OECD Global Forum on the Knowledge Economy September 16-17, 2002 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development “ Knowledge is the currency of the new world economy” CRMB16/9/02 StrategyStrategy && ActionAction PlanPlan ICT Knowledge- Dynamic Based Society Industry CIMA Regulatory & Legal Infrastructure Human Resource Physical Infrastructure Development E-Transaction Internet Access Facilities LAN Access & Infrastructure Development Connectivity Backbone IT Pre-Literacy Competence LAN/WAN E-Government E-Business E-Commerce ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development l Human Resources – Smarter Societies l Infrastructures – Access and Connectivity l Enabling Environment for E-Business – Legal & Regulatory Framework l Leading role of Government – Productivity & Efficiency l Business competitiveness and development – SME’s l Financial Services – E-business l Culture and National Identity – ICT Savvy l Citizenship and Participation – Interaction Capabilities, ICT l Quality of Life Issues – E-Sensitivity CRMB 16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development Human Resources – Smarter Societies l ICT Literacy through formal and informal education l All OECS citizens be given the chance to achieve the highest possible level of education l Requires deep changes in curricula, teaching methods, operation and management of formal and informal educational programmes and institutions, provision of teaching and learning materials, supporting lifelong learning through a combination of face-to-face, distance and open education OECS ICT Training Strategy CRMB 16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development Infrastructures – Access and Connectivity l Revision of Telecommunication Acts to achieve affordable and universal access to telecommunication facilities l OECS Governments moving steady towards legal reform, and deregulation practices l ECTEL to boost market forces so that all citizens have access to state of the art ICT facilities at affordable cost l Effective competition to guarantee reliability and technological neutrality of the ICT infrastructure IT Telecom/IT in Business/IT Basics CRMB16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development Enabling Environment for E-Business – Legal & Regulatory Framework l Legal rules and procedures be adapted and kept up-to-date l Harmonization of OECS member state legislation l Compatibility with internationally accepted standards and regulations l Define member state e-transaction focus for legal reform and configure to OECS paradigm l Cyber Crime Cyber Lawyers & IT Specialist CRMB 16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development Leading role of Government – Productivity & Efficiency l Credibility of ICT policies largely dependant on effective Government deployment lAs major employer, service provider, and consumer Governments in best position to initiate, and sustain the spread of ICT applications in other sectors l Application of ICT methodologies to all of governments administrative procedures lRapid IT skill enhancement training and job re-qualification l Construction of public information domain accessible to all citizens l Introduction of Knowledge Management Practices IT Specialist/IT Teachers/Basic Literacy CRMB16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development Business competitiveness and development – SME’s l ICT to be initiated in Small and Medium Enterprises, Tourism Industry, and Agri- businesses l E-Commerce initiatives l Prioritize LAN Development IT Institute/IT Teachers/Basic Literacy CRMB16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development Financial Services – E-business l Adaptations of financial systems so that electronic payments methods be standard among the member states l Financial sector adjustment to an economy that relies on services and intangible assets IT Institute/IT Teachers/IT in Business CRMB 16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development Culture and National Identity – ICT Savvy l Projecting cultural activities of OECS member states on the Internet l Creating a critical mass of ICT savvy actors in various cultural associations and activities IT Institute/IT programming/IT marketing CRMB16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development Citizenship and Participation – Interaction Capabilities, ICT l Sustained development of innovation and initiative strengthen by use of interactive capabilities offered by ICT l Effective interaction and consultation procedures incorporated in E-government applications IT Societies/IT “Best Practices” Transfer/IT Marketing Skills CRMB 16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development Quality of Life Issues – E-Sensitivity l ICT applications include the necessary scope to accommodate unique social requirements l Provision of practical information and guidance, or special services to cope with particular situations IT Support Groups/IT Special Classes/IT on-line learning CRMB16/9/02 ICT Regional Policy & Strategic Development The acquisition of knowledge in the ICT evolutionary paradigm becomes the medium for gainful employment, improved economies, and inevitable poverty reduction within the OECS CRMB16/9/02.