IT aims for greater influence in the G20

The US city of Pittsburgh has made a successful transition from an economy focused on steel to one that has a thriving technology industry. It felt like a particularly appropriate setting for September’s G20 Summit because, while the global political community came together to debate economic recovery, so too did the world’s IT community.

The fact that anarchist protesters in Pittsburgh were using Twitter to inform one another of police movements is surely proof that IT has become a pervasive part of all our lives. There is therefore a real need for discussions at the highest level to take account of the role IT plays in economies and societies around the world. With this in mind, trade associations from across the world came together in Pittsburgh ahead of the main summit to form the G20 ICT Policy Network (G-ICT).

Under the auspices of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance, G-ICT has been set up to act as a targeted and influential player on the G20 scene. The G20 countries are responsible for 85 per cent of global gross national product, 80 per cent of world trade and two-thirds of the world population.

News that former UK business minister Shriti Vadera has resigned to take up a post with the G20 may have been greeted with speculation about her true motives, but the fact that Gordon Brown has relinquished one of his closest advisers to a position within the G20 is evidence of its growing stature as a key forum to co-ordinate global responses to the challenges facing our increasingly interconnected and interdependent world.

It is vital that we influence these key decision-makers. Equally vital is that we do so under the banner of a credible and united industry group with an international membership. It is early days for G-ICT, and the level of commitment from the member organisations will determine whether this approach to global decision-making will prove effective for our industry, but it has identified three major areas to focus its efforts ahead of the next G20 summit in Canada.

Next-generation broadband will form a key plank of the G-ICT policy platform, and it will be making the case for governments across the world to provide a supportive framework for continued private-sector investment and the enormous positive impact this will have on job creation and productivity.

Recognising that climate change is one of the greatest global challenges we face, G-ICT will be among those urging a rapid shift to smart, green technology to achieve major improvements in energy efficiency. Most importantly, G-ICT will also be arguing vigorously that open trade in IT goods and services is essential for the global economy.

Intellect will be playing a leading role in G-ICT. We have already been invited to serve on the Leaders Council, which will have responsibility for advocacy and direct liaison with the G20 governmental process. Our early involvement in this project means the UK’s technology sector will have a key role in shaping and delivering the messages that we put to the G20 governments. As we emerge from the recession, it is my hope that G-ICT is able to place the global concerns of our industry at the highest level and through one of the world’s most-influential channels.

John Higgins is director general of Intellect, the trade association for the UK IT industry. Read the blog at http://intellect.computing.co.uk