Asian and Pacific Countries to Consider Regional Policy on E-Commerce

By 2005, one dollar in every five spent in online purchases will be Asian.

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) - As people in Asia and the Pacific region spend more time and money online, questions are being raised about whether a need exists for a region-wide plan of action to coordinate development of e-commerce.

As a result, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in close collaboration with the Royal Thai Government, are jointly organizing a regional conference to explore the option of a coordinated strategy in dealing with the rapid growth of electronic commerce.

Ministers and senior officials as well as all stakeholders of the e-commerce policy-making process, from both the public and private sectors will be among the more than 150 delegates expected to attend the UNCTAD-UNESCAP Asia-Pacific Regional Conference: E-Commerce Strategies for Development, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, from 20 -22 November 2002.

The three-day conference will examine various policy options for the development of e-commerce in the Asia and Pacific region. Based on best practices, it will identify key elements of national and regional e-strategies.

On 22 November, Government Ministers and Deputies from various countries of the region will be take part in a High-level round-table debate on e-commerce strategies for development in the Asia-Pacific region, with a keynote address by Thailand's Prime Minister, H.E. Thaksin Shinawatra.

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

NOTE TO EDITORS

You or your representative are cordially invited to attend a Press Conference on the upcoming conference to be held jointly by H.E. Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee, Minister of the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Royal Thai Government and Mr. Nibhon Debavalya, Chief, UNESCAP Trade and Investment Division, at 2:30 pm on Thursday, 7 November 2002 in the Theatre, Ground Floor, United Nations Conference Centre, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. David Lazarus, Chief, United Nations Information Services
UN Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66(0)2-2881864-9; Fax: +66(0)2-2881052
E-mail: unisbkk.unescap@un.org

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