IT Business Forum overcomes political uncertainty - News - Business

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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IT Business Forum overcomes political uncertainty

By Jeanne-Vida Douglas, ZDNet Australia
February 27, 2002
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/IT-Business-Forum-overcomes-political-uncertainty/0,139023166,120263716,00.htm

Participants in the IT Business Forum, run in the lead-up to the World Congress on IT in Adelaide, have described the event as a success, despite ongoing confusion following recent State Government elections.

Designed to provide Australian IT business with access to the international delegates attending the event, the Forum project director Noel Browne has described criticisms as a -cop out".

-Australian companies that have participated in the event have had access to 1100 delegates from 55 different countries," Browne said. -Some of the companies that have become involved have already signed up new business with people they would never otherwise have had access to."

Event organisers have circumvented the incumbent Liberal government's refusal to accept defeat, despite the Labour/Independent coalition winning the balance of power in the parliament, by allowing representatives of both major parties to speak at occasions which required political participation.

Browne believes that international guests were not phased by the confusion.

-A few of the international delegates asked why the government required two representatives, but for the most part they have come here to do business and they have been able to achieve that goal regardless of what is happening with the politicians," Browne said.

Jonathan Whalley managing director of Adelaide-based satellite modem vendor DSpace, said the event had helped the company gain access to a wide range of delegates.

-The congress is such a big event globally that it isn't really affected by local politics," Whalley said. -We continued on regardless, our presentation went well, and we got a lot of interest from the international delegates."

Event organisers are predicting that the IT Business Forum will directly contribute between AU$12 and $15 million to the South Australian economy, but said its true value will not be known for some time, as the local IT industry increases its presence on a global stage.

-Every state except for Tasmania is participating in the event, and those companies that have taken the time to become involved are happy with the results so far," Browne said.