 Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to welcome all participants to this World Summit on the Information Society Forum. People today are better connected than ever before. Mobile phones are more affordable, especially in developing countries. But we still have to close the gap so that everyone has access to information and communication technologies. This is especially important now as the world rallies to forge a set of sustainable development goals to usher in a life of dignity for all. I count on this forum to help bridge the digital divide so that people everywhere can reap the benefits of connectivity. Let us empower individuals with these transformative technologies so that they can advocate and innovate for our common future. Thank you.