The IT&C sector will take Romania out of the ongoing crisis because it possess great potentials and it has also been the engine for economic growth over the past two decades, US ambassador in Bucharest Mark Gitenstein told a Global Forum 2009 conference in Bucharest on Monday.

I believe Romania is the right place to host this global forum, he said, because it has great IT&C potentials and in the past 20 years this sector has been a strong economic engine; I also believe that the IT&C sector will take Romania out of the ongoing crisis.

Gitenstein said that there are more than 50,000 people working in Romania’s IT&C industry who earns more than the average industrial wages, and the sector’s turnover has exceeded 6.5 billion euros.

The IT&C sector is contributing 8 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) formation, being ranked third in the world in terms of services outsourcing, while also being one of the world’s leaders in the areas of IT&C certification and development, according to the ambassador.

Gitenstein underscored that investment is required in Romania’s IT&C infrastructure, particularly in the rural areas, which is uncovered.

Attending the ongoing 18th edition of the Global Forum, held October 19-20 at the Parliament Palace in Bucharest, are more than 350 communications and information technology specialist as well as officials of IT&C public administrations from 30 countries.

The forum in Bucharest will present and debate concepts including e-government, e- healthcare, electronic payment systems, e-green and the impact of technology on the environment, telemedicine, digital media, the development of high-speed broadband Internet, redefining dialogue between the Government and society through electronic communication, as well as solutions and applications that serves the citizen’s interest in order to improve life quality.

Romania won the right to host this year’s edition of the Global Forum in Bucharest at the end of a sustained lobby campaign over the past four years. This is the first time in the history of the forum that it is held in an Eastern European country.

Bucharest competed against San Francisco, Geneva and Taipei and the decision was announced at the previous edition held in Athens in 2008 by Items International and the Sophia Antipolis Foundation, the main initiators of the Global Forum events.

Global Forum was established in 1992 upon an initiative from Items International and the Sophia Antipolis Foundation, enjoying the European Commission’s support and participation.