[ICANN]<https://www.icann.org/> News Alert https://www.icann.org/resources/press-material/release-2015-10-22-en ________________________________ ICANN and ETDA Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Collaboration on Translation Collaboration aims to strengthen cooperation and translation of ICANN materials into Thai to better engage the Thai community 22 October 2015 Dublin, Ireland... ICANN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) of Thailand today to forge an alliance fostering collaboration on translation. Under the cooperative agreement, ICANN and ETDA will coordinate and collaborate to identify and translate ICANN materials into Thai for the local community. This will ensure that relevant content is accessible to the Thai community. "This MoU is another step forward in ICANN's globalization efforts, as we work with local communities to help address the language needs of markets where English is not the main language. Together, we can help to overcome any language barriers and ensure that this is not an impediment to participation in ICANN and our policy development processes," said Fadi Chehadé, ICANN President and Chief Executive Officer. The MoU was formalized and signed at ICANN's 54th Public Meeting in Dublin, Ireland, between Fadi Chehadé and ETDA Chief Executive Officer Surangkana Wayuparb. "This collaboration aligns with our national strategy to be a digital economy society by 2017. It reduces the digital divide of our Thai community due to the language barrier. It also enhances our community's capacity, enabling us to participate in global discussions more effectively once the language barrier is broken down. We believe this will be one of the game changers for the future of local Thai community engagement," said Surangkana. Kuek Yu-Chuang, Vice President and Managing Director for ICANN Asia Pacific also commented, "ETDA is a close partner with the ICANN Asia Pacific Hub. They are also a proponent of the multistakeholder model in Thailand, playing a leading role in establishing the Thai Internet Governance Forum, as well as bringing together Thai experts to form a Thai Label Generation Panel. Our relationship is further strengthened and concretized by this MoU." # # # To download high-resolution photos of the signing ceremony, click here<https://www.flickr.com/photos/icann/22371719002/in/album-72157659776892368/>. Media Contacts Liana Teo Head of Communications, Asia Pacific Singapore Tel: +65 6816 1259 Email: liana.teo@icann.org<mailto:liana.teo@icann.org> James Cole Global Media Coordinator Washington, D.C. Tel: +1 202 733 7598 Email: james.cole@icann.org<mailto:james.cole@icann.org> About ICANN ICANN's mission is to ensure a stable, secure and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet you have to type an address into your computer - a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN coordinates these unique identifiers across the world. Without that coordination we wouldn't have one global Internet. ICANN was formed in 1998. It is a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with participants from all over the world dedicated to keeping the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It promotes competition and develops policy on the Internet's unique identifiers. ICANN doesn't control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn't deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet's naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet. For more information please visit: www.icann.org<https://www.icann.org/>. About ETDA The Electronic Transactions Development Agency is the main public agency in the Kingdom of Thailand responsible for developing, enhancing, and supporting electronic transactions that are reliable, secure and safe from cyber security threats. Its mission is to conduct studies and research while providing support for the Electronic Transactions Commission and related agencies. Additionally, ETDA provides support to people's sector organizations which participate in the development, promotion and support of electronic transactions by establishing necessary infrastructure and advocating for an increase in volume and value of electronic transactions. It also provides technical services or other practical services related to Thailand's economic transactions. For more information visit www.etda.or.th<http://www.etda.or.th>.