-- a Commonwealth Perspective

Current Activities in the Development of the Global Information Society

Instructive presentations were made describing the new initiatives underway in the application of information and communication technologies, such as the European Union’s Programme for Electronic Commerce, the work of the Global Information Infrastructure (GII) Commission with special reference to Africa, the work of the UN Economic Commission for Europe in the development of electronic documentation for trade (CEFACT), and the promotion of electronic commerce currently underway in Asia under the leadership of the UN’s Economic and Social Council for Asia/Pacific (ESCAP).

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization identified three key developments in communications technology, namely digitalization, increased transmission capacity and the growth of new types of services (including global telecom alliances and the introduction of global satellite-based mobile services). The critical importance of the convergence of telecommunications and information technology and the development of the Internet were emphasized.

In the European Commission’s brief to the delegates on the policy and approach of the European Union to electronic commerce, it was noted that there were 4 key elements to the European initiative, namely;

• the promotion of access – in terms of infrastructure, technology, standardization, and international industrial cooperation

• the development of a legal and regulatory framework

• the promotion of a favourable business environment for electronic commerce

• the promotion of a global dialogue to assist in the development of a global consensus on electronic commerce

The facilitation of international trade procedures was a focus of the presentation of the UN Economic Commission for Europe who reported on the recent work of the new Centre for Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport (CEFACT) with special reference to the development of electronic data interchange (EDI) and the establishment of the UN standard for computer based exchanges (UN/EDIFACT). The current efforts of the Centre are directed towards the integration of EDI with the rapid development of global networks.

The Chairman of the G7 Working Group on Identification & Registration for Electronic Commerce, reported on the critical issues that have resulted in industrialized countries from the rapid growth of the Internet and electronic communication. These included:

• the reliable identification of data elements

• the reliable naming of organizations for electronic commerce

• the naming of networks and the issue of addressing

• the identification of other objects such as photos

He pointed out that a major objective in the development of electronic commerce is to achieve an open working environment, and suggested that bilateral arrangements can be seen as barriers to such an environment. The Working Group has recognized the importance of global directories, such as those already in use in Sweden. It was proposed that such directories will include:

• Data communication names and addresses

• Trading partner’s business details

• Trading partner’s technical details (such as syntaxes supported, message types, etc)

• Scenario details for data interchange

• Security information (including certificates and public keys)

It was suggested that, given the role of COMNET-IT as a provider of information linkages, it was well placed to give consideration to the development of Commonwealth-wide Directories and information pointers in a number of domains. In the present context, it could play an active role in the promotion of directories (e.g. x500 and x400) in the domains of Trade and Commerce, always in association with other Commonwealth stakeholders.

In more direct reference to the focus on trade, investment promotion and sustainable development, representatives of various trade information networks such as Trade Points (UNCTAD), and the IBCC-NET (the global network of the World’s Chambers of Commerce & Industry which includes the G77 Trade Information Network) told of their efforts in the global dissemination of trade and business opportunities. International and national investment and trade promotions services, including the International Trade Centre of UNCTAD/WTO, the Malta Development Corporation and the Malta External Trade Organization reported on the services and support which they offer to enterprises. National experiences in the creation and application of information and communication networks were also presented for the countries of Malta, India and Sri Lanka. Of particular value to the discussions around SMEs, was the experience described in the creation of a business network for the County of Kent in the United Kingdom.

The workshop divided into 3 working groups to discuss the issues and presentations in greater detail. The objective of such working group discussions was to take advantage of the extensive expertise represented by the delegates, and to develop recommendations and suggestions in the following areas:

• the role of governments in the promotion of information and communication technologies to support trade, investment and sustainable development

• the role of Trade Promotion Offices in the application of such technologies which would support their activities

• the identification of models or procedures by which small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can be enrolled in the application of information and communication technologies for their benefit.