Global Trading Web Association Announces New Leadership.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2001

Chairman Sandy Kemper and President Dennis Jones to focus

organization on accelerating B2B growth, interoperability,

technical and electronic transaction standards

The Global Trading Web Association (GTWA), the world's largest independent membership organization of electronic marketplaces and electronic exchanges, today announced the election of Sandy Kemper, founder and chief executive officer of eScout, to the chairmanship.

The council also elected Dennis Jones, president and chief operating officer of Commerce One, as its president.

The GTWA represents the largest independent, electronic trading network of buyers and suppliers in the world. Its 44 members provide electronic trading services for more than 250,000 companies in over 100 countries throughout the world.

With systems hosted in 33 countries, including the United States, Asia and Europe, GTWA members offer a variety of trading services such as representation of suppliers to large numbers of buyers, transaction processing services and other logistical and commerce-clearing services.

Newly elected Chairman Kemper commented, "The members of the GTWA constitute the largest and most vigorous electronic trading network in the world. The GTWA currently links electronic markets in more than 100 countries and continues to grow. The future of new economy trading is openness.

"Our goals will be to drive interoperable standards and trading practices that create inclusion and open the cost, speed and communication advantages of electronic trading to every business in the world -- large or small."

Jones stressed the urgency felt by GTWA members to open their markets to all electronic traders. "With the coming of new technologies that improve document flow and as businesses look for ways to tighten supply and distribution channels, the GTWA will provide leadership to the global business-to-business marketplace.

"While the GTWA began as a Commerce One initiative, the time has come for the organization to stand on its own feet and put the customer first. This means interoperability with other platforms and other ways of conducting market-based electronic trading." Jones went on to say, "A proprietary environment is a dead environment."

Kemper, whose company eScout now includes over 16,000 businesses with more than 60,000 suppliers and buyers, stated, "The GTWA represents the true potential of business-to-business electronic commerce. By connecting trading partners -- big and small, global and local -- across the GTW network of marketplaces, we are leading the way towards ubiquitous e-commerce."

Both Kemper and Jones assert that the focus of their leadership will be on interoperability -- creating software, hardware and business solutions that enable members of the GTWA to connect their systems to one another.

Jones noted, "When we achieve our goal of full interoperation, a member in Taiwan can accept product orders through a member in the United Kingdom or South Korea, or anywhere we operate. Companies that want to supply their products throughout the world will find the GTWA gives them full exposure and operational effectiveness on a worldwide basis for the cost of a single relationship and a single technology."

About the Global Trading Web Association (GTWA)

The Global Trading Web Association (GTWA) is an independent, non-profit industry membership organization devoted to facilitating the continued growth and promoting the role of business-to-business e-commerce.

The GTWA and its consortium of independent merchant sites and electronic exchanges work to accelerate the movement of global Internet trade; and together, they constitute a global network of buyers and suppliers.

A leading authority on the issues that influence the forward progress of international B2B e-commerce, the GTWA acts as an industry voice in debates on electronic transaction standards and technical standards affecting exchange-based trading and education, and also is a significant participant in legislation and regulatory processes.

For further information on GTWA and its members, contact Michelle Hoeft, 505/955-8485.