RosettaNet Press Release
RosettaNet Enters Into Strategic Alliance With China Government

Adoption of E-Business Standards Throughout China Fuels Economic Growth

For Release September 17, 2003

San Jose, CA, USA

RosettaNet, a global e-business consortium and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), a central government agency under the State Council responsible for the nation's science and technology activities , today formed a strategic alliance that will promote the adoption and implementation of RosettaNet standards within China’s high technology industry and multinational companies.   The continued deployment of RosettaNet standards in the region is expected to fuel economic growth by enhancing trading partner relationships and increasing e-commerce business opportunities for technology companies.  

MOST and RosettaNet’s industry leading board members gathered for the official signing ceremony today at the Fairmont San Jose Hotel.   Board member companies include Amkor, Arrow, Cisco, IBM, Intel, HP, Microsoft, Motorola, National Semiconductor, NEC, Oracle, Siemens, Sun Microsystems and webMethods.

“On behalf of the RosettaNet consortium, I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary leadership and support demonstrated by the Ministry of Science and Technology,” said Jennifer Hamilton, president and CEO, RosettaNet.   “In taking these steps to help establish the RosettaNet China affiliate, the agency is playing a critical role in promoting the value of open standards and communicating the business benefits potentially realized throughout China and global trading network.”

This strategic initiative will bring RosettaNet’s benefits, including improved operational efficiencies and lower transaction costs, to the People’s Republic of China and signifies MOST’s support in advancing e-business processes, such as RosettaNet’s proven industry standards for supply chain management.   The alliance will also provide value by helping to establish new and improved trading partner relationships with China-based enterprises and to create business opportunities locally and globally.   Support of RosettaNet’s e-business standards by the China government underscores MOST’s long-term charter to define science and technology initiatives and programs that help accelerate local economic growth and development.  

“Working with RosettaNet is a crucial first step to enhancing the high-tech industry’s e-commerce and supply chain management processes.   We expect that our efforts to promote the development and adoption of supply chain standards throughout China will result in a more streamlined trading network, allowing companies to become more competitive within the global economy,” said Li Wu Qiang, deputy general director, Department of High-Tech Development & Industrialization, Ministry of Science and Technology .

Asia has consistently demonstrated strong support for RosettaNet XML-based standards, including combined government funding in excess of US$51M through 2003.   During the past three years, RosettaNet has realized a number of successful member-driven implementations in Asia, specifically in China.   For example, Cisco’s deployment of an integrated e-commerce solution incorporating RosettaNet standards with Xiao Tong, a tier-two distributor in China, facilitated real-time updates to order status, pricing and product information.   Similarly, Applied Materials China and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) achieved a production milestone using RosettaNet standards for automating order process.

“ We are pleased to join together in this strategic alliance with RosettaNet. The agreement will help China’s high-tech industry more efficiently apply e-commerce solutions and enter into the global supply chain more rapidly, while extending opportunities for multinational companies to implement in China on a broader scale,” said Dr. Zhang Zhi Wen, c hief of automation, Department of High-Tech Development & Industrialization, Ministry of Science and Technology.  

In the coming weeks, RosettaNet and MOST will coordinate with representatives of the China Association for Standardization (CAS) to form a new e-commerce and e-logistic standard division, slated to sponsor and manage the operational and implementation activities of the RosettaNet China affiliate.   The formal launch of RosettaNet China is scheduled for October 28 in Beijing, with a RosettaNet Forum scheduled to take place on October 30 in Shanghai.   Event information, including conference registration and sponsorship opportunities, can be found on the RosettaNet global Web site at www.rosettanet.org.

The RosettaNet consortium operates on a global basis with formalized activities in the Americas, Europe and Asia.   RosettaNet China, the seventh Asia affiliate to be created, joins RosettaNet Japan, RosettaNet Korea, RosettaNet Malaysia, RosettaNet Philippines, RosettaNet Singapore and RosettaNet Taiwan.  

About RosettaNet

RosettaNet is a non-profit consortium dedicated to the collaborative development and rapid deployment of open internet-based business standards that align processes within the global technology trading networks. More than 500 companies, representing over $1 trillion in annual information technology, electronic components and semiconductor manufacturing revenues, currently participate in RosettaNet’s standards development, strategy and implementation activities. Information on the consortium’s worldwide activities, including and a complete list of partner companies, is available at www.rosettanet.org .   RosettaNet is a subsidiary of the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC).

About Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)

The Ministry of Science and Technology is the central government organization under the State Council of People’s Republic of China responsible for national science and technology activities, including formulating macro strategies of science and technology development, promoting national scientific and technological innovation, guiding principles and policies on international science and technology cooperation and exchange, etc. especially on administering china national science and technology programs. The state programs for the development of science and technology in China are the basic way in which the Chinese government organizes research and development activities of science and technology and also an effective tool of the government to rationally allocate resources for science and technology and promote the economic and social development. For more information, visit www.most.gov.cn .