United Nations Announces New Global E-Commerce System.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 2000

Representatives from the Geneva headquarters of the United Nations Trade Point program will be making an international announcement at the 4th session of the United Nations NAFTA Trade Point Forum. The Forum is taking place at the Wyndham Harbour Island Hotel, Tampa, Florida, USA, March 5 - 7, 2000 and is being organized and hosted by Trade Point Florida based in Tampa, Florida. The announcement will take place during a reception from 6 pm to 8 pm on Monday, March 6, 2000 and is open to all members of the media and the international business community.

The United Nations announcement will introduce the redesigned landmark Global Trade Point Network (GTPNet) that will provide international traders with up-to-the-minute listings of potential buyers and sellers of products and services and other trade-related information not usually available online. The clients -- most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises -- access the network through United Nations Council on Trade and Development's (UNCTAD) Trade Points", which compile, standardize, centralize and update information on a national or local basis. Currently there are more than 200 Trade Points in 130 countries. Arlette Verploegh, Regional Director for the Trade Point Program in Geneva, Switzerland stated, "We expect that this number (of Trade Points) will continue to grow due to the sheer volume of available business information and quantum leaps in information technology."

In addition to this announcement, speakers are travelling from all over the world to make presentations during the 3 day conference focussing on cutting edge technology information and practical methods companies can use to join the global e-commerce revolution. Jay Ayres, President of Trade Point Florida, the host of this prestigious conference, stated, "We are pleased to announce this giant step forward in the new millennium here in Tampa. The new GTPNet will present a multitude of global opportunities for businesses of every size."

The United Nations NAFTA Trade Point Forum, was founded by the operational Trade Points in the United States, Canada and Mexico to address the business, technical, legal and trade related issues of the NAFTA free trade region. The NAFTA region currently has 15 Trade Points in various levels of development.

Media can access further information about the conference at www.tonercom.com/nafta. Further information about Trade Point Florida and the Trade Point Program is available at www.tradepointflorida.net.