What mechanisms are in place to improve policies, operations, support activities etc. to enable businesses to take advantage of e-commerce developments?

Many delegates called on governments to stop holding up business developments for the sake of passing legislation through the courts.

However, some small improvements made to related policies greatly accelerated the pace of IT development, examples are: liberalizing the provision of work permits for foreign IT specialist trainers; and reducing import duties and taxes on information and communications technology (ICT) software and hardware.

Several speakers highlighted the assistance and facilities provided by international organisations such as ITC, UNCTAD, ITU, WIPO and WTO.

Training, independent advice, networks, partnerships and alliances, and information exchanges are all identified as possible solutions for developing countries.

(Reporting: Ian Sayers,ITC)