E-Commerce Summit
[ Last Updated 15 February 2006 ]
Reg Hammond
Manager
Information Technology Policy Group
Competition and Enterprise Branch
11 February 2000
To: The Minister for Information Technology
Contents
1. The Labour Online document states that the Government will convene an Ecommerce Leaders Summit to agree on an implementation strategy to achieve the Labour Online objectives under four headings:
- The Government as a Leader;
- The Government as a Model User;
- The Government as a Promoter of New Zealand's interests internationally;
- The Government as an active Key Enabler;
2. This paper outlines some broad options for holding the Summit. We seek a decision as soon as possible on the options that we should pursue. This is to allow adequate time for organisation and arranging speakers and address funding issues.
Purpose
3. The overall purpose of the Summit will be to present a draft Ecommerce Readiness Strategy for summit participants to discuss and sign up to.
4. However, we also see the Summit as a key event in communicating how the uptake of ecommerce, and the utilisation of Information and Communications Technologies in general, are crucial to realising the Government's vision of a future of high skills, high employment and a high value added economy with reduced inequality.
5. We said in the briefing paper Electronic Commerce: Key Issues, Strategic Importance and Way Forward, that one of the roles for Government was to rapidly increase the understanding of New Zealanders of electronic commerce in the context of the New Economy. So one objective of the Summit will be to raise awareness among the media and the public at large.
6. A further objective is to stimulate debate in the wider community on the possible impacts of ecommerce on New Zealand's economy and society. How is ecommerce changing the things we do, and what new opportunities and/or threats is it bringing?
The Ecommerce Readiness Strategy
7. Input into the Ecommerce Readiness Strategy will be a key focus of the Summit. The possible content of the draft Ecommerce Readiness Strategy has been detailed in the paper Electronic Commerce: Key Issues, Strategic Importance and Way Forward.
8. The extent of the final strategy will be dependent on the degree to which the Government is prepared to commit resources to implement it. In this context managing the expectations of private sector interests will be a crucial component of the Summit. On the one hand we want to show that the Government understands the significance of ecommerce, and is prepared to play its part to ensure New Zealand is a player. On the other hand we don't want to raise private sector expectations of Government beyond what is actually feasible, given the resources available.
9. Hence the Strategy will have to very clearly detail the respective roles of Government and the Private Sector, and these roles will have to be signalled beforehand. Additionally, a key focus of the Strategy and the Summit should be to devise innovative ways of addressing the issues that will deliver as much bang for the buck as possible. In particular such efforts should focus on utilising and enhancing networks among individuals, within and between communities, as well as nationally and internationally.
Summit Format
Option One
10. A one day summit of ecommerce industry leaders with the sole aim of discussing and signing up to the ecommerce strategy. This would be relatively inexpensive to organise. However, it would not afford much of an opportunity for in depth discussion of some of the broader issues, such as impacts of ecommerce on society and the economy. Nor would it afford the opportunity to create a lot of publicity outside of the ecommerce industry.
Option Two
11. A two day summit with much wider participation, including the major private sector ecommerce players, the major industry organisations, the education sector, public sector, local government and Maori interests.
12. This would be positioned as a key event that would help to raise the consciousness of all New Zealanders. It would include one or several overseas speakers. It would assist in delivering the message that ecommerce is important to everyone, and would also enable the Government to position the uptake of ecommerce as a key plank in its overall economic and regional development initiatives. It would serve as an excellent platform for the Government to communicate how uptake of ecommerce, and the utilisation of Information and Communications Technologies in general, are crucial to realising the vision of a future of high skills, high employment and a high value added economy with reduced inequality.
13. Because of increasing international evidence of the important part that ecommerce and ICT is playing in regenerating economies, we recommend Option Two.
Logistical Organisation
14. While the IT Policy Group would have overall responsibility for organising the Summit, logistical organisation would be contracted out to an event organiser.
Summit Web Site
15. It would be necessary to have a Summit Web Site for publishing key documents, and to facilitate online discussion. It would be useful to have an online broadcaster such as Television One's Telstra Business to cover the event, and archive keynote speeches.
Location
16. Auckland is the hub of ecommerce activity in New Zealand, so would likely make the best venue. However, it will be important that the summit programme and participants reflect the range of ecommerce activity and highlight the specific issues faced by the regions. There are a number of significant leading edge high tech companies located in places such as Masterton, New Plymouth, and Gisborne. Such players are often overlooked, so one outcome of the Summit could be to emphasise that world leading ecommerce and high tech initiatives can and do arise out of small town New Zealand.
Timing
17. As suggested in the accompanying paper, the ideal time would be to have the summit in July 2000. However, due to the practicality of funding the date may have to be pushed back to August 2000.
SME Ecommerce Guidelines Publication
18. We envisage that the Summit would be an ideal time to launch the SME Ecommerce Guidelines publication, both for the purpose of garnering publicity for this publication, and to underline the Government's commitment to facilitating ecommerce.
Costs
19. Until a decision is made on the scope of the Summit we are unable to provide a detailed costing. However, we suggest that the ballpark cost of Option 1 would be around one hundred thousand dollars, and Option 2 around two-three hundred thousand dollars. It is possible that these costs to the Government could be reduced through some sponsorship.
20. Note that there is currently no money budgeted within Vote Communications to fund the Ecommerce Summit. Options for funding the Summit are:
- Appropriation via the New Initiatives Bid during the Budget round;
- Run it on a user-pays basis;
- We believe that there is considerable goodwill in the private sector so that we think it will be possible to seek some sponsorship from the major players, e.g. Telecom, Advantage, Ernst and Young;
21. A combination of two or even three of these funding options is the most likely solution.
Recommendations
I recommend that you:
- Agree that the Ministry of Commerce IT Policy Group proceed with initial steps for organising an Electronic Commerce Summit to be held ideally in July or August 2000.
- Agree that the preferred location for the Summit to be held is Auckland.
- Agree that the logistical organisation of the Summit be contracted out to an event organiser.
- Agree (a) that the Summit be a one-day meeting of ecommerce industry leaders with the sole aim of discussing and signing up to the ecommerce strategy.
Or
- Agree (b) that the Summit be a two-day event with wide participation, which is linked into the Government's Economic and Regional Development initiatives, and the Government's vision of a future of high skills, high employment and a high value added economy with reduced inequality.
- Agree that options for a Summit web site, and for broadcasting the Summit via the Internet be explored.
- Note that if there is a decision for the Summit to proceed, and depending on decisions re scope, there will be a requirement for additional funding
- Agree that, a further paper be prepared expanding upon your preferred options above as background for the new initiatives bid.
See Also
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