UNLOCKING THE DEVELOPMENT

POTENTIAL OF E-COMMERCE the role of eTrade for All

Mr. Torbjörn Fredriksson,

Chief, ICT Analysis Section, DTL

30 November 2016

ESCAP Seminar on Using Technology in Support of Trade for MSMEs

Bangkok, Thailand

E-Trade for All

• Originated from IER 2015 and paper by Kati Suominen

• FES/UNCTAD workshop (February 2016) – Representatives from governments, e-

commerce companies and international organizations -> Call for Action

• Consultations during UNCTAD E-Commerce Week 2016

• Launched at UNCTAD 14

Launched at

“We welcome the formal unveiling of the eTrade for All initiative at

UNCTAD XIV. It provides a new approach to trade development through

electronic exchanges by allowing developing countries to more easily

navigate the supply of technical assistance for building capacity in e-

commerce readiness and for donors to get a clear picture of programmes that

they could fund.”

Nairobi Azimio

Key Policy Areas

E-Commerce Strategies

E-Commerce Skills

Legal Frameworks

Payment solutions

Trade Logistics

ICT Infrastructure

Access to Financing

E-Commerce Strategies

E-Commerce Skills

Legal Frameworks

Payment solutions

Trade Logistics

ICT Infrastructure

Access to Financing

Not starting from scratch…

E-Commerce Strategies

E-Commerce Skills

Legal Frameworks

Payment solutions

Trade Logistics

ICT Infrastructure

Access to Financing

…but efforts are non-transparent,

fragmented and of insufficient scale

Making us Fit for Purpose

• Multi-stakeholder initiative to:

– raise awareness of e-commerce opportunities and challenges

– mobilize financial and human resources for address challenges and constraints;

– enhance transparency and strengthen synergies among partners providing assistance

• Complementary to rule-making processes, e.g. in WTO

Founding Partners – at Your Service

Business for eTrade Development a Private Sector Advisory Council

eTrade for All: Next Steps

• Design the eTrade For All Web Portal

• Collate information on the demand for support for e-commerce-related activities among developing countries

• Collate information on projects and programmes that can support e-commerce development

• E-Commerce Week April 2017:

– Launch of online platform

– First Global Meeting of the Partners

– Meeting of the Business for eTrade Development

– Link to IGE on E-Commerce and the Digital Economy

• WTO Aid for Trade Review, July 2017

Thank You!