At the opening of the UN Internet Governance Forum in Nairobi, global business representatives said technologies and services such as cloud computing, social media and mobile Internet have created a fresh new set of policy challenges – which can only be effectively addressed if all relevant stakeholders work together on an equal footing.

This was the key message delivered at the opening of IGF Kenya by Subramanian Ramadorai, vice chairman of Tata Consultancy Services, who chairs Business Action to Support the Information Society (BASIS), an initiative of USCIB’s affiliate the International Chamber of Commerce.

Heather Shaw, USCIB’s vice president for ICT policy, is joining a number of USCIB members in attending the Internet Governance Forum, which concludes September 30.

Addressing over 1,700 business leaders, government officials, technical experts, academics and civil society representatives, Mr. Ramadorai said: “The explosion of social media, adoption of cloud services and proliferation of mobile devices and smartphones has transformed the Internet governance landscape and created a fresh set of policy challenges that threaten to counteract the benefits delivered by these exciting new technologies. It is vital we continue to work together to make the right governance choices that help to develop the Internet in a way that doesn’t diminish its open spirit.”

Earlier, addressing over 100 ministers and delegates at the Kenyan-ITU Ministerial forum, ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier noted that innovations, investments and economic growth will only occur in partnerships where fair and open approaches to Internet governance are sought.

“Private sector investment and innovation plays an important role in driving such development and growth,” he said.  “We recognize that governments are critical allies and investors, and IGOs – including development activities supported by UNDP, development banks and others – create opportunities for advancing the development of businesses and entrepreneurship, through public/private partnerships.”

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