Kathmandu, Jan. 27:  Minister for Science and Technology Surendra Prasad Chaudhari today inaugurated a two-day conference organised with the objective of sharing experiences among national and international level experts on topics such as the present status of information and technology, its use and challenges.

The CAN Infotech-2001 conference with the slogan “I-T Revolution: A millennium opportunity” organised by the Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) brings together some 300 I-T professionals from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Japan, Thailand, the USA, Australia and other countries.

Addressing the conference, Minister Chaudhari observed that development of information technology has facilitated the work in such sectors as the industry, business and governance.

He hoped that the conference would be very relevant now that the time has come for the developing countries to make the maximum out of this technology to improve the living standards of their people.

Member of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Rameshananda Baidya said that since national development in the real sense of the term was not possible without the development of the information technology sector in the present context, the government was doing whatever it could for the development of I-T.

SAARC secretary-general Nihal Rodrigo spoke on the activities in the information technology field in the countries of South Asia.

Shedding light on the significance of the conference, programme coordinator Basanta Shrestha stressed partnership at the national, regional and international level for the development of I-T and for deriving greater benefit from it.

Prof. Kenneth Keniston of M.I.T., USA, CAN president Lochan Lal Amatya and secretary Rajib Subba also expressed their views on the occasion.