  IT aims for greater influence in the G20
Reported by computing.co.uk on Thursday, 22 October 2009 (on October 22, 2009)
|
John Higgins, Computing, Thursday 22 October 2009 at 07:30:00 Technology players team up to work with key decision-makers at global summits The US city of Pittsburgh has made a successful transition from an economy focused on steel to one that has a thriving technology industry. It felt like a particularly appropriate setting for September’s G20 Summit because, while the global political community came together to debate economic recovery, so too did the world’s IT community. The fact that anarchist protesters in Pittsburgh were using Twitter to inform one another of police movements is surely proof that IT has become a pervasive part of all our lives. There is therefore a real need for discussions at the highest level to take account of the role IT plays in economies and societies around the world. With this in mind, trade associations from across the world came together in Pittsburgh ahead of the main summit to form the G20 ICT Policy Network (G-ICT). Under the auspices of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance, G-ICT has been set up to act as a targeted and influential player on the G20 scene. The G20 countries are responsible for 85 per cent of global gross national product, 80 per cent of world trade and two-thirds of the world population. News that former UK business minister Shriti Vadera has resigned to take up a post with the G20 may have been greeted with speculation about her true motives, but the fact that Gordon Brown has relinquished one of his closest advisers to a position within the G20 is evidence of its growing stature as a key forum to co-ordinate global responses to the challenges facing our increasingly interconnected and interdependent world. It is vital that we influence these key decision-makers. Equally vital is that we do so under the banner of a credible and united industry group with an international membership. It is early days for G-ICT, and the level of commitment from the member organisations will determine whether this approach to global decision-making will prove effective for our industry, but it has identified three major areas to focus its efforts ahead of the next G20 summit in Canada. Next-generation broadband will form a key plank of the G-ICT policy platform, and it will be making the case for governments across the world to provide a supportive framework for continued private-sector investment and the enormous positive impact this will have on job creation and productivity. Recognising that climate change is one of the greatest global challenges we face, G-ICT will be among those urging a rapid shift to smart, green technology to achieve major improvements in energy efficiency. Most importantly, G-ICT will also be arguing vigorously that open trade in IT goods and services is essential for the global economy. Intellect will be playing a leading role in G-ICT. We have already been invited to serve on the Leaders Council, which will have responsibility for advocacy and direct liaison with the G20 governmental process. Our early involvement in this project means the UK’s technology sector will have a key role in shaping and delivering the messages that we put to the G20 governments. As we emerge from the recession, it is my hope that G-ICT is able to place the global concerns of our industry at the highest level and through one of the world’s most-influential channels. John Higgins is director general of Intellect, the trade association for the UK IT industry. Read the blog at http://intellect.computing.co.uk
Links: Full news story
|
|
|
|
|
| Recent related news |
| |
Huffington Post
37 minutes ago - Politics | Crossposted with TomDispatch.com. When it comes to our nation’s military affairs, ignorance is not... |
Huffington Post
3 hours ago - Lifestyle | Cancer is perhaps the most frightening of all diseases we face. And the thing is, it\'s very often... |
ITProPortal
4 hours ago - Computer Industry | After having an apparently successful run in the smartphone domain with its Nexus One, Google is... |
V3.co.uk
7 hours ago - Computer Industry | Daniel Robinson, V3.co.uk, Thursday 18 March 2010 at 09:00:00
Virtual Smartphone Platform lowers... |
NavyTimes
19 hours ago - US | MARJAH, Afghanistan — A month after losing control of their southern base in Marjah, the Taliban... |
| |
guardian.co.uk
19 hours ago - Politics | The smearing of BA staff and demonisation of Unite as an alien force in politics are an attempt to... |
Huffington Post
1 day ago - Politics | The House Committee on Ethics released its report last month exonerating 7 Members of Congress from... |
The New Republic
1 day ago - US | Imagine a new Library of Alexandria. Imagine an archive that contains all the natural and social... |
The New Republic
1 day ago - US | Raymond Carver: Collected Stories
By Raymond Carver
(Library of America, 1019 pp.,... |
Business Insider
1 day ago - Business | (This guest post previously appeared at the author's blog)
The Chinese new year has only just... |
| |
|
|
|
Facebook
E-mail
Twitter
Mixx
StumbleUpon
FriendFeed
Tweet the News!
Select Region >
Top News RSS Feed | News for my Website | Archive | Advertise | Help | Enquiries | Bookmark this site | 
U.S. version
