Tunis — Participants in the 4th International Forum of Information and Communication Technologies "ICT 4 All ," held on November 24-25 in Hammamet, expressed their consideration and support to the fruitful efforts exerted by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to deepen awareness of the stakes of the digital revolution.

They also hailed his contribution to efforts exerted at the Arab, African and international levels to ensure fair access to digital technologies for all countries and all peoples.

In a message sent to the Head of State, participants in the Forum, officials of international and regional organisations and components of civil society and experts, extend their congratulations to the President of the Republic on his brilliant victory in the presidential elections of October 25, praising Tunisia's pertinent orientations and vanguard programmes aimed to establish a knowledge society and disseminate digital culture, in such a manner as to enable everybody to make the most of the benefits of information and communication technologies.

Authors of the message also highly commend the Head of State's sustained commitment to implement an international approach that would put an end to the adverse effects of the digital divide among peoples and nations.

They also highlight the Head of State's major role in co-ordinating efforts, at regional and international levels, to carry out adequate strategies allowing to make the most of the wide prospects offered by modern telecommunications networks to strengthen productivity and improve competitiveness of enterprises.

Participants voice satisfaction at Tunisia's success in the organisation of this high-level international event which had allowed participants from 50 countries to enrich discussion on the theme "ICT, Innovation, Pillar of Competitiveness and Growth," to boost investment and partnership and develop knowledge economy in the Mediterranean region, Africa and developing countries.

Signees hail the organisation of the 4th edition of the international forum under the high patronage of the President of the Republic on the land of Tunisia, as part of follow-up of decisions of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which represents a new stage on the path of co-ordinating international efforts designed to foster co-operation ties and joint action, consolidate international partnership and speed up the pace of investments in buoyant and innovating sectors with high technological contents.(TAP)