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Korea

OECD Ministerial meeting on ¡°Future of the Internet Economy¡± in Korea
From 17-Jun-2008 to 18-Jun-2008, Seoul, Korea

Ministers from more than 40 countries are meeting with global business leaders, technical experts and academics in order to agree new ways to improve global co-ordination and co-operation at the OECD Ministerial meeting on ¡°Future of the Internet Economy¡± in Seoul, Korea.

Over thirty Ministers have confirmed they will attend the Ministerial, along with leaders from International Government Organisations, Business, Organised Labour, the Internet¡¯s technical Community and Civil Society [more]

About the meeting
The Internet is a key infrastructure for global economic growth and social development. Three major trends ¨C Convergence, Creativity and Confidence ¨C are influencing the policy environment for the Internet Economy. Each of these trends reflects significant shifts in the use and functionality of the Internet. Collectively, they represent a major transition in the evolution of the Internet and the economic system that has developed around it. Therefore, it has become increasingly necessary that policies supporting the Internet Economy be carefully crafted and co-ordinated across policy domains, borders and multiple stakeholder communities.

Ministers and stakeholders meeting on 17-18 June 2008 in Seoul will consider social, economic and technological trends shaping the development of the Internet Economy. They will forge broad principles that can provide an enabling policy environment for the Internet Economy.

(Source: www.oecd.org)

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May 2002
The Korean National Computerization Agency (KNCA) is proving that transfer technology mechanisms between countries in the field of IT can work, whatever that country's level of technological development. The Agency has been mandated since November 2001 to pass its knowledge of IT development and implementation on to neighbor country Cambodia and provide consultancy services to the Cambodia National Administrative Information System Project. The Agency has to provide auditing and technical consulting services covering the areas of resident registration, real estate and vehicles based on Korea's IT experiences and technical power accumulated so far. (Source : www.nca.or.kr)

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First Quarter PC sales cross 1.7 millions units in India
New Delhi, September 25, 2007

MAIT, the apex body representing the hardware, training and R&D services sectors of the IT industry in the country, today announced the findings of its Quarterly Industry Performance Review for the quarter April-June of fiscal 2007-08. PC sales including desktops and laptops crossed 1.7 million (17 lakh) units, with sales of notebooks, servers and peripherals witnessing a robust growth during the quarter. As strong macroeconomic conditions and upbeat market sentiment continue, sales in second quarter are expected to be buoyant. The Desktop sales in FY 2007-08 are expected to cross 6.25 million (62.5 lakh) units.

Commenting on the findings of the study, Vinnie Mehta, Executive Director, MAIT said, "IT consumption in the country continued to be dominated by Industry verticals and corporate sectors such as telecom, banking & financial services, manufacturing and IT-enabled services. The demand in the April-June quarter also rose on account of e-governance projects at the centre and various states. Apart from these traditional sectors, high consumption was also witnessed in SMEs, education, retail and other computer-centric small enterprises.??In addition, the trend of increased PC purchase in households, smaller towns and cities as witnessed over the last few quarters, continued to be steadfast. The drop in prices of desktops enabled computers to move rapidly into SEC C as well. Aggressive pricing by PC vendors has also helped improve the PC penetration, especially in the households and the SME segments."

Elaborating on the performance of the some key verticals he added, "An interesting feature during the quarter has been the resurgence of the home market. Infact, other than Delhi and Mumbai, PC consumption in households exceeded that in the enterprise segment. The education vertical is emerging as another key driver for PC consumption in the country. With privately managed schools and colleges adopting PCs at a brisk rate, PC penetration in these segments is expected to gain traction in the near future.? Further, while IT consumption in the retail sector is becoming vibrant, a large majority of the market remains to be tapped. IT adoption remains limited to the organised retail and is yet to take off in the unorganised market."

About MAIT:
Set up in 1982 for purposes of scientific, educational and IT industry promotion, MAIT has emerged as an effective, influential and dynamic organisation. Today MAIT represents hardware manufacturers & vendors, training, R&D and associated services sectors of the Indian IT Industry. MAIT's charter is to develop a globally competitive Indian IT Industry, promote the usage of IT in India, strengthen the role of IT in national economic development and promote business through international alliances.

For more information, please visit: www.mait.com

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March 2007
Interactive Technology Software and Media Association (ISTMA)
INCITE (UE-India cooperation) - ENABLING INDIAN IT STAKEHOLDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN CALL 1 OF THE ICT PROGRAMME OF FP7
The INCITE (Indian Networks Co-operation in Information Society Technology with Europe) Project facilitates R & D cooperation between India and Europe in the ICT sector. Currently INCITE is deploying various tools and methodologies to catalyze this process.
INCITE regularly conducts workshops and events to help various IT organizations familiarize themselves on EU ICT funding programme in Research and Development
The INCITE Project has just successfully concluded 3 past events which has witnessed participation of more than 150 organizations, of which more than 80 organizations have participated in the 1-2-1 sessions with many of them presenting project ideas.
(For More Information: http://www.inciteproject.org/past_events.asp)

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Stability in Policies: Key to IT market growth and investment
New Delhi
February 23, 2007
The Manufacturers Association for Information Technology (MAIT), the apex body representing India's IT hardware, training and R&D services sectors, in its memorandum to the Union Finance Ministry for the forthcoming Union Budget has stressed on the need for a stable policy regime of the IT hardware industry.
Commenting on the IT hardware industry's expectations from the Union Budget, Mr. Vinnie Mehta, Executive Director, MAIT said "MAIT members have unanimously emphasized that status-quo be maintained on tax structures for IT products including the continuance of a reduced excise duty of 12 percent on PCs. Since 2004, the PC industry has witnessed changes in the excise duty structure; however, it is only in the last one year that an excise regime was introduced to establish a level playing field between local manufacturing and imports. It is imperative that this In the same spirit, all IT products should attract the same rate of VAT across the country. Further, the levy of central sales tax (CST), with its cascading impact, is a major deterrent to local manufacturing, must be removed immediately."
(Source: www.mait.com/index.jsp)

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February 2003

India’s NASSCOM wants Indian Software Industry to strengthen global brand equity and has embarked in an international public relations and pubic affaires campaign to spread the good word, first by focusing on the US and the UK markets. The purpose of the campaign is to educate public and private sector leaders and the IT community at large about India's strong technological assets. India exports already its IT and software services in most parts of the world but wants to increase that by better understanding the needs of specific foreign markets in terms of technological and human resources. Other initiatives falling into the campaign include forming strategic partnerships with key local institutions, hosting large scale events (Partner India Summit) in sought-after markets, organizing one-on-one meetings with key influencers, customers and analysts, providing foreign market analysts with reliable information, actively participating in international forums and business conferences to spread the message about India's IT advantage and engaging with venture capitalists in order to attract technology investments in Indian companies. (Source: NASSCOM, Issue 16, Jan 25, 2003 or www.nasscom.org)

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January 2003
The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) believes e-government initiatives at the national and regional levels could lift the sluggish domestic Indian ICT industry from the doldrums. Both public and private sector organizations are hoping different levels of governments will kick-start an ambitious ICT infrastructure program that will ripple on all software and hardware enterprises in the country, positively effect their business growth and allow citizens greater access to technology and services. According to an in-house study, 2001-2002 e-government spending reached a paltry $2.5 billion US, a number NASSCOM would like to see increased in the near future. The federal government has been asking the States and their agencies to invest between 1 and 3% of their budget on IT projects. Already 19 States are moving forward with the recommendations, translating into good business opportunities for Indian ICT vendors. Two ambitious projects are also on track: the India Portal and the National Institute of SMART Governance. Both are designed to facilitate a Government/Citizen interface and a better understanding of citizens and enterprises needs in this field. (Source : NASSCOM Newsline)

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August 2002
NASSCOM, the association representing software and services companies in India, is calling for Indian public sector banks to work in co-operation with the Indian IT industry for increased adoption of IT in the banking, financial services & insurance sector (BFSI). The association estimates that to introduce the benefits of IT and provide a centralized banking solution to their customers, this sector will have to invest at least 5% of their total spending in the medium term. NASSCOM president, Kiran Karnik, argues that Indian companies have made considerable inroads in the BFSI sector internationally, representing today close to 22% of India's software and services exports, He adds that the segment also offers great potential for the SME sector for developing customized financial products and services. NASSCOM recommends best practice sharing among IT and software companies, the creation of a comprehensive database of IT applications available for the BFSI sector, training for executives and close cooperation with appropriate ministries for the development of smart cards standards.

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April 2002
Three fundamental shifts seem to have caught the attention of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) and consultancy firm Mc Kinsey in their soon to be released IT in India study.

• Near term demand has shifted from new application development to maintenance/ product enhancements as customers are cutting IT budgets and getting more focused on existing investments. Out-sourcing is expected to accelerate and different customer segments with unique needs are expected to emerge. Pricing pressures are beginning to surface for both large and small Indian players
• Global system integrators are increasingly leveraging India to offer off-shoring as an integral part of their offering.
• India will see competition from emerging locations, particularly China in the next few years with the immediate threat in R&D services.

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December 2001
The Indian National Software and service Association (NASSCOM) announced last month that it was going to implement processes and strategies to better position its small and medium member companies (SMEs) in two specific areas : Government contracts and Marketing. These SMEs who constitute an important part of the Association are asking that they be awarded a greater share of the Indian Government and Defense contracts. NASSCOM will also be asking that 5% of Government spending on development of Indian languages software be awarded to the SMEs as well. Because Indian SMEs find it also difficult to establish their business credentials abroad, NASSCOM has decided to focus on developing tools and strategies to facilitate the marketing aspects of these enterprises. This will include better cooperation and greater synergies between large and small Indian IT and software companies, greater use of communication and PR tools and the overseas promotion of SMEs products and services. For more details please see www.nasscom.org.

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October 2001
The Executive Committee of NASSCOM, the Indian Association of IT Software and Service Companies, has just announced the election of their new President, Mr. Kiran Karnik. According to NASSCOM chairman , Mr. Phiroz Vandrevala, Mr. Karnik was the ideal candidate to lead the Association 'in its efforts to develop India as the next IT superpower'. Before NASSCOM, Mr. Karnik has worked, among other things, in the Educational Broadcasting and Telecommunications sectors. For more information about the announcement, see www.nasscom.org/articles/new_president.asp.

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Hong Kong

Internet Professional Association (iProA), Hong Kong ( www.iproa.org )
China Internet Market - 2006 Performance and 2007 Preview
The seminar " China Internet Market - 2006 Performance and 2007 Preview" was successfully held on 15 January 2007 at Admiralty.
To announce the result of the 2006 - 2007 China Internet Market Survey, an authoritative survey conducted by the Internet Society of China, iProA organized a Seminar titled China Internet Market C 2006 Performance and 2007 Preview and we were cordially invited Mr. Hu Yanping, representative from the Internet Society of China; Mr. Timothy Shen, the Founder and Director of Camden Rich Group and Dr. Elizabeth Quat, our Co-Founder & Immediate Past President to be the speakers of the seminar.
(Source: Internet Professional Association (iProA), Hong Kong www.iproa.org )

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Singapore

Collaboration between Jordan and Singapore
March 2007

The Consortium comprising of SiTFs eGov Chapter members agreed to provide ICT consulting services and solutions to the Jordanian government to develop its e-government capability and to assist in the implementation of e-government services.

20 November 2006, Singapore -- Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Republic of Singapore paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Eng. Omar Alkurdi, Jordans Minister for Communications and Information Technology on November 19, 2006. During the meeting, the two Ministers discussed and explored ways to promote greater ICT collaboration between the two countries.
(Source: Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation. Fore more information, please see www.sitf.org.sg/index.aspx )

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Philippine

Philippine Internet Service Organization (PISO)
March 2007
Advocacy Work
PISO (member of FIAM) is engaged in several advocacy initiatives to help promote the Internet services industry aswell as play an active role in reshaping the local business and regulatory environment from one that turns a blind eye to monopolistic and anti-competitive practices to one that encourages entrepreneurship, fair competition, innovation and cooperation.
(See more information: www.piso.org.ph )

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New-Zeland

March 2002
New Zealand information technology association, ITANZ, released several weeks ago the results of the seventh annual survey of the New Zealand IT industry, conducted by Statistics New Zealand. Some numbers are worth mentioning especially at they relate to New Zealand's IT exports which clearly show the country's focus on developing foreign markets : the value of export sales of IT products during the 2000 financial year increased by almost 11% ($923.2 million) compared to the 1999 financial year. Communications hardware equipment and cables increased 26.0 percent from $245.7 million in the 1999 financial year to $309.5 million in the 2000 financial year. Exports of communication services is 4.6 percent ($10.1 million) higher in the 2000 financial year when compared with the 1999 financial year. However, exports of computer hardware (including peripheral computer equipment) decreased 37.0 percent from $28.9 million in the 1999 financial year to $18.2 million in the 2000 financial year. Finally, sales to end users of training and education in IT are estimated to be $94.7 million, an increase of $30.2 million (46.8 percent) when compared to the 1999 financial year. For more information on the New Zealand IT industry, please see www.itanz.org.nz.

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Malaysia

New partners to advance nation¡¯s increasingly competitive ICT outsourcing industry
Kuala Lumpur, October 1st, 2007

Outsourcing Malaysia (OM), a chapter of? Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (PIKOM), and Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) today announced a new partnership set to undertake key initiatives and boost the nation¡¯s ICT outsourcing industry.

The partnership signals a change in tempo for the fast growing industry. It seeks to increase Malaysia¡¯s number of globally competent outsourcing companies, create a sustainable pool of globally recognised professionals, create thousands of new jobs and increase revenues from ICT service exports.

In today¡¯s signing ceremony, PIKOM chairman David Wong Nan Fay, represented OM as the chapter¡¯s chairman, exchanged documents with MDeC chief executive officer Dato¡¯ Badlisham Ghazali to formalised this new partnership.

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Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia organizes
in April 2007.
(Fore detail, please see www.pikom.org.my )

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June 2003
PIKOM Chairman Looi Kien Leong presented early this year, in Kuala Lumpur, a document outlining the country’s new technology outlook and development for the year 2003. Starting from the premise that the ICT industry in his country still relies on imports of new technologies, PIKOM’s Chairman argues for the need to develop made in Malaysia solutions in providing ICT products and services. He adds that the Internet hype and the dot.com bubble effected negatively the industry in growth terms. Looking at 2002, Mr. Leong indicated that the ICT industry sustained itself thanks to the strong government spending, in education in particular. The private sector seems to have been quite anaemic. The current year will continue to be soft with government spending in technology products and services the major impetus for growth. Overall though, the industry is set to grow by 8% this year and hi-tech companies are looking for foreign markets (Middle East, China, other developing countries) to supplement their revenues. ICT sectors that should rebound this year include mobile services (SMS, m-commerce), logistics and distribution (e-logistics), telecommunications (rollout of 3G) and education (teaching hardware and e-learning tools). There are important challenges to overcome: SMEs are slow to take up technology, hi-tech banditry and software piracy seem to be rampant, ICT companies are experiencing a shortage of skills resources and Malaysians are slow to adopt domestic products. (Source: http://www.pikom.org.my/index.html)

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March 2003
PIKOM, The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia calls its members to focus on exporting their technologies and know-how to the world and will provide help to penetrate international markets. According to PIKOM’s Chairman for International Relations Harres Tan, the Malaysian IT and multimedia industry is ready and capable of competing at the international level, following in the footsteps of countries such as India, China and South Korea. To do so, Pikom will work closely with MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation), MDC (Multimedia Development Corporation), and the ICT trade associations of various other countries. According to Tan, “for the past few years, PIKOM has been offering international trade facilitation to its members but the current effort will be done on a different scale. We will set up an advisory panel consisting of people who are already doing business in the regional/global arena and will seek the support of our local press media to constantly highlight the availability of such services to members so that they would come forward for advice and facilitation. We are keenly aware that during these times of global uncertainty, our industry must stay healthy and competitive and one the ways is to ensure this is to help members expand and exploit their potentials quickly”. PIKOM argues that the Malaysian market is too small when it comes to software and services and looking beyond our shores is the next most sensible thing to do. (Source: PIKOM news, February 26, 2003, www.pikom.org.my)

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February 2003
PCs are hot in Malaysia and PIKOM wants ‘things to cool down’. What has to stop is the sudden rise in the theft of computer hardware in the country that sent the Malaysian Association of the Computer Industry scurrying for the right answer. These criminal acts seem to originate from the work of a Syndicate that "seems to know just when and where to strike…", according to Pikom Chairman Looi Kien Leong. Mr. Looi is proposing the creation of a taskforce, in partnership with police authorities, a proposition the association has tabled in a memorandum to the appropriate ministry. In the last few months of 2002, over half a million dollars of computer hardware were stolen, in high banditry fashion, from several PIKOM company members despite the necessary security measures. Such thefts, argues Mr. Looi, are affecting insurance costs and making computer hardware more expensive and most importantly wants the image of the country as open for business and investments as little tarnished as possible. (Source : Asia.Cnet, article)

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November 2002
According to a survey conducted in May of this year, the Malaysian Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) is doing well. More than 18,000 knowledge worker jobs have been created over the past year (software developers, programmers, analysts as well as sales and marketing managers and technical support staff). 70% of surveyed Multimedia and IT companies have stated their need for experienced employees as opposed to recent graduates. Regarding the composition of the workforce, 87% of workers are Malaysian, while the remaining 13% are mostly from India. The MSC is currently composed of close to 750 companies with roughly 50 of them having real international exposure. As of May 2002, total sales of MSC companies amounted to roughly US$1.48 billion, 25% of which are from exports. Malaysia exports mostly to ASEAN countries, followed by Hong Kong, the United States, Europe, China, Japan, India and West Asian countries. For more insight on the development of the Super Corridor, please read the following Star Online Interview. (Source : CNET Asia)

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November 2002
According to the latest statistics compiled by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), there are over eight million cellular phone users as at June 2002, a 13% increase from a year ago. This is almost twice the number of fixed-line subscribers (4.6 million). As in many developing countries where mobile communications have seen impressive growth, the introduction of prepaid services has helped customers choose the right mobile services according to their needs and ability to pay. 64% of cell phone users are on a prepaid format. Analysts also cite that the Government's decision in March 2000 to remove a RM60 (US$16) cap on access fees was a major impetus as well. Cap removal prompted mobile companies such as DiGi to add several services such as a flat monthly fee and a rollover of unused talk time. (Source : Raslan Sharif, the Star Online, 16/9/2002)

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May 2002
PIKOM, the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia, has announced, effective March 1st, the appointment of Wong Say Ho as its new executive director. Mr. Wong's experience is broad: he has worked in the field of Information Technology as end-user, vendor and as a consultant in such fields as finance, insurance, manufacturing and e-commerce. Mr. Wong is expected to implement projects initiated by PIKOM's council while overseeing the general functions of the association that acts as the umbrella body for Malaysia's ICT industry. (Source : www.pikom.org.my)

April 2002
In a recent announcement, the Malaysian Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry (PIKOM) was happy to state that Malaysian children are enjoying technology education that is on par with neighbouring countries and the rest of the world. PIKOM Education Committee chairman Chin Kin Onn focused on the importance of computer literacy as a tool for learning and of the need to continue investing in ICT, a concern the current government seems to share as well. Monies have been funnelled into such programs as the Smart School Project and the computerization of primary and secondary schools in rural and urban areas. Not everybody agrees though with an early introduction of computers in primary schools and the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has urged, over the past year, the ministries of Education as well as Energy, Communications and Multimedia to put a moratorium on the further introduction of computers in schools citing pedagogical and psychological reasons. (Source : TechStar, February 21st, 2002)

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January 2002
Pikom committee Chairman for Education, Mr. Chin Kin Onn, was interviewed lately on the state of e-learning in his country and had the following to say :

• Schools and homes are poorly equipped whether in PCs or in Internet connections;
• the Ministry of Education is not doing enough to integrate e-learning and IT training in the school curriculum;
• the latest e-learning initiatives such as Online Schools and Sekola Bestari are good starting initiatives but more has to be done;
• PIKOM has a major role to play in this area of e-learning and will participate in all of the Government's Education initiatives in ICT;
• Practically speaking, PIKOM will provide advice to the educational sector in general (schools and government), conduct workshops and seminars to inform the different constituents of ICT and education and run a scholarship program for promising and talented individuals.

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October 2001
The Malaysian Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry (PIKOM) announced early this year that it was setting up a special fund (PC fair fund) for the purpose of acquiring and donating personal computers and peripherals to underprivileged communities across the country.
The initiative is part of the Association's work in bridging the Digital Divide within Malaysia. Among the beneficiaries, we can cite orphanages, welfare homes, rehabilitation and community centres. Please refer to their website
www.pikom.org.my for more information.

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Japan

Tokyo Game Show 2007

September 20-23, 2007

Organized by Computer Entertainment Supplier¡¯s Association and
Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.

Theme: ¡°Link up, Reach out, To the World¡±
The hottest information about games for both consumers and business
is right here in Makuhari.
Development of internationalization¡ªa rapid increase in the number of
overseas exhibitors, the highest to date!
The number of exhibitors, the number of booths, and the number of
titles exhibited have also reached new highs.

The Computer Entertainment Supplier¡¯s Association (CESA), in cooperation with Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (International Business Division), and with special support from NTT DoCoMo, Inc., will hold the Tokyo Game Show 2007 over a four-day period from Thursday, September 20 to Sunday, September 23, 2007. The show has its theme ¡°Link up, Reach out, To the World¡±, and it will be held in Exhibition Halls 1 to 8, covering an area of approximately 54,000 square meters, at Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, in Chiba Prefecture.

In addition to a large number of exhibitors from Japan, exhibitors from nineteen different countries and regions¡ªUSA, UK, Israel, Ukraine, Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Germany, Norway, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Jordan and Russia¡ªwill be taking part in the Tokyo Game Show 2007. 217 corporations, organizations and schools, the highest number to date, will be exhibiting at this year¡¯s show. The number of booths has also set a new record at 1,735. There will be 97 exhibitors from overseas, a number which greatly exceeds last year¡¯s total of 51.

This year marks the full-scale introduction of software titles for the new home game platforms released over the past two years, and a large number of major titles are set to go on sale later this year. The number of game software titles for home video game consoles, including the titles that will be launched at the show and pre-release titles, comes to 702, another new record (650 titles last year).

¡¡In addition to the significant breakthroughs that were made in handheld game consoles last year, the launch of a new generation of video game consoles led to a large expansion in the home game market. This year will see transitions with a vigor that will exceed even that of last year. The reason for this is that games have now permeated the lives of women, seniors, and other people who have not played games before, to say nothing of hard-core games fans, and the great variety of game software that continues to be released is evidence of this. It can be thought that the proactive approach to business development in the game industry in light of this social trend is linked to the expansion of the scale of the Tokyo Game Show.

In particular this year, the number of business days at the Tokyo Game Show 2007 has been increased from one day to two, Thursday and Friday, with the aim of strengthening the event¡¯s impact as a trade show and to promote internationalization. On these days, the newly-established Business Solutions Corner and Business Meeting Corner will facilitate business discussions and information gathering between exhibitors from both Japan and overseas and visitors to the show, and will further enhance the show¡¯s impact as an international trade show.

The Tokyo Game Show 2007 will serve as an official event of the inaugural Japan International Contents Festival (CoFesta*1), a series of events that will provide opportunities for publicizing content development in Japan both within Japan and to the world, and for coming into contact with a wide range of content-related concepts and materials.

The Japan International Contents Festival (CoFesta) is the world¡¯s largest integrated content festival. The organizers¡¯ aims are to broaden the appeal of content developed in Japan and to present the ¡°now¡± of content-related industries both within Japan and overseas. A series of events related to games, animation, manga (comics), characters, broadcasting, music and film held over a 40-day period will provide opportunities for content industry people from around the world to come into contact with a wide range of Japanese content all at the same time. This year is the inaugural year, and the Tokyo Game Show 2007 which starts on September 20 will be the kick-off event. This will be followed by 18 events held in the Greater Tokyo area and seven events in the Chubu (Central Japan) and Kansai (Western Japan) regions. Japan¡¯s newest talent, technology and industries will all be concentrated in these events.

Operational Launch of the Internet Hotline Center- An integrated point for reporting illegal or harmful information to enable safe use of the Internet
May 31, 2006

The Internet Association Japan (President: Akinobu Kanasugi) has established an integrated reporting point - The Internet Hotline Center (hereafter referred to as 'Hotline') - for reporting illegal or harmful information on the Internet. This is to enable safe use of the Internet, which has become a social infrastructure of today. The Hotline will launch operation at 14:00 on Thursday June 1. Reports will be received on a web page. This web page can be accessed not only from PCs but also from mobile phones connected to the Internet.

(For more information, please see www.iajapan.org/index-en.html )

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November 2001

For the year 2001, three projects have caught the attention of Tokyo-based Asian Multimedia Forum (AMF) and were launched accordingly. The AMF, an organization geared toward the promotion and implementation of IT services and applications within Asian society, is looking into the following IT sectors : smart cards technology as a telecommunication platform, machine translation applications over networks and the next generation Internet protocol (IPv6). If you are interested in knowing more about the state of advancement of these projects, you can check their website at www.asiamf.org/newsletter/vol12/top.html.

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Australia

AIMIA calls for industry greats
Sydney, October 2nd, 2007

The Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) has opened entries for the 14th Annual AIMIA Awards. The ¡°Amy¡¯s¡±, as they are known, recognise the best of Australia¡¯s digital content industry.

AIMIA is looking to build on the success of last year¡¯s awards which saw a 27 percent increase in entries from the previous year. To reflect the continuing growth and diversity of the industry, the 14th awards program sees a new category devoted to Travel & Tourism, a sector which has embraced the benefits of digital business.

The Awards continue to grow in diversity, reflecting the constantly evolving digital content sector. This is demonstrated by the 97 finalists last year who come from a broad spectrum of small and medium businesses, as well as global organisations and media outlets.

AIMIA CEO John Butterworth said the annual AIMIA Awards, now in their 14th year, celebrate the very best in digital content innovation across all genres and platforms.

Fore more information, please visit: www.aimia.com.au

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AIMIA Welcomes Tremendous Growth in Australian Interactive Advertising Market
March 2007
John Butterworth, CEO of the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association and a founding member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau in Australia, today welcomed the latest Online Advertising Expenditure Report which showed that The Australian online advertising market grew 61.5% in 2006 to reach $1,001 million.

A billion dollars in advertising is a significant number in anybodys terms and reinforces how much Digital Media has become an every day part of life for so many Australians. Advertising spend follows the audience which in turn follows the content and the latest advertising figures clearly demonstrate that Australians are going online for interesting and relevant content."

(Source: Australian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association (AIMIA), Sidney, Australiawww.aimia.com.au )

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