G7 Conference: A Global Marketplace for Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprises
Bonn, Germany, 7th-9th April 1997
ETD is assisting with arrangements for the first annual conference on progress
in the G7 objective to achieve open access for SMEs to the emerging
global marketplace for electronic commerce. The first G7 Ministerial
Conference on the Information Society was pivotal in focusing attention
of Governments and industry. The Bonn conference, organised by the European
Commission in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs,
and the City of Bonn/TeleBonn, will be a focal point for policy development
and increasing awareness of the rapidly developing Electronic Commerce opportunity.
For current details of the event please consult the Conference website at
http://www.g7ec.de/. An outline of the
rationale, themes and intended participation is provided below for your
convenience.
Have you a Success Story to Tell?
ETD is compiling a reference file of case studies and examples
that can be consulted by the organisers, speakers and participants at this
important International event, and made available to a wider public via
the World Wide Web. In particular we are looking for:
Success stories illustrating how small and medium-sized
organisations are succeeding in electronic commerce;
Successful innovation and support programmes, whether
led by Government, economic development agencies or private enterprise.
If you know about any such examples, that could gain from wider exposure
through linkage with this key event, please email us at etd-g7-cases@eto.org.uk
with a very brief description and an appropriate contact point - please
include an email address and a World Wide Web url wherever possible.
All selected examples will be included in a compendium to be made
available to G7 Ministers and others attending the event, the world
press corps covering the event, and the widest possible audience across
the World Wide Web. There may also be an opportunity for selected
examples to be presented at the conference, either in person or
via the WWW or a video link.
Suppliers of relevant products and services are invited
to join us in developing this valuable compendium, if you would like to
discuss how you as a supplier can best participate, please contact ETD's
supplier liaison manager at eto-g7-suppliers@eto.org.uk.
Memorandum of Understanding
European suppliers and user organisations are cooperating to ensure open
access to global electronic commerce through a Memorandum
of Understanding, with working parties focused on key aspects of the
requirements. The G7 Conference will be a key milestone in this activity.
The Conference: Background and Rationale
Global Marketplace for SMEs is an international
collaborative project launched by the G7 (Group of 7) countries at the G7
Ministerial Conference on the Global Information Society hosted by the European
Commission in Brussels, February 1995. The G7 countries (Canada, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, USA) and the European Commission
have been joined in the project by several other countries and international
organizations, inclduing CEEC, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, OECD,
South Korea, Spain and Switzerland; many others are interested and are considering
participation.
The Project has set up a global business information network, is supporting
international pilots and testbeds and is investigating barriers to electronic
commerce, all with a view to promoting the participation of SMEs in global
electronic commerce. Results will be presented at the conference, where
remaining issues and barriers and future requirements will also be discussed.
The organization of the first Annual Conference of the G7 Project Global
Marketplace for SMEs is coordinated by the European Commission on behalf
of the G7 members, and is a joint effort with the German Federal Ministry
of Economic Affairs, and the City of Bonn/TeleBonn.
Themes
The main themes of the conference will be:
Electronic commerce for SMEs in the Information Society
Changes in industry and services, and public bodies, and the impact
electronic commerce will have on our lives as consumers, employees, and
citizens.
Building the global marketplace
The challenges of using electronic commerce for doing business in
the global marketplace and the products, services and technologies needed,
for example in payments, trust and security, multilingualism, commercial
law, training, etc.
Electronic commerce at work
An exploration of real-life business cases and practical experiences
with electronic commerce. Exploring issues ranging from how to start to
profound business innovation in market sectors such as the car industry,
textiles, food, construction, publishing, financial services, tourism, business
information, etc.
Intended Participation
The conference is open to anyone with an interest in Electronic Commerce
opportunities, policies, issues and practices, but is particularly aimed
at:
All business executives and managers with an interest in electronic
commerce; including both suppliers and users;
Public policy makers and adviser;
Economic development agencies;
Suppliers of relevant products and services;
Elected officials who need to understand the policy implications;
SME and other representative organisations
The conference can be expected to deliver positive and practical value to
each of these groups.
Page address http://www.eto.org.uk/ttrade/g7-bonn/index.htm
This page last updated 19 December 1996.
Please send your comments and suggestions about the ETO site and these pages
to eto-info@eto.org.uk
