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Fast Forward 5.0: Making Connectivity Work for Canada
September 2004
Canadian e-Business Initiative (CeBI)
PDF Version (667 KB - 28 pages)
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Preface
E-business is a key enabler of productivity growth, increasing profit and decreasing costs of Canadian firms. While most enterprises are aware that doing business electronically is a prerequisite for success in today's global economy, many businesses, especially small businesses, remain unaware of the value of e-business.
Over the last two years, the Canadian e-Business Initiative (CeBI) has focused on spreading the e-business message to the Canadian small-business community. We have experienced a large degree of success. Through the Net Impact and Fast Forward report series, we have raised SME awareness of the value of networked e-business solutions and their contribution to the bottom line. We have benchmarked Canada's e-economy, raised overall knowledge of the barriers facing firms, and provided recommendations on how Canada can continue to grow; and we have raised awareness about privacy and security issues, and produced an online guide to facilitate understanding of this complex area.
In reading this report, you will find that, while Canada started out as a leader in e-business, without a sustained commitment to creating an environment that promotes e-business, we will find ourselves slipping from the lead. For Canada to experience fully the economic benefits e-business can bring, it is not enough to sit back. A concerted growth strategy that aims to build the right economic environment is needed to enable strong, long-term economic growth.
Fast Forward 5.0 marks the final report in our mandate. We would like to thank the dedicated members of CeBI who have given their time and energy to this initiative. We would also like to acknowledge the work and support of the CeBI Secretariat.
Terry Walsh
President
Cisco Systems Canada
Nancy Hughes Anthony
President and CEO
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Table of Contents
Canadian e-Business Initiative Members
Chapter 1: The e-Business Environment
Chapter 2: Canada's E-Report Card: 2004
Chapter 4: Growth and Acceleration
Chapter 5: Investment Environment
Chapter 6: Pursuing e-Business Achievement
