E-COMMERCE REGIONAL CONFERENCE OPENS IN BANGKOK

Officials see e-commerce as a critical instrument of development in the region

BANGKOK(United Nations Information Services) - Senior officials and e-commerce experts from more than 40 countries of the Asian and Pacific region have gathered here since yesterday to examine best policy options for the development of e-commerce in the region.

The Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on E-Commerce Strategies for Development is being organized jointly by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and hosted by the Royal Government of Thailand at the United Nations Conference Centre from 20 to 22 November 2002.

The Asian-Pacific region faces tremendous opportunities and challenges in promoting ICT and e-commerce. According to Ms. Keiko Okaido, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, Internet availability ranges from 56 percent to 0.1percent of the population across a region where infrastructure and connectivity vary widely. "Our own experiences show that in some least-developed countries it takes 15 to 20 minutes just to get on the Internet. It costs nearly one year's salary of a middle level government official to install a private international telephone line with Internet access."

"Asia-Pacific is the most dynamic developing region among developing countries in spreading electronic commerce," said Mr. Zhongzhou Li, a senior UNCTAD official. "It is a great challenge for the region to become as successful in the digital economy as it has been in merchandise trade."

"The impact of the Internet on business is akin to previous innovation such as railroads, electric power, and telephone that brought disruption as well as opportunities to businesses and transformed not just one business sector but all sectors," said Khunying Dipavadee Meksawan, Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Information and Communication Technology ministry. "By the year 2010 we intend to increase the size of ICT-related industries to account for 50% of GDP."

During the first two days (20-21 November) the Regional Conference has addressed through panel discussions and exchange of experiences, a number of issues, including ways and means to harmonize e-strategies at regional and national levels; creating universal access to ICT; developing human resources for e-commerce; adapting the legal framework to e-commerce; e-payments and e-finance for enterprises; financing e-commerce and e-business sector specific policies and practices.

The last day of the meeting (Friday, 22 November 2002) Ministers overseeing e-commerce and CEOs of private companies from the region will take part in the High-level Roundtable Debate on E-Commerce Strategies for Development in the Asia-Pacific Region .

Thailand's Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra will deliver his vision statement at the Ministeria Session . Inaugural addresses will be delivered by Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, Mr. Rubens Ricupero, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, and H.E. Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The conference is expected to adopt a declaration on "Electronic Commerce for Development" which will express the political will of governments to promote e-commerce as an instrument of development in the region.

A REMINDER TO EDITORS

You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend an end-of-session Press Conference to report on the outcome of the Regional Conference by H.E. Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee, Thailand's Minister of ICT; Mr. Rubens Ricupero, Secretary-General, UNCTAD and Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, on Friday, 22nd November 2002 at 4:00 PM in the Theatre, Ground Floor of the United Nations Conference Centre, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue.

At the end of the Press Conference, an opportunity will also be provided for journalists to enquire about the recently released UNCTAD "E-Commerce and Development Report 2002". The members of UNCTAD Secretariat, Mr. Zhongzhou Li who directed the report and Mr. Rouben Indjikian and Mrs. Susan Teltscher, who authored some of the chapters will be present to answer to your questions.

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