Invitations have been sent to government and business leaders in the telecommunications industry in OECD member countries and select non-OECD countries, especially in the region. This will be the second OECD conference to be held in Dubai in 12 months. In January this year, the grouping held its emerging market economy forum on e-commerce in Dubai.

"Hosting an OECD conference for a second time will help raise Dubai's profile as a showcase for innovation and fast development, and boost its strategic objective of playing an even more dynamic role in the global new economy," said bin Byat.

"The conference will also boost Dubai Internet City's efforts to help the region effectively grasp the nature of the challenges facing them and help policymakers develop more effective strategies to stimulate growth."

The conference is expected to attract around 500 participants from the governments of OECD member nations, as well as representatives from about 30 non-member countries, international inter-governmental organisations, senior figures from major global business enterprises and organisations, non-governmental bodies and other e-commerce entities from around the world.

The conference aims to raise awareness and be a catalyst for change among participators concerning the role of reform of telecommunications regulation. It will focus on market opening and competition in the provision of telecom infrastructure and services; provide an overview of policy issues and developments in telecommunications market liberalisation, its impact and benefits; and highlight best practice policy and regulatory frameworks. The conference will present the experiences and lessons of OECD and non-OECD countries and discuss the reasons behind the need for market liberalisation, the costs of maintaining closed markets, the economic benefits of competition and market restructuring, and the main policy and institutional requirements for change.