Findings from a survey of e-commerce businesses and policy responses in 23 developing countries
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, UNCTAD’s E-Commerce and Digital Economy (ECDE) Programme has engaged with a diverse network of stakeholders and carried out a survey to better understand the magnitude of the impact on e-commerce businesses across developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs), identify key trends and challenges faced by e-commerce businesses, as well as public and private policy responses to cope with the crisis.
The survey covered 23 countries, mainly LDCs in Africa and Asia-Pacific, that benefitted from UNCTAD’s e-commerce capacity building programmes, either through an eTrade Readiness Assessment (eT Ready) or a national e-commerce strategy. The survey allowed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce businesses from early March to end of July 2020.
The resulting paper “COVID-19 and e-commerce: impact on businesses and policy responses” to be presented in this webinar, summarizes the findings of the survey and outlines key policy recommendations. They are meant to support COVID-19 economic recovery plans with reforms and initiatives geared towards enhancing digital readiness in developing countries and LDCs. The webinar will provide a platform for experience sharing and dialogue among public and private stakeholders, and in turn, this will contribute to enhance ongoing efforts in beneficiary countries of UNCTAD ECDE capacity building programmes.
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