Geneva, Switzerland, October 20, 2003 - Since its establishment in 1997 UN/CEFACT has consistently advocated and pursued adoption of a technology- and implementation-neutral eBusiness strategy. In 1999 UN/CEFACT initiated the ebXML (eBusiness with XML) project. OASIS was subsequently invited to join the initiative as a partner. The project goal was to produce an XML standard that delivered both business content and a technology interface in a consistent and reproducible manner. The ebXML intensive development stage successfully concluded in May 2001 with the development of foundational technical specifications and reports. Since then UN/CEFACT and OASIS have continued collaborative development of the original specifications, coordinated by a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC). In May 2003 the UN/CEFACT Plenary recognized the successful completion of the ebXML technical infrastructure work and endorsed the ebXML specifications to allow implementation. Acknowledging the successful conclusion of this joint work, UN/CEFACT felt that the original goals of this initial phase had been achieved and that all open items would be realized in the very near future. Hence, UN/CEFACT felt its primary focus should return to providing technology- and implementation-neutral solutions so as to fully exploit its unique and significant expertise in business process knowledge. UN/CEFACT recognizes that ebXML is a very important technology solution which it will continue to actively maintain and support. UN/CEFACT recognizes the rapid pace of technology development and remains committed to the development of business content that can be used with any existing or future technological solution, such as UN/EDIFACT, XML and web services. In so doing UN/CEFACT remains open to cooperation and collaboration with all organizations sharing similar objectives. UN/CEFACT Steering Group October 20, 2003 -- Klaus-Dieter Naujok UN/CEFACT/TMG Chair Global e-Business Advisory Council Principal Advisor Business: www.ge-bac.com Personal: www.klaus.naujok.name TMG: www.untmg.org BCF: www.unbcf.org
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