Mr Victor Izequierdo Loyola opened the symposium on behalf of Mr Rafael Sagrario Durán (General Director for the Development of Information Society in the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce) who was unfortunately delayed in Madrid.

Mr Izequierdo Loyola thanked the ITEA organisation for choosing Seville and warmly welcomed the audience to his home country.

On behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce he expressed the Ministry's commitment to the ITEA programme.

"In our opinion, there are many reasons to consider the ITEA programme as an initiative of outstanding value to improve the competitiveness of the ICT sector in Europe".