The Netherlands will host ICT 'Olympics'
Handover Ceremony in Malaysia, go ahead for WCIT2010

Kuala Lumpur, 21th May 
At the last day of WCIT 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Dutch State Secretary Frank Heemskerk, ICT~Office chairman Henk Broeders and Amsterdam alderman Lodewijk Asscher symbolically took over the WCIT chairmanship from the Malaysians. The 17th World Congress on Information Technology - often referred to as the ICT 'Olympics' - will be held in Amsterdam in 2010. The symbolic handover of this prestigious event is the formal go ahead for the Dutch to start preparations for the next edition of the world's most important ICT event.

ICT~Office hosts WCIT 2010, also on behalf of the Dutch Department of Economic Affairs and the City of Amsterdam. Over the past three days, more than 3,200 politicians, captains of industry and scientists have met and discussed ICT at the very successful 2008 WCIT event. Speakers were among many others Bill Gates (Microsoft), Craig Venter (renowned genome researcher) and Vinton Cerf (one of the founders of the internet).

According to Secretary of State Heemskerk, hosting this unique event means an opportunity for the Netherlands to present itself once more as the 'ICT gateway to Europe'. In a videomessage, prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende invited the entire 'ICT world' to attend WCIT 2010 in Amsterdam.

First comments

Henk Broeders, chairman of ICT~Office (the Dutch association of ICT companies), is very excited: "By organising this event the Dutch ICT industry has an opportunity to present itself to the world. We hold a very strong position in ICT, thanks to our very well organised and performing companies, the strong broadband penetration in the Netherlands and, for example, the development of SURFnet. This event allows us to strengthen our position even further and keep the Netherlands on the map."

Alderman Asscher of the City of Amsterdam is enthusiastic: "WCIT will enable Amsterdam to present the city to the world. The Amsterdam Internet Exchange is the biggest worldwide. An infrastructure like that and our very creative industry have become very important reasons for ICT companies to move their headquarters to Amsterdam. This event gives us a chance to present Amsterdam as THE ICT city."

About WCIT

The 17th World Congress on Information Technology takes places from 26 to 28 May 2010 in Amsterdam and will be organised under the supervision of the WITSA (World Information Technology and Services Alliance). This is the biannual event where leading corporate managers and authorities meet to discuss the opportunities and applications of ICT. The theme of the 2010 convention will be Challenges of Change. Sub themes will be for example ICT solutions for education, health care, transport and mobility and sustainability. At present, already 70 percent of all innovation in the Netherlands is related to ICT.

Please view your invitation by our Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende, click here.