Asian IT ministers call for standardisation in ICT

Srinivasa Rao Dasari / Hyderabad

The 32 participating Asian nations in the second Asia IT Ministers Summit have called for standardisation of information and communication technology (ICT) standards in the region. The IT ministers have also decided to fight the outsourcing backlash and protectionist measures adopted by some sections in the developed economies. The construction of a broadband network environment in Asia was strongly proposed at the summit. Special emphasis to be given on language handling capabilities in IT products in view of the wide spectrum of languages being used in the Asian countries, while giving a major thrust on enabling IPR development for free access and dissemination of cultural resources.

While announcing the Hyderabad declaration, which was adopted by the all participating Asian countries on the concluding day of the two-day Asia IT Ministers Meet, Arun Shourie, the Union IT minister, said that personal relationships among the participating nations would be built up, in order to bridge the Digital Divide. According to him, Asian countries will hold regional level discussions on standardisation of components and on areas of IT at international standards. “The summit helped Asian nations exchange their views, ideas and experiences. They have come to an understanding of what needs to be done in order to take the IT revolution to all corners of Asia. Governments are encouraged to undertake at least one mega project aiming at benefiting a large section of their population,” Shourie added.

The summit has decided to set up community information centres (CICs) on a pilot basis in the region, while India will share its experience in establishing the same since it has already set up such CICs in the North Eastern states.

Saying that as part of the standardisation plan it was decided to set up a separate Asian Institute of Information System Auditors, Shourie explained that there would be no time frame fixed to implement the same. To bridge the Digital Divide, Asian countries need to focus on research and development (R&D) and networking to facilitate accessibility of ICT for every body. The declaration includes digitisation of culture, construction of a broadband network environment in Asia and Internet affordability, among other issues.

“The next Asia IT Ministers Meet will be held in Bahrain in 2005 and the fourth summit would be held in Myanmar in 2006. India and the host of the next summit will take the responsibility to implement the issues that are made in the declaration,” Shourie said.