Focus

• How are the most recent Internet-developments changing market dynamics? What benefits are being achieved and by whom?
• Are companies "de-constructing" their supply chains as a consequence of the Internet? Do buyers expect their developing/transition country suppliers to have full e-commerce capability?
• What are the qualification criteria of the new on-line buying consortia and what are the implications for the developing/transition economy exporter?
• Are Internet trading exchanges "scaleable" to the context of developing/transition economies? Can industry "selling" consortia in developing/transition economies be viable?
• In which product sectors will e-trade likely dominate in the medium term?
• B2B, B2C and B2G: Can the developing country exporter participate?
• What is the scope for e-commerce in South-South trade?

Session 2: Statement from the Market: The Digital Economy and Trade in Services

Focus

• What export opportunities as emerging for Web-enabled (i.e. e-service) companies? What are the e-services with greatest export potential for developing/transition economies?
• Who are the principal service buyers? What are their sourcing criteria and buying practices?
• What are the critical areas of competitive advantage in the international market for e-services. What is the best approach to market development?
• Is the Internet creating new export models and/or efficiencies in established service industries? What are these industries? What is the best approach to market development?

Session 3: Statement from the Market: The e-Competency Checklist for the Exporting Firm

Focus

• What is e-competency? Does the market expect the exporter to be e-competent at each stage of the transaction?
• What are the fundamental issues the enterprise manager must address in order for the firm to become e-competent?
• Are there examples of best practice?
• Can an e-Competency Checklist be prepared for the exporting firm?

Session 1: Statement from the Market: Opportunities for Developing/Transition Economy Exporters of Software and ICT Equipment and Components

Focus

• Is there a market for proprietary software developed in developing/transition economies? Is so, where? What is the best approach to market development? Is cyber-marketing relevant?
• Is there a market for ICT equipment manufactured in developing/transition economies. If so, where? What is the best approach to market development? Are e-competency and cyber-marketing essential to export success?
• What are the new opportunities for sub-contracting and joint-venturing emerging from the digital economy?

Session 2: Co-ordinating and Effective National Response: The Export Strategy-Maker’s Checklist for e-Trade: Strategies for Creating the Right Environment

• What are the elements of a suitable national environment for the development of e-competency and e-commerce capability within the business sector?
• What are the principal constraints to be overcome?
• Are there universally applicable solutions? What is best practice?
• Can a checklist of best practice be developed for the national export strategy concerned with ensuring that the environment is right for the growth of e-commerce?

Session 2: Co-ordinating an Effective National Response: The Export Strategy-Maker’s Checklist for -Trade: Strategies for Promoting the Development of e-Competency

Focus

Once the right environment is in place :

• How can government and national organizations promote and facilitate the development of e-competency and e-commerce?
• What are the programmes and services that the strategy-maker should ensure national organizations develop to serve the e-competency and e-commerce needs of SMEs?
• What are the types of public-private partnerships that should be forged? What is the private sector's role?
• What are the best practices? How can current practice be improved ?

Session 3: Utilizing e-Trade Competency for International Competitiveness: The Internet and Trade Support Organizations

• What is the impact of the Internet on the operations of a trade support institution? How can the Internet create efficiencies in the delivery of trade support services to the export sector? Can new support services be developed based on the Internet?
• Are the support needs of the export-oriented enterprise manager changing as a consequence of the Internet? What are the implications for the trade support institution and its programmes?
• Is the role of the trade representation service changing as a consequence of change business needs and new Internet-based approaches to trade promotion and market development?
• Should the trade support institution’s approach to promoting export capacity be adjusted to reflect new market opportunities emerging from the digital economy?
• Can a checklist of best practice be developed for the manager of a trade support institution?

Session 1: Utilizing e-Trade Competency for International Competitiveness: Web-strategy for the Export Enterprise

• Are there guidelines for promotion over the Internet? What are the implications of investng in a web-site? What are the maintenance factors? What are realistic expectations?
• How does cyber-marketing impact the overall marketing strategy and vice-versa?
• What are the lessons learned by developing country enterprises with web-sites? Is there a set of best practice?

Session 2: Group Working Sessions

• Working Group 1: The e-Competency Checklist for the Exporting Firm
• Working Group 2: Strategy-Maker’s Checklist for Creating the Right Environment
• Working Group 3: Strategy-Maker’s Checklist for Supporting the Development of e-Trade Competency
• Working Group 4: Trade Support Institution Manager’s Checklist of Best Practice in the Digital Economy
• Working Group 5: Enterprise Manager’s Checklist of Best Practice for Web-Strategy

Session 3: Presentation of Working Groups on Best Practice Checklists

Session 4: Areas of Priority Technical Assistance

Focus

• What are the priority technical assistance needs of the national strategy-maker, the enterprise manager and the trade support institution manager?
• Where should ITC be focusing its technical assistance programmes in the areas of e-competency and e-commerce development?