UNUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Press Releases 2000

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Press Release ECE/TRADE/00/12

Geneva, 30 June 2000

 

UN/ECE Puts More Emphasis on Industry and Enterprise Development in Transition Economies

 

In recognition of the urgent need in many transition economies to reinforce their private sectors through restructuring industry and creating new enterprises, 44 of its member countries have recommended that the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) establish a new, more coherent structure for promoting industrial and enterprise development in transition economies. The decision to do so was subsequently taken at the fourth session of the UN/ECE Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development held in Geneva from 21–23 June.

Specifically, member countries recommended that the UN/ECE establish a Working Party on industry and enterprise development to enhance cooperation, at a pan-European level, in areas such as: business incubators and similar business-support organizations; women’s entrepreneurship; the use of the Internet for developing new business and facilitating existing processes; industrial overmanning; soil decontamination; and industrial statistics. The new Working Party will consist of representatives of member governments who deal with industry and enterprise development issues in their respective countries. It will coordinate and guide the work of several task-oriented teams.

The annual Committee session was preceded by a Forum on E-commerce in Transition Economies in the Digital Age, which was attended by nearly 400 top decision makers from all over Europe and North America. The Forum recommended that the Committee review all aspects of its work programme in order to identify those areas where further support could be given to transition economies regarding information and communication technologies. The Forum also recommended that a new activity be launched within the UN/ECE to enhance the role of e-commerce and related modern technologies in transition economies. The Committee approved both recommendations.

Service sector and e-commerce to be further promoted in 2001 Forum

It was also decided that the next Forum, in June 2001, would focus on the service sector in transition economies, in particular on the role of electronic services in stimulating innovation, investment and enterprise development.

UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business to continue the work of UN/CEFACT

During this same meeting, the United Nations Centre for Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport (UN/CEFACT) became the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT). The member countries attending the Committee session felt that this new name better reflected the twin emphasis within UN/CEFACT on trade facilitation and electronic business. They pointed out that this change in name would not change the contexts in which this work takes place, i.e. administration, commerce and transport.

UN/CEFACT was established in 1996 in response to the globalization of markets and new technological developments. Its new name is a logical step reflecting its present work on addressing global needs for improved business and administrative processes (whether electronic or paper-based) and the international standards and best practices required to support these processes.

For more information, please contact the following persons:

Working Party on Industry and Enterprise Development:
Mr Bernard Roux-Fouillet, Chief of Section
Tel:  (+41 22) 917 32 41, E-mail: [email protected]

Internet Forums: Mr Daewon Choi
Tel:  (+41 22) 917 24 74, E-mail: [email protected]

UN/CEFACT: Mr Jean Kubler
Tel: (+41 22) 917 27 74, E-mail: [email protected]

 

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