The ExCeL Conference Centre
In February 2005, the UK hosted the 4th ASEM Conference on eCommerce at the ExCeL conference centre in East London. The objective of the ASEM initiative is to identify ways of increasing trade and investment through the use of online technologies and the conference was split into five streams: Paperless Trading; Tackling Spam; eLogistics; eLearning; and eHealth.
Mike O’Brien MP addresses the opening plenary session
The conference was introduced by Mike O’Brien, the Minister of State for Energy and eCommerce. In his presentation, he emphasised the importance of standards, saying, “At this time of unprecedented technological change, ecommerce presents tremendous opportunities. But we will only maximise these if we can work together to establish global standards.”
The importance of standards was emphasised throughout the presentations in the paperless trading stream, which was being chaired by SITPRO. A wide range of speakers from both Europe and Asia guided delegates through the latest paperless trade developments in Europe and Asia.
Paperless Trade Speakers (left-right): Maurice Kingdon; Mike Doran; Dick Raman; Markus Pikart; Hakhee Han; Gordon Cragge; and Tony Davis
The first day featured presentations representing the work taking place in the UK, United Nations and Asia to make paperless trading a reality. Although the presentation by Hakhee Han of KTNet demonstrated how paperless trade has advanced in Asia, Maurice Kingdon from HM Customs was keen to highlight the large steps that the UK has already taken and to paint a positive picture of paperless trade in Europe in the coming years.
Stream leader, SITPRO’s Gordon Cragge said, “The technology is available, but making those savings is all down to greater international co-operation and the ASEM Conference is one of the world's biggest platforms for establishing common ground.”
Return to SITPRO News: ASEM Conference Special Edition, Spring 2005
