On behalf of the Royal Thai Government, I have the honour to invite APEC Ministers responsible for Telecommunications and Information Industry and delegations to the 7th APEC Ministerial Meeting on Telecommunications and Information Industry (TELMIN 7) to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 23 to 25 April 2008.

During TELMIN 6 in Lima, Peru in June 2005, APEC Ministers had discussed issues to harness infrastructures to advance the information society in order to enable digital opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

In recent years, APEC economies have recognised the growing challenges to ensure the goal of digital prosperity in the region by pooling knowledge and experience to achieve universal telecommunications and Internet access, pro-competitive regulatory regimes and liberalised markets.

This year, the proposed main theme for TELMIN 7 is:  “Digital Prosperity: Turning Challenges into Achievements” to provide an opportunity for APEC economies to share best practices and strategies to meet current challenges and identify future trends on promoting digital prosperity to more people in the Asia-Pacific region as well as ensuring a secure environment for Internet and telecommunications users.

The above theme will be addressed based on issues including 1) ICT Capacity Building for a Prosperous Future;
2) Challenges and Strategies to Promote Universal Services; 3) Changing Market Profiles and Flexible Regulatory Frameworks; 4) Promoting a Safe and Trusted ICT Environment for Digital Prosperity; 5) Enhancing Outreach Activities on Cyber Security; and 6) Way Forward.

Through a series of sessions prepared for the above issues, Ministers will be invited to participate as a speaker in one of the sessions. Ministers’ views and experience will constitute key areas for the agenda of APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL) in the future.

I would also like to mention that the Bangkok Declaration will be discussed at the 1st Senior Officials Meeting during the next APEC TEL 37 to be held in Tokyo, Japan from 23-28 March 2008, and during the 2nd Senior Officials Meeting, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand on 20-22 April 2008, just before TELMIN 7. Ministers will discuss to endorse the Bangkok Declaration at TELMIN 7.

It is indeed a great pleasure for Thailand to welcome Ministers and your delegation to our economy. We look forward to seeing you in Bangkok soon!