2015•04•24     Guimarães

The opening ceremony of the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) took place on 24 April 2015 at the UNU-EGOV premises in Guimarães.

Part I

The first part of the ceremony included the raising of the United Nations flag; uncovering of the exterior and interior identification plaques; the speeches delivered by Miguel Poiares Maduro, the Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and for Regional Development, David Malone, the Rector of UNU and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Cunha, the Rector of the University of Minho, and Domingos Bragança, the Mayor of Guimarães; a tour of the premises; and a press conference. The speeches praised the opening of UNU-EGOV in Portugal, expressed the importance of advancing Electronic Governance research, policy and education around the world, and thanked all those who contributed to the creation and establishment of the Operating Unit. The tour included a visit to the new installation of the Agency for Administrative Modernization (AMA) of the Portuguese Government that neighbors the UNU-EGOV premises, led by Mr. Paulo Neves, the President of AMA.

Part II

The second part of the ceremony included the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between UNU and AMA by David Malone and Paulo Neves, and a keynote lecture delivered by David Malone on the theme “Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges and Prospects” chaired by António Cunha and followed by a questions and answers session. The ceremony ended with a cocktail reception in the open space outside the auditorium, overlooking the historical leather manufacturing area.

Attendees

The ceremony was attended by about 100 invitees including members of the diplomatic corps based in Portugal, members of parliament, members of municipal councils, university authorities and professors, industry representatives, and the media.

Uncovering of the UNU-EGOV identification plaque. From left to right: Miguel Poiares Maduro, Domingos Bragança, António Cunha and David Malone.