Ireland, Australia Join Forces On E-Commerce Goals

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

11 September 2001

Austalia's minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, last week announced details of an agreement between Australia and Ireland to strengthen trade and economic links through co-operation in e-commerce.

Entitled the 'Joint Australia-Ireland Statement on Global E-Commerce,' the agreement says that by providing a clear and consistent regulatory framework, the two countries can promote a pro-enterprise environment to help increase e-commerce activities.

The Australian government stated that the agreement will minimise, both in terms of legal and regulatory boundaries, any barriers to e-commerce between the two countries. Areas covered by the agreement include protection of privacy, data protection, intellectual property rights, consumer protection and security, and the use of electronic signatures and certification to prevent fraud.

The agreement was formalised during a trade mission visit to Australia last week by Mary Harney, the Irish Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Ms Harney said: 'This has been the largest Enterprise Ireland trade mission ever to Australia and I am confident that this reflects the Government's efforts to build a new awareness of Ireland in the region.'

According to the Irish government, bi-lateral trade between Australia and Ireland has increased to more than Australian $1.2 billion in 2000, a record for trade between the two countries. There has also been a steady increase in the level of bi-lateral investment with 21 Irish companies having Australia as a base for Asia-Pacific operations compared to only 13 in 1999.

The Tánaiste added: 'I have been particularly impressed by the goodwill that exists in Australia towards Ireland and the Irish and I believe that Irish companies are now in a good position to build substantially on recent trade figures and contribute towards a significant increase in trade with the Australian continent.'

See the full text of the 'Joint Australia-Ireland Statement on Global E-Commerce' in the Tax-news.com Resources Section.

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