Hewlett-Packard today announced it will be the exclusive worldwide technology partner for the Johannesburg Summit 2002 taking place from 26 August to 4 September in Johannesburg.
The United Nations (UN) summit will involve thousands of visitors from over 100 countries - including 6 000 UN delegates and hundreds of non-governmental organisations and multi-national corporations -- gathered to advance global dialogue and resolutions on sustainable approaches to the summit`s three key themes: People, Planet and Prosperity.
HP will provide infrastructure technology, support, services and Web site solutions to integrate the summit`s 39 venues and create a rich virtual environment for the dissemination of news and dialogue.
"The new HP is the only company with both the technological scope and social commitment to support this event," said Valli Moosa, minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. "Providing the necessary IT infrastructure for us to host a summit of this magnitude and complexity, and to communicate it to a global audience, takes a partner of unique capability and dedication."
The Johannesburg Summit 2002 is the sequel to the 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which was viewed as a seminal event in developing awareness of environmental issues and in placing "global warming" on the world stage for the first time. As a result of the Rio conference, more than 2 500 recommendations for action were incorporated into "Agenda 21," which became the platform for the UN-supported debate on the environment and sustainable development.
HP South Africa, re-established in 1995 with 500 employees and two facilities in Sandton, will lead the summit`s IT implementation.
"We will provide IT services and solutions that will connect and transform the venues of the Johannesburg Summit into a virtual news and communications environment for its attendees," said Henry Ferreira, country manager of HP South Africa. "HP wanted to partner with the summit because both organisations strive to promote environmentally and socially sustainable development and economic growth. HP has always been a strong supporter of corporate social responsibility and global e-Inclusion programs which foster technology accessibility to everyone."
e-Inclusion is HP`s vision of the future in which technology is accessible to everyone in the world as a means to learn, work and benefit from communication and information. The goal is to empower all people by sharing the benefits of information and skills development -- through technology, education and community. HP expresses a commitment to the vision and value of e-Inclusion through both business and philanthropy initiatives. Since 1999, HP has provided seed capital, technology and expertise to technologically empower eight underserved communities around the globe, including in Dikhatole and Orange Farm in the Republic of South Africa.
More information about e-Inclusion is available at http://www.hp.com/e-inclusion/.
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HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and businesses. The company`s offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP completed its merger transaction involving Compaq Computer Corp on 3 May 2002. The company would have had combined revenue on a pro forma basis giving effect to the Compaq transaction of approximately $81.1 billion in fiscal 2001 and operations in more than 160 countries. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.