E-commerce is one of the key drivers of growth and innovation in the world today. It has significant potential for Micro, Small, and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs). If applied properly, e-commerce can make MSMEs more competitive and allow them to grow and thrive in what is becoming a highly competitive global market place.
Since 2000, the ASEAN has put emphasis on the cross-regional development of e-commerce (e-ASEAN Framework Agreement 2000) especially by encouraging member countries to adopt electronic commerce regulatory and legislative frameworks, which would create trust and confidence of consumers as well as facilitate the transformation of businesses towards the development of e-ASEAN. In the new AEC Blueprint 2025, strategic measures have been identified to further encourage the development of ASEAN e-commerce, including the harmonization of consumer rights and protection laws and inter-operable, mutually recognized, secure, reliable and user-friendly e-identification and authorization (electronic signature) schemes; and the development of a comprehensive framework for personal data protection.
UNCTAD recognizes the importance of e-commerce and has been working with ASEAN member States for many years. For instance, UNCTAD has already worked on various publications including the Review of e-commerce Legislation Harmonization in ASEAN and more recently the Rapid e-Trade Readiness Assessment for Cambodia. Similar assessments are underway in Myanmar and Lao PDR.
This UNCTAD/ASEAN Workshop on E-Commerce is intended to stimulate discussions in the region of the types of supportive policies that will enhance the role of e-commerce for development and prepare the region for any future work.
The workshop will feature presentations on recent developments in e-commerce, and in the seven policy areas of the eTrade for all initiative. It will aim to identify appropriate policies and laws that will promote the development of domestic and trans-border e-commerce in goods and services throughout the region. Another objective is for ASEAN countries to use their national experiences and identified challenges to come up with appropriate recommendations to ensure that e-commerce works for their future national and regional development.
The workshop is co-organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and co-sponsored by Finland.
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