The Global Policy and Trade Summit (GPATS) is organized by the World Information Technology and Services Association (WITSA). It aims to enhance international dialogue and global cooperation on key public policy issues that affect the growth of the ICT industry and use of ICT.
This year, UNCTAD will attend the GPATS for the first time in a session devoted to the measurement of the IT industry. In collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and WITSA, UNCTAD, through its Division on Technology and Logistics, has been involved in a project to develop a web-based tool for national IT and software associations to gather and analyze both quantitative and qualitative information on the IT industry and to identify relevant market and industry trends. From a policy perspective, it is desirable to have access to internationally harmonized data, to allow for benchmarking against other countries.
As was highlighted in the Information Economy Report 2012, detailed information on the IT and software sector, especially in low-income countries, is generally unavailable. Moreover, private market research is often too expensive for many developing country institutions. In this situation, information collected by IT associations can be a valuable input into the policy formulation related to the development of national software systems. Some associations are already gathering data from their members, while others have not yet started.
The session on Measuring the IT Industry Globally will take place on 13 November and will feature presentations by Mr. Torbjörn Fredriksson, Chief, ICT Analysis Section, Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD; Mr. Roberto C. Mayer President – ALETI Vice-President – Assespro Brazil; and Mr. Bernd Friedrich Head of "Information and Communication Technologies for Development" GIZ Germany.
