Kerala Government Eyes Alliance with the Dubai Internet City

Dubai: Kerala Government is exploring the possibility of entering into a long term alliance with the Dubai Internet City. The State Industries Minister P.K.Kunjalikutty is in Dubai to participate in an international IT conference on Telecommunications and Digital Economy organised by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Kerala will be showcased as an ideal Information Technology destination. The state of Andhra Pradesh under the high-tech Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu has already approached the UAE Government with various proposals to tie up with the Dubai Internet City. Keral would be presented as a city state, quality it as one of the best IT destinations.The conference to be hosted by Dubai Internet City, will be held at the Conference Room of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel from January 21-23, 2002.

The conference is expected to gather around 500 participants from the governments of the OECD member nations, as well as representatives from about thirty non-member countries, international inter-governmental organizations, senior figures from major global business enterprises and organizations, non-governmental bodies and other e-commerce entities from around the world.

Key OECD officials visited Dubai Internet City last week to finalise the programme of the OECD Conference on Telecommunications Policy for the Digital Economy to be held next month in Dubai. The officials from the Information, Computer and Communications Policy Division of the OECD's Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry included Dimitri Ypsilanti, Principal Administrator and Asako Takahashi, Assistant.

They held extensive meetings with Dubai Internet City officials on various aspects of the organization of the conference including the fine details of logistics, security, accommodation of participants, media relations and speaker and participant lists. The OECD officials were extremely impressed with the arrangements made by Dubai Internet City for the conference.
The OECD Telecommunications Policy for the Digital Economy conference has the objective of raising awareness and providing a catalyst for change among the participating entities concerning the role of the reform of telecommunications regulation.
"The Telecommunications Policy for the Digital Economy Conference signifies the growing strategic relationship between Dubai and the OECD," said Ahmad Bin Byat, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Internet City and Coordinator General, OECD Dubai 2002. "Through our partnership with the OECD we hope to bring an enlightened global perspective to the key economic and social challenges facing the region. Dubai Internet City is keen to bring leading global experts to Dubai to discuss major issues that drive the growth of technology and the new economy in the region," he added.

The conference will focus on market opening and competition in the provision of telecom infrastructure and services as a way of encouraging improved service. It will provide its participants with an overview of policy issues and developments in telecommunications market liberalization, its impact and benefits and highlight best practice policy and regulatory frameworks.
The conference will present the experiences and lessons of OECD and non-OECD countries and discuss the main reasons why market liberalization is necessary, the costs of maintaining closed markets, the economic benefits of competition and market restructuring, and the main policy and institutional requirements for change.