Plans for the hosting of the Global Public Policy conference (GPP), to be held in Cape Town in September 2001 are proceeding smoothly, reports Information Industry South Africa (IISA) president Adrian Schofield. The GPP is one of the world conferences arranged by the World IT and Services Alliance (WITSA), of which the IISA is the South African representative member.
"This will be the second WITSA GPP conference, following the successful launch of the inaugural event in 1999 in Buenos Aires Argentina, and the first to be held on the African continent," Schofield continues. "The African venue is particularly fitting for the theme for the conference - Addressing the Digital Divide."
"The theme refers to the polarising effect digital technology has on developing economies," he continues. "As technology permeates every aspect of our lives in the modern world, it is increasingly affecting the lives of those in developing countries, even though it may be less apparent. It is clear that in most instances advances in IT and communications are widening the gap between first and third world countries and between the "haves" and the "have nots" in populations. This conference will examine the developments in technology and in particular the growth in the Internet and e-commerce. The aim of the conference is to bring together a cross-section of people from government, business and organised labour to address the requirements for establishing and implementing effective public policy."
An exhibition of products and services will also take place alongside the conference, offering suppliers` exposure to the high profile and prestigious group of delegates attending the conference. A range of sponsorship opportunities is available for suppliers.
Those wishing to submit papers to the conference should notify the organising committee by no later than 28 February 2001. The deadline for the submission of papers is 15 April 2001.
"With expressions of support from government, including the Department of Communications, SITA and the Western Cape provincial government, everything is set for a highly successful GPP conference in 2001. This bodes well for the hosting of future world conferences in South Africa," Schofield concludes.
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