Chamber aims to boost

20 January 2000

The Chamber of Electronic Commerce - Western Victoria is aiming to advance electronic access to businesses, service and information both within the western region and throughout the rest of the world. An idea from the University of Ballarat saw the formation of the Chamber four months ago, which is based at the Greenhill Enterprise Centre. The Chamber's first major project is the establishment of a community-based regional Internet project "MainStreet.au". Currently under construction the portal will provide users with easy access to information, goods and services within the western region.

Unlike other Internet portals, such as Yahoo! And Excite, MainStreet.au is built especially for people within this region and is committed to meeting their needs, according to Ross Davey who leads the project management team at University of Ballarat Centre for Electronic Commerce and Communications.

Mr. Davey encouraged businesses to become members of the Chamber and be part of MainStreet.au. He said becoming a member of the Chamber would provide a range of benefits including hands-on participation in the identification, development and implementation of electronic commerce initiatives for the region.

He said the Chamber would assist the region in becoming pro-active rather than reactive to the development and utilisation of e- commerce. According to Mr. Davey the number of Ballarat and district businesses with an Internet presence was minimal. "One of our objectives is to have fifty percent of all businesses in the region provided with a minimum of an electronic poster and directory listing by the end of 2001," Mr. Davey said. With 13,500 businesses within the region, this means MainStreet.au, aims to attract about 6500 businesses.