CONTENTS Preface PART ONE REGIONAL TRADE IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION: CURRENT SITUATION AND FUTURE PROSPECTS Introduction and background Socio-economic background of the four GMS countries studied Trade and investment regime Regional trade in information and communication technology goods in the Greater Mekong Subregion Global trade in ICT goods Trade in ICT goods in GMS Trade barriers and international trade commitments Regional trade in ICT services in GMS Trends in telecommunication markets and regimes Telecommunication markets in GMS Current status of telecommunication liberalization Markets structures and regulations International trade commitments Estimated benefits from liberalization Conclusion and Policy Recommendations Promotion of trade in ICT goods Promotion of trade in telecommunication services Promote regional cooperation References Annexes Major experts and imports of ICT goods in each GMS country The e-ASEAN framework agreement WTO's reference paper on basic telecommunications PART TWO DEVELOPMENT OF ENABLIING POLICIES FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR OF THE GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION Introduction Rationale of the study ICT and development Returns to ICT use Pillars of information technology Promoting ICT use and production: the role of trade and investment Linkages between trade and investment: the case of ICT Limits to trade and investment policies Trade agreements on ICT goods: e-ASEAN Framework Agreement and the Information Technology Agreement Outline of the study Cambodia Country background and policies governing ICT use and production Current state of ICT use and production Human resource development in ICT Trade and investment in the ICT: policies, performance and prospects Lao People's Democratic Republic Country background and policies governing ICT Use and production Current state of ICT use and production Human resource development in ICT Trade and investment in ICT: policies, performance and prospects Myanmar Country background and policies governing ICT use and production Current state of ICT use and production Human resource development in ICT Trade and investment in ICT: policies, performance and prospects Thailand Country background and policies governing ICT use and production Current state of ICT use and production Human capital for information technology Trade and investment in ICT: policies, performance and challenges Viet Nam Country background and policies governing ICT use and production Current state of ICT use and production Human resource development for ICT Trade and investment in ICT: policies, performance and prospects Yunnan Province of China Background Growth performance of the Yunnan economy: an explanatory analysis Current state of ICT production Human capital base for information technology Towards a more open trade and investment regime Concluding observations and reflections on policy Policy initiatives and institutional interventions Current state of ICT use and production Trade and investment in ICT: policies, performance and prospects References

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