The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is a consortium of associations from the information technology (IT) industry around the world. The group claims that it represents over 90% of the world IT market, and has a stated goal of advancing the growth and development of the IT industry. WITSA was founded in 1978 as the World Computing Services Industry Association, and claims that it has since increasingly participated in advocacy in international public policy that affects the "global information infrastructure". It voices the concerns of the international IT industry in organisations such as the World Trade Organization, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the G8.
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The WITSA Global ICT Excellence Awards honor exceptional achievements in the application of information technology around the globe. Winners of these prestigious awards have exhibited excellence within one of three categories: Public Sector Excellence, Private Sector Excellence, and Digital Opportunity. In addition, a special Chairman's Award is presented to a nominee selected from the entire pool of candidates from all three awards categories. The award ceremonies are a signature event of the proceedings at the World Congress on Information Technology. In honoring the best users of ICT, the awards enable member companies to showcase their customers' innovation.
WITSA's Global Public Policy Conference enhances the international dialogue and global cooperation on key public policy issues including electronic commerce, privacy, education, and ICT in developing countries. The conferences are held every two years, on alternate years from the World Congress on Information Technology. GPPC 2007 was held in Cairo, Egypt, on November 4–6, 2007. It will next be held in Bermuda on November 1–3, 2009.
Produced by WITSA, the biennial Digital Planet report provides current, comprehensive data documenting the size and shape of the ICT marketplace around the globe. The report highlights major trends in global ICT spending while telling the story of global expansion in Internet usage, e-commerce penetration, and use of ICT equipment and services. WITSA publishes this guide to help policymakers, technology developers, and the general public to understand the ICT trends shaping society today. A 2008 edition will be published in conjunction with the 2008 World Congress on IT in Kuala Lumpur, May 18–22, 2008.
This policy book, published annually and available on the WITSA website, is a summary of the positions taken by WITSA on global ICT issues. These papers have been used by the industry in its dialogue with governments and multilateral institutions in their decision-making process with regard to important issues of concern to the ICT industry, including e-commerce, information security and privacy, taxation, e-government, and workforce issues.
WITSA's quarterly newsletter provides timely information on industry activities and policy developments at the global and national levels, including an overview of WITSA member activities, WITSA programs and events. The WITSA newsletter, available on the WITSA website, is announced by e-mail to WITSA members and other subscribers.
WITSA undertakes partnerships and initiates industry-wide efforts for the overall benefit of the global ICT community and its beneficiaries worldwide. The fruit of these efforts is growing steadily as young ICT organizations develop and join the global ICT community in confronting challenges and seizing opportunities.