UN appoints head for developing world technology push

Figueres, who promoted the use of IT to help boost his country's development, is to lead the UN Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Advisory Group, which includes technology experts from the public and private sectors.

The group aims to tackle the growing technological divide between rich and poor nations. It will work to identify areas where new communications technologies can be introduced to the developing world.

Participating companies include Cisco, Hewlett Packard, and Nokia.

Figueres said the developing world represents a huge opportunity for IT companies, and that by taking part in the initiative companies were making "an upfront investment in developing markets of the future".

He said: "It is a tremendous opportunity for a win-win situation between the public and private sector."

Figueras was instrumental in encouraging Intel to set up its Costa Rican chip assembly and test plant, which opened in 1997.

By Candice Goodwin