Dubai: OECD's E-Commerce Conference Calls For Enhanced International Co-operation

Lorys Charambolous, Tax-news.com, Nicosia

18 January 2001

The OECD's Emerging Market Economy Forum (EMEF) on e-commerce, held this week, was dominated by calls for both developed and emerging-market countries to enhance international co-operation in the area of information and communication technology.

Hosted by the Gulf Emirate of Dubai, the two-day conference (16-17 January) was inaugurated by the Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. In his address, Sheikh Mohammed urged governments and companies in developed countries and multilateral organisations to join forces in an 'international gathering devoted to assisting governments and private sectors in developing countries in the area of information technology.' He called on developing countries to lay the foundations for growth by investing more in education and training and ensuring they have appropriate legislation and regulation for e-commerce development.

OECD Secretary-General Donald J. Johnston said OECD countries are eager and willing to share their experience and expertise in this area, but he underlined the importance of appropriate regulatory structures in all countries as a stimulus to private investment. He also called on developed nations to assist the world's poorest countries and regions in building the essential infrastructures for e-commerce by opening up their markets to the goods and services of the developing world. He said: 'Expanded trade and investment opportunities for OECD Members will depend upon sustainable economic growth and social stability in every region of the globe.'

Dubai's ambition to become a major e-commerce and IT hub in the Middle East region has recently seen the launch of a major investment programme: the $200m state-of-the art Internet City was opened in the jurisdiction last October.

Demands for more international co-operation stem from the realisation that technology is advancing at a rapid pace. Developing countries are the last to benefit from this and are finding it increasingly difficult to provide competitive e-commerce facilities to attract businesses.

The conference brought to light the problem of a knowledge deficiency between industrialised and developing countries known as the 'digital divide' which is growing wider. Emerging Middle East e-markets are eager not to be left behind and particular worries voiced at the conference were about their ability to provide affordable Internet access and overcoming the obstacle of cultural and language barriers. Security for conducting e-business transactions and the taxing of e-commerce were further issues raised, all of which could benefit from an international exchange of information and knowledge.

The Emerging Market Economy Forum is the first OECD event in the region and is also the first time in the organisation's 25-year history that such an event has been held in a non-member country.

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