SEE ALSO:
press releases
WTO news
Mike Moore's speeches
Renato Ruggiero's speeches,
1995-99
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AgendaThe purpose of the IT
Symposium is to share information about the dynamism of IT and its future; explain the
role of IT in promoting economic growth and development; and highlight the value of the
application of IT, drawing on examples from developed and developing countries.
Speakers
at the one-day Symposium include representatives from a variety of companies in the IT
field such as Motorola, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Macronix, Alcatel, Hitachi, Ericsson, Nortel
Networks, and Telsa Telecomunikace. Both developed and developing-country perspectives
will be presented by industry representatives from countries across the globe, including
Canada, Chinese Taipei, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Estonia, European Communities, India,
Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, and the United States. Speakers on international
standards will include representatives from the International Electrotechnical Commission,
the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association, and the Canadian
Advisory Council on Electrical Safety.
Director
in Charge of the WTO, Mr. David Hartridge, will open the Symposium, which will be chaired
by Mr. Heinz Opelz, Director of the Market Access Division of the WTO Secretariat. WTO
Chief Economist, Mr. Patrick Low will give an introductory presentation on international
trade in IT products.
The
Symposium, which will be held at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, is divided into four
panels dealing with the following subjects:
Overview
of the IT industry, technological advances/trends, innovative business applications;
Contribution
of IT to economic growth and development and the role of trade in the mutual reinforcement
of global and national IT policies;
Practical
problems encountered in IT trade (including the possibility of presenting case studies,
e.g. import licensing) and the broader effects of non-tariff measures; and
The
implications of current approaches to standards making and conformity assessment (review
developments in international standards and other relevant bodies).
For
registration information, please contact Ms. Jane Mackenzie of the WTO Secretariat,
telephone no. 7395391, fax no. 7395770, or e-mail address itsymposium@wto.org. Journalists interested
in attending the Symposium should contact the Information and Media Relations Division,
tel. 7395007.
The
complete programme of the WTO Information Technology Symposium
follows.
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