Evans, a highly regarded and innovative entrepreneur with over 20 years experience in e-commerce, is founder and CEO of Foreshore Ltd, one of the world's most successful e-business centers, located in Jersey, off the coast of France.

Evans was voted entrepreneur of the year in 2002 by the Jersey Enterprise Awards and was a semi-finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (UK) programme that year.  He will speak to CEOs about emerging e-commerce markets and how to use these opportunities to grow their businesses and the Jamaican economy.

Acting CEO of CITO, Dainsworth Richards, describes Evans as a visionary, proactive thinker who has a track record for identifying opportunities long before traditional industry players do.

"Foreshore Ltd.  Processes a large volume of the world's electronic transactions.  They were one of the first companies to foresee the vast opportunities, which would arise from the growth of electronic transactions," Mr. Richards pointed out.

According to Mr. Richards, bringing a successful e-commerce entrepreneur like Evans to address this year's summit is an important move.  "Top level executives and business leaders need to commit to educating themselves about the technology available and how those technologies can help to grow their businesses rather than simply leaving it to the IT guys," he said.

Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, Phillip Paulwell will deliver the opening address at Wednesday's CEO Breakfast.

The CITO Summit, which is in its 4th year, runs from May 9-11 at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.  The theme of this year's summit, which is being staged in partnership with Jamaica and Invest (formerly JAMPRO), is E-Trade.  Limitless Growth Opportunities!  Are you Prepared?

The Summit will examine two major areas of E-Trade: growth opportunities; and preparedness to take advantage of those opportunities.

Presenters have been drawn from some of the world's best known local and international technology and e-business companies, which will mount exhibits over the three days.  These include Microsoft, Fujitsu, IBM, Xsomo, Infotech Caribbean, Cable & Wireless, and NCB e-Business.

On Thursday, Jamaica Trade and Invest's President Robert Gregory will give the opening address and JTI's Executive Director Lisa Bell, will later that day, examine international export markets and the enabling environment for leveraging brand Jamaica online.

Proceedings get underway at 9:00 am on May 10 and 11 with Thursday dedicated to senior managers and decision makers.  Chris Evans will also speak on Thursday.

The final day, May 11, which is staged in conjunction with the Jamaica Computer Society, is dedicated to IT implementers and project managers.