1. E-commerce Strategies
Regional High-level Workshop on E-commerce and ICT for Central America and the Caribbean Curacao, June 2002
E-commerce Strategies
for Development
Dr. Susanne Teltscher
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

2. Presentation outline
Why do countries need national e-commerce strategies?
What has been done so far?
What are the key elements of e-strategies?
How do countries design and implement e-strategies?

3. Need for e-commerce strategies
E-commerce strategies or ICT strategies?
E-commerce and development
E-commerce and productivity growth
An enabling environment for e-commerce

4. A survey of existing strategies
51 countries
37 developing countries
14 developed countries
At various stages
Formulating policies
Implementing strategies

5. A survey of existing strategies

6. A survey of existing strategies

7. A survey of existing strategies

8. A survey of existing strategies

9. Key elements of e-strategies
Awareness building, training and education
Access and infrastructure
Legal and regulatory issues
Sector-specific policies
E-government

10. Awareness building Policy issues Policy options
Lack of Internet culture
Lack of understanding of benefits and opportunities
Policy options
AB media campaigns, e-government
Targets: SMEs, rural areas, women entrepreneurs

11. Training and education
Policy issues
Knowledge society: main challenge for developing countries
Improve digital literacy
Increase number of IT professionals
Digital literacy
Internet access and PCs in schools
Community centers
Rural and poor areas, women

12. Training and education
Source: ILO (2001)

13. Training and education
IT training
Shortage of high-skilled IT professionals worldwide
Problem of brain drain in poorer countries (India, South Africa)
Public or private sector?

14. Access and infrastructure
Policy issues
Equal access (rural and poor areas, gender dimension)
Telecommunication sector reforms
Quality and cost

15. Access and infrastructure
Source: ILO (2001)

16. Access and infrastructure
Policy options
PCs and Internet access in schools and universities
Open-source software, wireless applications
Competition in telecom market

17. Legal and regulatory issues
Electronic contracting, authentication, dispute resolution, data/intellectual property/consumer protection, security
Taxation, electronic payments, certification

18. Legal and regulatory issues
UNCITRAL Model law: 11 countries
Digital signatures: 60 countries (21 developing countries)
Taxation: OECD “taxation framework”

19. Sector-specific policies
Policy issues
Increase productivity
Enhance comparative advantage and competitiveness
Promote e-business

20. Sector-specific policies
Policy options:
Lower import duties
Promote use of ICT and e-commerce in sectors of comp. advantage
Develop domestic IT industry in close relationship with local users
Create linkages between foreign investors and local suppliers and services
Direct support to SMEs (esp. women entrepreneurs) to enhance e-business (financial, technical, tax credits etc.)

21. E-government Policy issues
Leadership role in e-business (awareness and education)
Efficiency gains (government)
Reduced costs (enterprises)
Transparency

22. E-government Policy options: Procurement
Information sharing among agencies
Online services for citizens
Equal access (maintain traditional channels)

23. Approaches to e-strategies
Participatory approach
Involve all stakeholders
Consultative process to identify key elements of national strategy (based on domestic needs)

24. Stakeholders Business associations IT industry Banks
Freight forwarders
Lawyers
Development org.
Women’s groups
Donors
Industry reps.
Ministries
Customs
NGOs
Universities
Consumers

25. Regional High-level Workshop on E-commerce and ICT for Central America and the Caribbean Curacao, June 2002
Thank you