| AIIA
Bulletin Leading the ICT business community |
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This is the final edition for 2005. Everyone at AIIA wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 19 December 2005 |
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CEO looks back at 2005
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Leading IT Companies Launch Mentoring Program
A group of AIIA member companies are among a consortium of leading ICT companies which have launched a new executive mentoring program for the ICT industry. Read more |
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Information sought on Free Trade Agreement dealings
Organisations and individuals in the Australian ICT industry, particularly AIIA members, are being encouraged to help identify issues associated with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) currently being negotiated with China, Malaysia, ASEAN and UAE. Although negotiations on the FTAs vary from preliminary to advanced, the ICT industry needs to be involved now to ensure that any concerns are considered. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is keen to have input from the ICT industry in Australia to ensure that the sector’s interests are properly represented in any negotiations. AIIA has been an active participant in negotiations involving the potential FTA signatories so far and will be developing a more formal written submission shortly on behalf of members. To develop a comprehensive submission, various AIIA members will be contacted throughout January to discuss their experience in doing ICT business in the potential signatories jurisdictions. Information will be sought also about ICT companies from the areas which conduct business in Australia. Particularly relevant information includes anecdotal evidence on ICT skills and the movement of people, repatriation of profits, investment, intellectual property protection, access to government markets and transparency of opportunities as well as standards regulation and recognition of international standards and telecommunications. For details, see AIIA’s Export page. DFAT information is available from Malaysia, UAE, China and ASEAN. Please contact Fiona McAlister, AIIA policy advisor for international affairs on 02 6281 9415 for details. Meanwhile, another two US states, Tennessee and Oklahoma, have agreed to join the Government Procurement Chapter of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile, said that Australian exporters and businesses now have access to the government procurement markets in 31 US states as well as the US federal government procurement market which is worth in excess of $200 billion. The 31 States include all of the major procuring states in the US, Californa, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania. "This increased access to US state government markets is good news for Australian companies seeking to do business with the United States," Mr Vaile said. “The United States is the world's largest economy, and together US federal and state governments are the world's largest purchasers of goods and services," he said. The Minister said the Australian Government was committed to helping Australian companies realise the benefits of the AUSFTA, adding that Austrade had established a Selling to Government Team to help business win US Government procurement contracts. He said that significant new contracts have been achieved for Australian businesses already and described the AUSFTA is a living agreement, creating a dynamic commercial environment for Australian business in the US government sector. |
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Export Program website launched
AIIA’s Export Program, which is designed to expand international business opportunities for the Australian ICT industry, has a new website. Read more |
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Intellectual Property Paper Underway
AIIA’s Policy team is intensifying its efforts to bring about changes to government procurement policies, particularly in relation to intellectual property (IP). Read more |
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Victoria launches 5-year plan for ICT industry
The Victorian Government's global vision for its ICT industry outlined in its Victorian ICT Industry Plan 2005 – 2010 will foster a strong and innovative local ICT sector according to the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson. Read more |
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AIIA in Victoria to continue Open Source Software Forums
The success of the inaugural Forum on Open Source Software presented by AIIA in Melbourne has assured the future of the series. Read more |
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VIC 2006 Committee elected
Victorian members of AIIA have elected 12 industry representatives to the state’s Committee. Read more |
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NSW identifes three key issues for 2006
The NSW Committee of AIIA has six new industry representatives.
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Queensland committee looks to the future
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iAwards attract wide interest
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ASOCIO agrees on SME and Benchmarking proposals
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Government changes ICT immigration criteria
The Federal Government has revised its Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL) to include five ICT specialisations which have been identified by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) as being in national demand. Read more |
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AIIA members listed among top performers
A total of three AIIA members have been listed in The Bulletin magazine’s top 50 hot shares list. Read more |
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AIIA in WA to boost business opportunities for SMEs
AIIA’s Western Australian branch has begun discussions with the WA Government on a possible collaborative venture to help emerging ICT in WA. Read more |
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Networking opportunities for women in WA to continue
An inspirational speech to the inaugural ICT women's forum in Perth last month has convinced the AIIA to hold similar events in the future. |
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ICT Industry Achiever promotes more collaboration
The winner of the Northern Territory ICT Industry Achiever Awards, Mr Kim Ford, CEO of the CSM Group, says more collaboration is needed between government and the ICT industry if the sector is to reach its full potential. Read more |
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Trust and growth in the on-line environment
Ten million Australians now use the Internet for transactions, according to a report released by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan. Read more |
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Easy on-line access to government forms
A new government desktop tool has been made available to help small businesses find, manage and complete the transactions they regularly carry out with all levels of government. Read more |
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Gatekeeper submissions sought
AGIMO has recently released a draft Gatekeeper PKI Framework and is currently seeking comment from interested parties. Read more |
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Victorian Government opens up events grants
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Technology Scholarships for Women in Victoria
The Victorian Government is offering three $10,000 scholarships in 2006 through the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) which are available to women in the ICT industry. Read more |
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2005 has been a year of change, a year of expansion, a year of evaluation, a year of achievement and a year of significant outcomes for members and affiliates.
ICT industry representatives in Victoria are again being encouraged to take advantage of grants to attend conferences under the state government’s ICT Trade Events and Export Assistance Program. |
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AIIA Statistical Challenge
When is the sale of mobile phone subscriptions expected to reach more than three billion? A. 2007 |
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