Guidelines for TEL Website Sponsorship


Background of TEL Meeting

The TEL meets twice a year, usually in March and September, and each TEL is preceded by a series of workshops on a specific topic applicable to the work of the TEL. Recent workshops have been held on issues such as Interconnection, Authentication, MRA, Internet development, HRD, WTO agreement and electronic commerce.
The TEL welcomes business and private sector participation in delegations from each economy, or through PECC, an official Observer of APEC, and it has an active work program that provides opportunities for business involvement. As such, each TEL meeting proves to be a useful time for industry and government representatives to 'network'.


Sponsorship "No Go Zones"

1. As a working group of a major government-to-government forum, the TEL must remain independent. Sponsors of events associated with the TEL, or of the TEL meeting itself, must realise that their contribution can in no way influence the agenda or outcomes of the meeting/workshop/seminar.
2. No sponsor of a meeting should in anyway exert influence on the hosts with regard to 'access' key power brokers of the TEL, such as the Chair, Heads of other delegations, or the Minister, should he or she be present.
3. All official papers cannot bear a logo of a sponsoring company. However, copies of presentations may carry a logo.


Sponsorship Opportunities

The following opportunities for sponsors could be offered

- Opportunities for sponsors to carry out audience research during and/or after the event.
- Opportunities for sponsorship and in-kind support.   
  These opportunities include: Catering one of the many food breaks, satchels, folders, paper supply, 
  equipment hire, venue hire, airfare and accommodation for invited speakers, major dinners, entertainment, 
  filed trips, official photograph, transport, public relations, meeting management, beverage supply and local 
  information supply, as well as exclusivity in the following categories: telephony (long distance and local), 
  mobile services(other than handset suppliers), and internet products.

The APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL) has become, in a sense, a victim of its own success. The large numbers of participants and delegates we attract can prove a financial and organisational burden for the host economy of each meeting. Sponsorship is becoming more and more of a necessity. However, given that there are overarching APEC protocols, sponsorship needs to be approached carefully.
The intention of this paper is to give some parameters for host economies when seeking sponsorship. Sponsorship is a mutually beneficial association between at least two organisations, where one provides a financial contribution in return for a beneficial association with the other.
The APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group can offer potential sponsors public association with one of the region's largest and most productive grouping of information communications technology policy makers, regulators, researchers and professionals.Many major international firms have made their sponsorship guidelines publicly available on the web, making the process of sponsorship seeking a little easier. Host economies should work closely with their potential sponsors to inform them of the APEC protocol contained in the “Guidebook on APEC Publications, web-sites and Meeting Documents", available from the APEC Secretariat web page (www.apecsec.org.sg).