Many leading experts from governments in emerging and industrialized markets, digital economy user companies, information and communications technology (ICT) provider organizations, law firms, as well as business and intergovernmental organizations came together to share their vision on how stakeholders can work together to develop Internet governance and apply practical standards and principles needed for efficient paperless trade.

According to Jean-Guy Carrier, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce, who opened the ICC conference: "A more coordinated international approach to digital interactions would improve trade flows considerably."

The overriding conviction shared by conference participants was that paperless trade can help to make governments and companies substantial savings each year while increasing the security of transactions, and contributing to economic growth and social development. Statistically speaking, paperless trade was said to increase productivity saving by 22.3%. However, this represents only part of the potential savings, the lack of coordination among regulators using different approaches to control digital trade continue to hamper solutions that could make massive savings available to all parties through improved efficiency in e-customs, e-public procurement and e-tax.

Joseph Alhadeff, Vice President, Global Public Policy, Chief Privacy Strategist, Oracle Corporation, United States, and Chair, ICC Commission on the Digital Economy, perfectly summarized the issues at hand: "Governments worldwide use ICT to work more effectively with business. Regulations and processes, however, often vary, even within countries, meaning that the ways in which countries approach electronic trade procedures and e-government is increasing in variety and complexity. This comes with its own set of challenges and results in many different - and often conflicting - approaches to the ways businesses and governments interact electronically. Business and government regulators need to collaborate and coordinate more effectively in order to improve electronic trade procedures in a mutually beneficial way."

ICC panellists, moderators, sponsors and supporters are reminded they can consult the new ICC policy statement entitled Assessing the impact on trade of e-government and associated information compliance that emphasizes the growth of e-government and its impact on business. It provides an assessment framework that governments and businesses can use to analyze the impact of e-government initiatives and associated information compliance requirements on businesses, national economies and international trade.

ICC's conference on Facilitating Trade in the Digital Economy was organized with the support of Digital Trust and Compliance Europe, EDIFICE, the European E-invoicing Service Providers Association, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, ICC Switzerland, International Digital Economy Alliance, International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), SwissHoldings and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). ICC further acknowledged the efforts of conference sponsors: Digital Coding & Tracking Association, ClearView Trade, Trustweaver, Ariba, AT&T, Gosocket and Oracle.