"Let us embrace these new technologies. Building up an open, empowering information society is a social, economic and ultimately political challenge," United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan told world leaders at the inaugural ceremony.

The UN secretary-general however observed ICT is not a panacea or magic formula. "Yet, even as we have talked about the power of technology, let us remember who is in charge. While technology shapes the future, it is people who shape technology, and decide what it can and should be used for," Annan stressed.

He went on, "We are going through a historic transformation in the way we live, learn, work, communicate and do business. We must do so not passively, but as makers of our own destiny. Technology has produced the information age. Now it is up to all of us to build an information society."

This summit is unique as it will consider how best to use a new global asset while most global conferences focus on global threats, Annan said.

"We are familiar with the extraordinary power of information and communications technologies. From trade to telemedicine, from education to environment protection, we have in our hands, on our desktops and in the skies above, the ability to improve standards of living for millions of people."

Swiss President Pascal Couchepin was, among others, on the podium at the inaugural ceremony attended by leaders from nearly 200 countries, including 60 heads of state and government.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who was invited by the UN secretary-general, also attended the inaugural function.

Annan said, "We have tools that can propel us towards the Millennium Development Goals; instruments with which to advance the cause of freedom and democracy; vehicles with which to propagate knowledge and mutual understanding."

He said, "We have all of this potential. The challenge before us is what to do with it. The so-called digital divide is actually several gaps in one. There is technological divide, great gaps in infrastructure.

There is a content divide. A lot of web-based information is simply not relevant to real needs of people. And nearly 70 percent of the world's web sites are in English, at times crowding out local voices and views."

Earlier on the sidelines of the WSIS, chief Technology Officers (CTOs) from 30 leading technology companies agreed on some defining principles for the next generation ICT.

Global standards emerged as a recurring theme in the discussions and were seen as a vital element in future ICT.

The CTOs from some leading suppliers and developers of ICT drafted a 'Vision Statement' outlining their thoughts on the future of ICT.

The first UN-sponsored WSIS aims to bridge the rich-poor digital divide amid growing concern from the developing countries and civil society about its outcome. The summit is expected to come up with solutions to issues on internet governance and a global plan to ensure everyone's access to ICT.

With the WSIS due to be launched, last ditch efforts are on to reach an agreement on key issues such as the role of the media in the digital age and on who should run the internet.

Currently, the internet is managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, (ICANN), a semi-private body created by the US government in 1998.

Khaleda is expected to present a strategy paper that puts greater emphasis on local software development.

Bangladesh plans to garner international support for greater market access to ICT products for developing nations at the summit. It also wants help in product development, research and investment to bridge the digital divide between the rich and the poor nations.

Dhaka has prepared a country strategy paper, which stresses a set of ethical guidelines to boost the country's software industry so that it can play a stronger role in the post-WSIS regime.