Prime Minister’s speech delivered at “ICT Awards” Gala Evening, dedicated to Albanian innovators in ICT field:

Good evening everyone!

I was telling to my friends at the table that one can tell the progress right from the first video. In the first meeting there were only bottles of water on the table and it was daylight, but today dark has covered the abundance on these tables. This is sign that Innovation technology can make it, not only by achieving technological success but financial success as well, so let me congratulate you for this.

Austrian writer Stefan Zweig reports that the night riots started in Paris, Louis XVI was sleeping despite of the fact that he had been constantly informed on the situation.

The next morning one of the Dukes staying nearby Versailles decided to go and wake up His Highness himself and tell the drowsy king that protesters had taken the National Assembly.

“Ah – replied Louis XVI, – is there a revolt!?”

“No Your Highness, said the Duke – there is a revolution!”

It was the French Revolution which shaped politically, sociologically and, ça va sans dire, economically the modern world.

I believe that technological innovations, especially ICT innovations are similar to a revolution that shapes and transforms our society.

Those countries and governments that do not understand this, or those societies that cannot adapt are doomed to waste time and balance, the same as that drowsy King.

This activity is of a rather particular importance because it puts us in at the heart of this ongoing revolution that is transforming the world not by years, but by seconds.

The work done by Albanian ICT Awards is an investment in itself within this revolution, in order to speak to the future with courage while others see in it only the present. It addresses to the entire Albanian society reminding them that innovation is a fundamental value of a totally new communication era, and that actually the world is not but a global village.

I said “remind” because when I entered this room and clapped hands with others, those who stood up – hopefully next year the lights will be on them since nobody noticed them, not even cameras – made me think of Dritan Hoxha who, I believe is the best personification of an innovator of our times. He can be compared to all those great innovators who, as the speaker that opened the ceremony said: are born and raised in garages. Obviously he was referring to Steve Jobs. But it is not only that, since Albania, Kosovo and other Albanian areas are not less advantaged compared to other areas when it comes to innovation. It would have been terrific if Dritan Hoxha could be here with us to see how, following the cornerstone he laid where no one imagined there could be a foundation – now, year after year other people from different fields, in a world of technology and information are creating new products. And why not, it is not a utopia to believe that among these products there will be some that, as impressive as the Digital and audio product, will be born in the Albanian area and will have an echo beyond the Albanian area.

Let me sincerely congratulate the initiators of this initiative, since they are witnessing another Albania, and by another Albania I do not mean only the country where we are gathered today, but also the Albania beyond, as writer Dritëro Agolli used to call it. Kosovo, the Albania beyond, is already born and is growing united in the well-known international net of ITC awards that are being organized here the same as in Europe and the United States.

To make a long story short, referring exactly to this kind of awards that last year had an extensive coverage in U.S. media I will recall the award given to a woman from Rwanda for her special contribution in the use of technology by women and support to women to build careers in the field of ICT and entrepreneurship.

It is an extraordinary meaningful example that proves for the umpteenth time that in this area there is a real and equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of where you were born and raised. Just get in touch with the magic network of the virtual world. It is our duty to put the state and the citizen in touch with this enchanting ring.

In conclusion, apart from extending my gratitude for inviting me and without taking any additional time, I would like to convey a proposal by a team that within the government deals with innovation issues. They keep insisting on adding a new award which, differently from the 5 given during this annual event by Albanian ICT Awards, will be given by the Prime Minister’s Office to the “Woman of the Year for Innovation”.

When innovators stood up in the dark, I did not notice any woman silhouette. I am not saying that we should establish a special award for women, so that men can get the other five. It would be our pleasure to have to establish a “Man of the Year for Innovation” award, because women took the   other five awards.

Thank you very much!

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Today, Prime Minister Edi Rama was invited to the Gala Evening for “ICT Awards”, organized to honor prominent figures in the field of Information Technology and Communication for the year 2013.

“ICT Awards” is an annual event that identifies and at the same time rewards outstanding professionals, successful leaders, innovators, professors, rising stars, who during 2013 left a positive footprint and gave their contribution to the ICT sector. This interesting nationwide initiative in the field of Information and Communication Technology in Albania is supported by Raiffeisen Bank, ABCom, New York University of Tirana, The “Dritan Hoxha” Foundation and Top Channel, as well as by many ICT companies.

In his greeting message to participants, Prime Minister Rama praised the developments in technology, particularly in information technology that he compared to a shaping and transformative revolution in our society. As support and encouragement to Albanian innovators, the Prime Minister proposed to give a special award from the Prime Minister’s office to the “Woman of the Year for ICT”.