We believe that Internet development is fundamentally about people. Shared knowledge and collaborative relationships are the key drivers of successful Internet infrastructure deployment, not technology alone. As the Internet evolves, the number of regional technical experts and innovators are increasingly helping communities extend the value of ISOC’s mission and principles locally. We work with our network of partners, including Chapters and Members to empower communities and promote local and regional Internet development and to continue to support and promote a no pen, interoperable, ubiquitous, and accessible Internet.
In the Middle East, the Internet Society’s local presence has long been active. With six Chapters and over 3000 Members, this growing energy and support will continue to further our commitment to an open, robust, global, and accessible Internet in the Middle East.
The current focus for our efforts in the Middle East is on three areas:
- Working on policy issues including Internet Governance through a multistakeholder model;
- Accelerating the deployment of key Internet technologies and;
- Advancing solutions that enhance Internet infrastructure and data security while working to preserve an open, global Internet.
It’s this unique way of working – one that combines global reach, a foundation in technology, and involves action at every level from local to global – by the community, with the community, and especially for the community – that helps us realize our ambition of a world where everyone can access and develop a connected, borderless, permission-less, limitless Internet that creates economic and social opportunity and progress for all.
Finally, I would like to reiterate my appreciation to his Highness the Emir of the state of Kuwait and His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award.
Thank you