The US National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) unveiled January 12 a high-tech agenda to promote productivity, economic growth and innovation in the 21st century, urging national policymakers and presidential candidates to engage in a serious dialogue on forward-looking technology issues to ensure America's continued economic vitality.

"Sustaining America's remarkable global leadership in growth, productivity and technology should be a national priority," said NAM President Jerry Jasinowski at a press conference, where he unveiled the high-tech agenda targeting training and skills strategies, global trade and investment, taxes and investment, electronic-based business and commerce, technology policy and policies that foster innovation.

According to the agenda, the NAM is committed to gaining permanent Normal Trade Relations status for China and meaningful Chinese accession to the World Trade Organization.

"Manufacturers have a huge stake in America's technological success. Technology is the single biggest contributor to US economic growth, and manufacturing is the single biggest contributor to technology," Jasinowski said.

He said that business-to-business electronic commerce is the biggest opportunity for ensuring America's global technological leadership, and the lack of skilled new workers is the biggest threat.

"The dramatic increase in business-to-business commerce applications, ranging from crating new exchange communities, to streamlining the supply chain, to increased application of on-line training, will continue to drive productivity and quality improvements in American industry. The challenge is finding new workers with adequate skills to keep up with all the rapid changes in the workplace," he said. (Xinhua)