UN-GGIM

The United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management, established by ECOSOC on 27 July 2011 as the official UN consultative mechanism on GGIM, is convening its inaugural session on 26 October 2011 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The inaugural meeting will bring together experts from Member States and observers from international organizations to adopt the terms of reference of the Committee, review its rules of procedure and discuss its contribution to Rio+20 Conference as well as an inventory of critical issues to be addressed by the Committee in future sessions.

Immediately preceding the inaugural session of the Committee, the United Nations is jointly organizing with the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) of the Republic of Korea, for the first time, a High Level Forum on Global Geospatial Information Management at the COEX Convention Centre in Seoul, 24-26 October 2011. The Forum will provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion of current critical geospatial information issues and consultations among governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector.

At the opening of the Forum, a Ministerial Segment will be convened in the morning of 24 October 2011. The Under-Secretary-General for DESA Mr. Sha Zukang will deliver the opening address. The Segment will provide a platform for Ministers, representing all the regions of the world, to discuss national policies on geospatial information, particularly in reference to management aspects; to provide direction in evolving common frameworks and methodologies across countries; to promote the use of geospatial information to address key global challenges; and to give guidance on capacity development and enhance technology transfer.

The High Level Forum and the inaugural session of the Committee will be accompanied by two thematic side-events, namely an ‘Exchange Forum with the Geospatial Industry’ (on Sunday 23 October 2011) and a ‘Seminar on the Integration of Statistical and Geospatial Information’ (on Thursday 27 October 2011).