MANILA, Philippines -- Public and private sector representatives from 21 countries will sign an open-source agreement at a regional summit in Cebu this October.

Cebu will host the bi-annual Asian Open Source Software Conference, founded by Japan-based Center for International Computerization and Cooperation (CICC).

Started in 1983, CICC assists developing countries in their computerization efforts under the auspices of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The Philippines is a member of CICC and is represented by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT).

Representatives from 21 member-countries will sign a memorandum of agreement on open-source, said Anson Uy, president of local software services firm Touch Solutions, which was tapped by CICT to organize the conference.

"What this means is that each country is agreeing to share resources with the others to advance and support open-source," Uy told INQUIRER.net via phone.

More than a government-led initiative, Uy expects the summit to benefit private businesses especially those engaged in open-source.

"Developing countries like the Philippines are usually represented by government bodies like CICT. But in developing markets like Hong Kong and Singapore, it's the private sector groups that are active in the CICC," said Uy.

Japan, in particular, is sending a delegation composed of executives from government and also private sector companies. Uy sees the summit as an opportunity for local open-source companies.

"We are looking at it as an outsourcing opportunity. Hopefully, we will be able to strike deals with companies who participate in the event," he said.

The conference will be held on October 28 to 29 at the Hilton Hotel in Cebu City. An earlier conference was held in China earlier this year.