Meeting of 14 January 2011

This meeting’s agenda centered on strategic studies of ICT in economic trade and the following question: is the computerization of Mediterranean society modifying the nature and flows of economic exchanges between North and South and in south-south relations?  
This workgroup gave an overview of ICT in Euro-Mediterranean economic exchanges. The results were compared with the ICT policies in other major global economic exchange groups (e.g. NAFTA, Mercosur)

Particular focus was put on the following issues and ideas:

1-E-commerce and online payments

Digitalization is changing the types of bond and trust that used to govern commercial practices. Is the introduction of new services in the digital space via Cloud computing and e-commerce transforming trade?   
In southern countries, online payment is very difficult. This is hindering the development of e-commerce.

2-Social networks

The changing nature if trade via the computerization of the economy is affecting trust within communities (e.g. families, economic groups).
What is the state of play of social networks in southern Mediterranean countries? Are they different to those used in Europe? How do they affect trust?
A cartography of social networks would give us a vision of the dynamics of recreational, professional and social exchanges.

3-Research and higher education :

Countries to the South tend to be treated with suspicion by northern countries, which undervalue their skills and knowledge. However the visibility of southern products and skills in the field of software development is improving. “Cloud computing” not only involves sharing computing resources, it raises the issue of sharing “grey matter”. What investments, methods and projects should be put in place in order to create an intelligentsia and innovative entrepreneurship in the South?      

Next steps:

IPEMED’s group of experts in ICT reunited on 11 March 2011 in Istanbul for a workshop in the presence of Turkish entrepreneurs and university professors.

The conclusions and recommendations of the group were presented in Paris during April 2011.