• The World Summit on the Information Society and the role of Local Authorities
• Presentation
  • Honorary Committee
  • The players at the Bilbao Summit
  • Why should a Local Authority take part in the Bilbao Summit?
  • Bilbao and its commitment in favour of Digital Solidarity
  • Organizers and support
  • The vision of Local Authorities at the Tunis Summit
• Preparation for the Bilbao Summit
• Declaration and Plan of Action of Bilbao
• Bilbao and the Basque Country
• Program and informations to download
• Press Room
• Videos
• Speakers

Bilbao and its commitment in favour of Digital Solidarity

The Basque Country is a region which is actively involved in the development of the Information Society.

On a local level, the Basque Country pursues a policy of development by supporting its productive fabric and by a successful economic and revitalization process of areas which are backed up by the potentialities of ICT. The Bilbao Summit will provide those attending with the chance to visit successful experiences promoted through the Plan Euskadi in the Information Society

Bilbao has become a European and world reference point for businesses, leisure and culture. Important urban projects by prestigious architects have transformed its appearance, making it a reference point and a “living museum” of world architecture: Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, Foster’s Metro, Calatrava’s new airport terminal and the Abandoibarra Master Plan by Pelli, are some of the many architectural and infrastructure projects which have transformed it into a city that combines economic development and aesthetic appeal successfully.

On an international level, the Basque Country has committed itself to supporting the training of local authorities, creating an International Training Centre of Local Authorities (CIFAL) specializing in the Information Society. In its capacity as a collaborating centre of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), CIFAL BILBAO helps to develop the powers of local authorities through the exchange of experiences and the formulation of plans of development of the Information Society adapted to the specific needs and potentialities of each territory.

Also CIFAL BILBAO acts as Technical Secretariat of IT4ALL Network of Local Authorities for the Information Society created to give a voice to local authorities and to systematize the knowledge available in order to facilitate cooperation in this field.

Lastly, the Basque Country is one of the founding members of the Digital Solidarity Fund , an initiative whose creation was decided upon during the Geneva World Summit and which attempts to channel aid from the most developed regions towards developing ones so that they may access the New Information and Communications Technologies.