ACS, AIIA and Federal Government Join Forces to Invite Participation in Regional E-Commerce Session at SEARCC’98
Monday 18 May 1998 - Official invitations to participate in a South East Asian Regional Electronic Commerce Session will be sent this week to over 700 potential delegates throughout the region, including Government Ministers, industry leaders and prominent researchers.
The Regional E-Commerce Session will be chaired by the Federal Minister for Communications and the Information Economy, Senator Richard Alston, as part of the SEARCC'98Conference being held in Darwin from 8-10 July, 1998.
A joint invitation to go out this week from ACS President, Prins Ralston, and AIIA Chairman, Alan Baxter, will be reinforced by a letter of endorsement from Senator Alston, encouraging key decision-makers from throughout SE Asia to become involved in this important event.
The annual conference of the South East Asia Regional Computer Federation, SEARCC’98 is expected to attract 1,000 delegates, including a large contingent of senior Government representatives from 15 Asian nations, to Darwin for this prestigious event.
"Electronic commerce is fast gaining momentum as the global economy moves online. The Regional E-Commerce Session is an important initiative designed to build understanding and consensus between Australia and our Asian neighbours on issues of e-commerce," said ACS President, Prins Ralston.
"With the capacity to build on the outcomes of Senator Alston’s domestic E-Commerce Summit in April, this Regional Session will provide an important opportunity to work collaboratively with our regional colleagues in this key technology area."
Invitations from the host organisations and the Australian Government will include the Ministers responsible for IT in each of the SEARCC member countries, including Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, as well as associate members like Canada.
"With E-Commerce heading the IT agenda in most countries, the time is right for us to work for consensus on standards and strategies for cooperation and development.
"We strongly encourage any organisation with an involvement or interest in this critical field to consider how they might make a meaningful contribution to establishing the SE Asian Region as a powerful force in the online economy," said Mr Ralston.
In addition to the E-Commerce Session, SEARCC’98 features an outstanding line-up of keynote and invited speakers addressing the theme of "IT Reaching Out", with presentations streamed into: The On-Line Economy and Trading in Asia; Defence and Business; and Virtual Education and Training.
Jointly hosted by the Australian Computer Society and Australian Information Industry Association with significant support from the Australian and Northern Territory Governments, the conference will be complemented by a large, targeted IT exhibition, secondary school programming competition and business matching sessions to build links between companies in Australia and Asia.
For more information about SEARCC’98, visit This media release is located on the web at http://www.acs.org.au/news/sealett.htm
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
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