MEDIA RELEASE

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SEARCC’98 Shaping Up to Boost Regional Relationships

Tuesday 16 July 1998 - Asia is increasingly turning to Australia to take advantage of the opportunities created by electronic commerce, according to the organisers of next month’s prestigious SEARCC'98 Conference and Exhibition.

As preparations continue for SEARCC’98, which is being staged in Australia for the first time, Organising Chair, Prins Ralston, says the event is developing a significant role in terms of building relationships between Australia and our SE Asian neighbours.

"Despite the economic problems affecting the entire region, nations like Singapore and Hong Kong remain committed to making e-commerce a reality and are seeking to partner with Australia to achieve the critical mass needed to support these initiatives," said Mr Ralston, who is also President of the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

"With high level representatives coming from more than 15 countries throughout the region, SEARCC’98 is shaping up as a critical opportunity for alliances to be formed and for some major steps to be taken in terms of regional e-commerce initiatives."

The annual conference and exhibition of the South East Asia Regional Computer Confederation, SEARCC’98 is being held in Darwin, Australia’s Doorway to Asia, from 8-10 July 1998.

Key components of the event include:

· A three-day conference featuring an impressive list of local and international speakers addressing the theme of "IT Reaching Out", with presentations focusing on the key areas of: The On-Line Economy & Trading in Asia; Defence & Business; and Virtual Education & Training;

· A regional e-commerce session involving representatives from 15 nations and chaired by Senator Richard Alston;

· A regional trade exhibition Telstra, Unisys, Computer Power Group, Computer Associates, CICC (Centre of the International Cooperation for Computerization), DMR, NEC Australia and others;

· Business-matching sessions to bring together like-minded commercial interests from Australia and Asia; and

· SEARCC’s annual Secondary School Programming Competition which will see a group of Australia’s brightest young students compete against teams from around the region.

Opportunities Still Exist in Asia

Mr Ralston and other members of the ACS Management Committee met last week with Mr Swee Say Lim, Chairman of Singapore’s National Computer Board, who is in Australia for high level meetings with Government officials and various business interests.

"While the Asian crisis has slowed the plans of some countries to carry out major IT projects, Mr Lim told us Singapore is pushing ahead with the implementation of its online infrastructure to support a raft of e-commerce initiatives.

"Even Malaysia, whose Silicon Corridor has been delayed by the economic problems, remains committed to developing its own infrastructure for e-commerce."

"Take the example of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) being negotiated between Australia and Hong Kong, which is expected to see Australia provide IT services to Hong Kong’s Special Administrative Region Government. A contingent of at least 10 people representing commercial and government interests has already registered for SEAARCC’98 from Hong Kong and this number is expected to grow."

Mr Ralston said despite the crisis, SE Asian nations recognised the need to be early adopters of e-commerce technology and to partner within the region to generate the level of support necessary to ensure this region is globally competitive.

SEARCC’98 a Catalyst for Partnerships

"Much of the discussion at SEARCC’98 will centre on the workings of these regional relationships and where we need to focus our energies to achieve the best results.

"The presence of people like Stephen Yeo, CEO of the Singapore Computer Board, Iwao Toda, President of Japan’s Information Processing Society, and Dr Makhdzir Mardan, Head of the Malaysia’s CyberCreative Laboratory, will enable the formation of strategic partnerships between our countries," he said.

"In particular, the regional e-commerce session is expected to underpin the importance of moving ahead quickly to ensure the region is not left behind as the world advances online.

"Australian Governments have recognised the significance of SEARCC’98, committing substantial support and resources to ensure the event’s success. Indeed, SEARCC’98 has attracted an unprecedented array of 65 speakers covering the different technology streams, including 14 Keynotes, half of whom hold elected positions within the Federal or various State and Territory Governments, while the others represent Australian industry or international interests," said Ralston.

Impressive Speaker Lineup at SEARCC’98

With high-profile speakers drawn from the upper echelons of Government, industry and the research community, SEARCC’98 offers a unique opportunity to hear some of the world’s foremost experts and business leaders discuss their experiences in applying emerging technologies.

Keynote speakers include:

· John Olsen, Premier of South Australia;

· Senator Richard Alston, Federal Minister for Communications and the Arts;

· Daryl Williams, Commonwealth Attorney General;

· Warren Truss, Federal Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs;

· Alan Baxter, Chairman of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA);

· Michael Poehner, President & CEO of DMR;

· Alan Stockdale, VIC Treasurer and Minister for Multimedia;

· Kim Yeadon, NSW Minister for Information Technology;

· Peter Adamson, NT Minister for Communications and Advanced Technology;

· Stephen Yeo, Chief Executive of Singapore's National Computer Board;

· Iwao Toda, President of the Information Processing Society of Japan;

· Frank Blount, CEO of Telstra;

· Terry Cutler, Deputy Chair of the Advisory Board to NOIE; and

· Dr Michael Dixon, General Manager, Government and Education, IBM Australia.

In addition, Mark Hollands, Editor of The Australian’s Computers & High Technology Section, will be guest speaker at the Conference Dinner, sharing his own observations of industry highlights and technology trends.

A distinguished selection of Invited Speakers complements the SEARCC’98 Keynote list, with prominent business experts and world-class academics sharing centre stage, including:

On-line Economy & Trading in Asia Stream

· Professor Paula Swatman, Director of RMIT’s Interactive Information Institute and a founding director of CollECTeR (Collaborative Electronic Commerce Technology and Research);

· Anne Dickson, National Director, Information Systems, Australian Stock Exchange;

· Frank Merrick, Assistant Commission of Taxation;

· David Jonas, founder and Managing Director of Electronic Trading Concepts P/L;

Virtual Education & Training Stream

· Masohiro Horiuchi, Professor of Management Information Systems, Graduate School of International Business, Aoyagama Gakuin University in Japan;

· Dr Makhdzir Mardan, Head of the CyberCreative Laboratory and Manager of the Multimedia unit, University Business Centre, Universiti Putra Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur;

· Prof. Emeritus M Wells, University of Sydney;

Defence & Business Stream

· Brigadier Wallace, Commander 1 Brigade; and

· Brigadier Mike Swan, Director-General, Information Policy and Plans, among others

For more information about SEARCC’98, visit the Web site at or call (08) 8941 3285.

This media release is located on the ACS Web Site.

ENDS

Media Enquiries:

Prins Ralston, ACS President, Tel: (0411) 755 069, Email: p_ralston@ntu.edu.au

Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9980 8060 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au