Governments worldwide are responding to cost and service pressures by re-engineering health care, education, public safety, human services, environmental protection and government administration. They are also responding to citizen demands that they adopt 'customer service orientation' of their private sector counterparts. As a result, governments are striving not only to improve the efficiency and quality of services, but also to ensure that services are delivered at the most convenient times and locations. It is clear that the application of the benefits of electronic commerce should be regarded as one of the most urgent issues in this task, given the rapidity at which the electronic marketplace is developing. This experience provides the basis for a renewed emphasis on Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce and Industry Associations to assist them now to move quickly into electronic commerce.
Capacity building is the primary effort to be undertaken.
The urgent need is now to assist each of the Chambers to implement an electronic commerce program, and to support them in the introduction of this new tool to their membership. Australia has undertaken a definitive study of the needs of small and medium enterprises if they are to be encouraged in the effective use of electronic commerce. This suggests that the Commonwealth should emphasise a program that would train trainers or consultants. SME's can best be reached through existing intermediates, such as the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, who themselves need to be strong advocates of electronic commerce. The production of training materials should be modular and multi-level.