World Infotech Alliance Finds a Home

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World Infotech Alliance Finds a Home The World Information Technology and Services Alliance, a global consortium of information technology associations that oversees the biannual World Congress on Information Technology, is locating its headquarters in McLean, Va. Until now, the organization did not have a permanent home. Its home was passed among member associations. For the last three years, WITSA has been housed at the Information Technology Association of Americ

World Infotech Alliance Finds a Home

The World Information Technology and Services Alliance, a global consortium of information technology associations that oversees the biannual World Congress on Information Technology, is locating its headquarters in McLean, Va.

Until now, the organization did not have a permanent home. Its home was passed among member associations. For the last three years, WITSA has been housed at the Information Technology Association of America in Arlington, Va. ITAA is the American member group of WITSA.

Harris Miller, president of both the alliance and of ITAA, told a group of regional business leaders at the McLean Hilton Dec. 10 that the reason for the location was twofold. The Washington region is a recognized center for information technology. And, Northern Virginia's businesses have shown extreme enthusiasm over the upcoming World Congress event, he said.The congress, a meeting where international technology leaders discuss issues of global importance, will be held at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., next June.

WITSA, founded in 1987, uses the event to create a consensus opinion to represent worldwide IT views to such organizations as the World Trade Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the G-7 and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

According to Sheila O'Neill, a spokeswoman for WITSA, the selection of McLean was made by members of the alliance's steering committee, including representatives from Canada, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Japan, Taiwan and the United States.

-Bob Starzynski

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