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WTO Information Technology Symposium - 16 July 1999
A WTO Symposium on Information Technology on 16 July 1999 will bring together industry representatives and trade officials to discuss prospects and practical trade issues facing the most dynamic sector of world trade.
Annotated Agenda
Purpose:
1. Share information about the dynamism of IT and its future: recent R&D development, technology trends and anticipated products/services
2. Explain the role of IT in promoting economic growth and development and IT's expanding contribution to the infrastructure for a global information economy.
3. Highlight the value of the application of IT, drawing on examples from developed and developing countries:
- For
business competitiveness for large and small business;
- For government, and
- Users.
Organizational matters:
The Director-General of the WTO, or the Director in Charge, will open the symposium with introductory remarks. The Symposium will be chaired by Mr. Heinz Opelz, Director, Market Access Division. There will be four issue-oriented panel sessions on the subjects outlined by participants.
Program:
Morning Session | |
9:00 | Introduction: Director-General of the WTO or Director in Charge |
9:15 | I. Overview of the IT industry, technological advances/trends, innovative business applications |
"International Trade in IT Products" Mr.
Patrick Low (WTO Secretariat) "The Philippine IT Plan: Prospects and Problems" Mr.
Claro Parlade "Contribution of IT Industry to Economic Development An Israeli Perspective" Mr.
Hanan Achsaf "Production of Digital Telecommunications Systems in the Czech Republic" Mr.
Ivan R韈ar "Creation of New Industry by Digital Conversions" Mr.
Takashi Kubota --followed by a general discussion |
|
11:00 | II. Contribution of IT to economic growth and development and the role of trade in the mutual reinforcement of global and national IT policies |
"ICT Indicators Over the Period of the 90s". Mr.
Linnar Viik "The Effects of Trade Liberalization of IT Products in the Development of Software and Hi-Tech Industries: A Developing Country's Experience" Mr.
Alejandro Montalvo
Mr.
Leslie Simon
"The Multimedia Super Corridor Project - A Model for Fostering Economic Growth and Development Using IT" Mr.
Mohd. Salleh Hj. Masduki "From an Off-line to an On-line Society" Mr.
Torbj鰎n Ihre --followed by a general discussion |
|
13:00-14:15 | Lunch break |
Afternoon Session | |
14:15 | III. Practical problems encountered in IT trade (including the possibility of presenting case studies, e.g. import licensing) and the broader effects of NTMs |
[title of presentation to be announced] Mr.
Dewang Mehta "Import Licensing for Information Technology Products" Mr.
David McGuire "Trading Barriers and Proposed Solutions of IT Trade" Mr.
Miin Wu "Redundant Testing and Certification as Impediments to Economic Development" Mr.
William Maxwell "Suppliers' Declaration of Conformity, Certification & Standardisation" Mr.
Michel de Vecchis --followed by a general discussion |
|
16:00 | IV. The implications of current approaches to standards making and conformity assessment (review developments in international standards and other relevant bodies). |
"IEC and Information Technology" Mr.
Jack Sheldon "Supplier Declarations of Conformity: A Case-study in Implementation". Dr.
James Galloway "Green Paper on Global Product Approval System for the Future" Mr.
Peter Deichmann "Electrical Safety and Information Technology Products" Mr.
Jean-Louis Robert --followed by a general discussion |