UNDP welcomed the organization of Information-Communication Technologies Exhibition (ICTExpo), which demonstrates the country’s strong interest in the ICT development, UNDP official said on Tuesday at the opening of the exhibition in Tashkent.

The Second National Information and Communication Technologies Exhibition – ICTExpo 2007 opened in Tashkent, capital city of Uzbekistan, on 25 September. ICTExpo 2007 was held within the ICT Week, which started on 24 September.

The exhibition was organized by the Association of Uzbek IT enterprises and organizations at official support of the Agency for Communication and Information of Uzbekistan. UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan acted as official partner through its project "Assisting the Government of Uzbekistan in the formulation and implementation of ICT for development policy".

This year, the organizers have been holding exhibition in Tashkent and Samarkand simultaneously. Tashkent exhibition has taken place at Uzkorgazmasavdo. About 90 companies have been presenting their products and services in the exhibition.

Kyoko Postill, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, said at the opening ceremony: "UNDP welcomes the organization of ICTExpo, which demonstrates the country’s strong interest in the ICT development, and which encourages policy discussions during the annually organized IT week. Moreover, we are glad to be part of and witness the expansion of this year’s exhibition to outside of Tashkent as well. This proves again the growth of ICT industry and ICT market in Uzbekistan."

"We hope that ICTExpo 2007 will contribute to promoting a better understanding of the latest information technologies, create business opportunities through information exchange and, ultimately, to further advance into the information society."

Ms. Postill also added: "We look forward to our continued cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan and our other national and international partners in implementing new ICT activities for further development of the country."

Recognizing the importance and potential of the ICT for Development in Uzbekistan, UNDP has been providing support in this area for the last decade. UNDP implements ICT Policy support project and other ICT for Development projects as well as mainstreams ICT initiatives in many projects in the area of Economic Governance, Good Governance, Environment and Energy Governance in Uzbekistan.