This international conference will bring together government ministers, industry leaders, organizations and representatives from labour and public interest groups. Together, delegates will address key issues surrounding the evolution of electronic commerce, and discuss measures to promote its growth on a global basis.

Electronic commerce is a natural extension to the increasing use of debit cards, the electronic exchange of information, and the rapid expansion of the Internet.

The same market forces that have driven the phenomenal growth in Internet usage to over 100 million users worldwide is also expected to drive business and consumer use of open networks for commercial transactions.

The World Trade Organization estimates that the volume of electronic commerce could rise to US $300 billion by the year 2000. Some believe this 21st century commercial tool will be the engine for economic growth, and its potential for increasing productivity worldwide is inestimable.

Put simply, global electronic commerce has far-reaching economic and social implications for the nature of work, daily life and the role of governments.

However, if society as a whole is to fully benefit from the opportunities offered by electronic commerce, business, citizens and countries will need common frameworks to guide its innovation and growth.

The Ottawa ministerial conference builds on the November 1997 OECD business conference in Turku, Finland and the July 1997 European ministerial conference in Bonn, Germany.

It will represent a major step toward reaching broad consensus on critical areas of concern to international business and public policy makers. If the full economic and social potential of electronic commerce is to be realised, four sets of issues must be addressed:

Building trust in electronic commerce by ensuring the security and privacy of transactions and data, and the protection of consumers.

Establishing ground rules so that commercial laws, tax and customs tariffs, trade policy and market access, and intellectual property measures create a level playing field for electronic transactions.

Enhancing the information infrastructure through common interoperable standards, and access to open networks.

Maximizing the benefits of electronic commerce by developing awareness and skills, encouraging widespread SME adoption, and ensuring participation and use by all countries.

These issues are both highly complex and interdependent. Moreover, they are broader than the scope of any single government or organisation: they require consensus building on a global basis and at the highest business and political levels.

The conference will lead to agreements and action plans that will spell out the roles of governments, international organisations and the private sector.

Each of the 29 OECD member countries will select their own delegates to attend the Ottawa ministerial conference. Business leaders from these countries will also play an important role as will the heads of major international organisations. For those who are unable to attend, the open conference proceedings and showcase will be broadcast live over the Internet through the conference Web site.

For conference information contact:
oecd.conference@ic.gc.ca

An important element of the OECD ministerial conference in Ottawa will be the private sector showcase. Taking place alongside the conference, it will demonstrate innovative approaches and solutions to the issues under discussion at the conference, including applications of electronic commerce in use around the world.

For more information on the showcase contact:
ecomm.showcase@canarie.ca

In addition to the showcase, a virtual trade exhibit will be mounted on the conference Web site. This digital presentation will feature more examples of electronic commerce capabilities from Canada and around the world. The virtual trade exhibit will provide an additional window on the conference for Internet users worldwide.

Ottawa, the host city for the OECD ministerial conference on electronic commerce, is Canada's capital and home to more than 800 high technology and life sciences companies.

The city owes its origins to loggers who floated timber down the Ottawa River. From a settler population of just 1000 in 1826, Ottawa has grown into a vibrant bilingual cultural and industrial centre serving a population of more than one million. Its Parliament Buildings, Byward Market and elegant neighbourhoods are steeped in history that mirror a colourful past.

The region is also blessed with thousands of acres of green spaces, and in winter the Rideau Canal is transformed into the longest skating rink in the world.