Vision - January/February 2009 - (Page 55) By toM galvin ] • [ newS froM waShington inherit. Will it be a nation that embraces, as President Kennedy urged us to do, the belief that success is not a zero-sum game but one that can be shared with the world? When global trade helps lift more than 400 million people out of poverty, as has happened in the last 15 years, those people become consumers of goods. When new industries develop in emerging countries, those industries rely on the technological expertise of U.S. companies to help them achieve their goals. And when billions of people achieve prosperity, they demand political reforms that stabilize their countries and lead to more peaceful resolutions of disputes. tech policy sumers continue to demand products that reshape the way they live and work. A century ago, it took new innovations more than 50 years to reach most countries. Today, technology advances reach most countries in 15 years, and the gap is narrowing. That is the impetus for the CES “Technology and Emerging Countries” program. Through this program the CE industry can show how technology can accelerate development outcomes by making technology accessible and allowing indigenous efforts to scale up. Without trade rules and open markets, it would be more difficult for emerging countries to gain access to technology. At this year’s TEC program Cisco’s John Chambers and Intel’s Craig Barrett will provide their perspective on the role technology is playing in raising global living standards and the business opportunities that enable emerging countries to transform their economies. Ralph Mercer/Getty Images A Win-Win Proposition Nowhere is the concept of “win-win” more evident than in the export of technological devices that open up isolated regions and countries to the rest of the world. For many of us, a computer and Internet access are a given. But in remote regions in India, they are literally a lifesaver. Through health care kiosks and telemedicine sites, those in rural Indian areas gain access to doctors and even specialists. In a country where the ratio of doctors is nearly five times less than the U.S., the ability to use technology to communicate with a doctor is transformational. And SMS messaging may be a convenient way to communicate with friends and coworkers but in remote regions in Africa it’s a vital tool for commerce. Launched with fruit and vegetable exporters in Burkina Faso and Mali in 2006, the “Trade at Hand” initiative uses mobile phones to send a daily SMS message to exporters in developing economies with the day’s product prices on international markets. These messages give exporters information to react to demand and negotiate fair prices. The One Laptop per Child initiative offers the promise to empower millions of youth with knowledge and the ability to engage in a global marketplace. Combined with advances in low-cost wireless broadband, the ability to shrink the world and truly connect everyone no longer is merely a fantasy. The explosion of devices and technological innovation is an example of how the technology industry can do well by doing good. And the pace is accelerating. Even in an uncertain economy, con- N A Rising Tide early half a century ago, America looked confidently to a new era of growth and change led by a dynamic young president who believed that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” President Kennedy took that vision to not only inspire the U.S. to great heights—the space program and a decade of prosperity—but also to engage in the world. Through programs such as the Peace Corps and economic partnership, the U.S. helped lift millions of people out of poverty and created strong connections around the globe. America broadcast a vision of freedom— where people worldwide could succeed through their efforts. America called for change: a world of open markets, political freedoms and exchange of ideas. And America convinced the world to change. And now, just as the world has embraced American principles, the U.S. is about to embark on a new era with a dynamic young president who once again has inspired Americans. Yet, fear and doubt has crept into the American psyche. The principles of open markets now seem like more of a threat to many Americans than an opportunity. The coming debate is nothing less than a fight for our economic future. It is not just about free trade and the ability to innovate, but what kind of nation our children will www.ce.org Trade Policies Matter As the U.S. learned in the 1930s, no nation generates economic growth and prosperity for its citizens by closing itself off to overseas trade and investment. When countries open themselves up to trade, they start to learn what they are best at, and through that specialization, they create a niche in the global market. But more importantly, it enables a country to find its way. “Far more than aid, trade can provide the catalyst under the right conditions for lifting millions of people out of poverty,” said Kevin Watkins, director of the UNDP Report. According to the World Bank, freeing merchandise trade and eliminating subsidies could boost global income by $287 billion a year and lift more than 300 million people out of poverty by 2015. The World Bank said that developing countries that lowered trade barriers saw per capital income grow nearly three times faster than their counterparts that kept trade barriers. International trade also exposes developing companies to new technologies, communications and democratic ideas. As national security concerns have protectionists rushing to close off borders, a more thoughtful policy is to build bridges instead. Trade establishes relationships, builds trust and spreads ideas. • January/February 2009 55 http://www.ce.org
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