Minister of Commerce and for Information Technology Paul Swain is to travel to Chile, the UK, Ireland and the USA to examine information society policies, e-commerce/IT initiatives and telecommunication issues in those countries.

He is also promoting New Zealand as a destination for investment, particularly in our IT industry, and attending Microsoft's Government Leaders Conference in Seattle.

Paul Swain says his aim is to help forge networks with successful New Zealanders working overseas and to encourage investment in New Zealand.

"I am hoping to use the trip to facilitate some opportunities for New Zealand businesses particularly in areas relating to venture capital for the IT sector," Paul Swain said.

Paul Swain is leaving on Friday 16th March returning on Monday 2nd April.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>