Empowering pacific e-commerce through data-driven decision-making (PIFS)

Arguments

Pacific E-commerce portal has been developed to provide comprehensive e-commerce related data for the Pacific Island countries.

Supporting facts:

• The portal is a knowledge repository having four sections: Development, Resources, News, and Statistics.

• The portal was developed in partnership with SPC.

• The portal provides information about e-commerce projects, strategies, assessments, and other relevant publications.

• The Pacific E-commerce database in the portal contains over 40 indicators related to ICT infrastructure and services.

Topics: E-commerce, Data Management, Pacific Island Countries

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The portal is aimed at facilitating evidence-based policymaking in e-commerce.

Supporting facts:

• Data can be quickly downloaded from the portal for analysis and comparison.

• Internet coverage, usage, and data cost can be compared to guide policy interventions.

Topics: E-Commerce, Policymaking, Data-driven decision making

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Importance of regionalism in Pacific e-commerce

Supporting facts:

• Pacific e-commerce initiative as a product of multi-stakeholder collaboration

• The formulation of Pacific e-commerce regional strategy in collaboration with various partners

• The ability of regionalism to serve all of the Pacific members at once by creating semi-public goods

• The harnessing of resources to create harmonization and standardization in digital trade negotiations

Topics: digital trade, regional organization, strategic collaboration

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Business Toolkits can be found on the portal, which are designed to be beneficial for businesses, particularly targeting micro and small businesses in remote areas. These toolbooks are developed based on demand

Supporting facts:

• These tools go beyond developing guidelines, creating meaningful interactions for businesses

• Offered as a full-fledged program

• Can be tailored according to specific needs, such as for Fiji

Topics: Business Toolkits, Micro and Small Businesses

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Strategies, assessments and reports for qualitative aspects can be found in the library repository of the portal

Supporting facts:

• These have been developed by national and international experts

• They provide in-depth information beyond data

Topics: Quality Assessment, Reports, Strategies

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Report

The Pacific E-commerce portal is a valuable resource that has been developed to provide comprehensive e-commerce-related data for Pacific Island countries. It serves as a knowledge repository, offering four sections dedicated to development, resources, news, and statistics. Within this portal, there is a specific focus on ICT infrastructure and services, with over 40 indicators being provided in the Pacific E-commerce database.

This database acts as a valuable source of information for policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders interested in e-commerce in the Pacific region. One of the key objectives of the portal is to facilitate evidence-based policymaking in the field of e-commerce.

By providing quick access to data that can be easily downloaded and analyzed, policymakers are able to make informed decisions. For example, data on internet coverage, usage, and data costs can be compared to guide policy interventions. This emphasis on data-driven decision-making is crucial in promoting the sustainable development of e-commerce in the Pacific Island countries.

Furthermore, the portal acknowledges that while data availability itself may not be a problem, the challenge lies in the fact that the data is often scattered and difficult to access. Therefore, the Pacific E-commerce portal aims to centralise and consolidate the relevant data and make it easily accessible to all interested parties.

This improves efficiency and effectiveness in policymaking processes. The importance of regional collaboration is also highlighted in the context of e-commerce development. The Pacific e-commerce initiative is a result of multi-stakeholder collaboration, with a regional strategy being formulated in partnership with various organisations and partners.

By harnessing resources and creating harmonisation and standardisation in digital trade negotiations, regionalism can serve all Pacific members simultaneously, benefiting the entire region as a whole. Another aspect of the portal worth noting is the inclusion of Business Toolkits. These toolkits are specifically designed to benefit micro and small businesses, particularly those in remote areas.

The toolkits go beyond providing guidelines by creating meaningful interactions for businesses. They can be tailored to specific needs and are intended to support the growth and development of micro and small businesses in the e-commerce sector. In addition to quantitative data, the portal also houses a library repository of strategies, assessments, and reports that focus on qualitative aspects of e-commerce.

These resources have been developed by national and international experts and provide in-depth information beyond just raw data. This ensures a holistic approach to e-commerce development, taking into consideration both quantitative and qualitative factors. Lastly, the portal recognises the importance of protecting creative industries and copyrights, which represents a new topic on the Pacific agenda.

The Pacific Policy Makers course, updated annually, covers this topic and underscores the significance of safeguarding these industries in the region. In conclusion, the Pacific E-commerce portal serves as a valuable resource for Pacific Island countries, providing comprehensive e-commerce-related data and knowledge.

By facilitating evidence-based policymaking, promoting regional collaboration, supporting micro and small businesses, providing qualitative resources, and emphasising the protection of creative industries, the portal plays a crucial role in fostering the development of e-commerce in the Pacific region.

Arguments

The audience member is questioning the usefulness of purely quantitative data without qualitative and ‘on the ground’ context

Supporting facts:

• Says there are social, cultural, logistical factors that can’t be captured by a purely quantitative approach

• Stresses the importance of understanding the realities on the ground for policy makers

Topics: Data Collection, Policy Making, Trade Rules

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The portal needs to increase its outreach to disadvantaged Pacific businesses and consumers

Supporting facts:

• Many businesses and industries in the Pacific regions have challenges in internet access

• Enhancing the portal’s outreach can help Pacific businesses utilize it more

Topics: rural communities, internet access, Pacific businesses, e-commerce

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Report

The analysis covers various topics, including data collection, trade rules, internet access, and promoting niche products in international markets. One perspective highlighted is that of an audience member who questions the usefulness of purely quantitative data without qualitative and contextual understanding.

The audience member emphasises that social, cultural, and logistical factors cannot be captured solely through quantitative approaches. They stress the importance of understanding the realities on the ground when formulating policies. This viewpoint is presented with a negative sentiment. Another argument put forward is that the trade rules presented are not applicable or useful to the Pacific Islands.

It is claimed that trade officials and other relevant officials in the Pacific Islands find these rules irrelevant and unworkable. The speaker argues that there might be alternative ways to achieve digital development strategies rather than adhering to these rules.

The sentiment associated with this argument is negative. In terms of internet access, it is highlighted that many businesses and industries in the Pacific regions face challenges in this area. The analysis suggests that the portal should increase its outreach to disadvantaged Pacific businesses and consumers to effectively address these challenges.

The sentiment regarding this issue is neutral. Additionally, it is suggested that the portal should support the promotion of niche products from the Pacific in the European market, specifically in Europe. The analysis indicates that the portal can leverage e-commerce to assist in the development of niche products.

It is stated that the Pacific region aims to enhance its presence of niche products in the European market. This perspective is presented with a positive sentiment. Overall, the analysis provides insights into the importance of qualitative understanding in data collection, the relevance of trade rules to the Pacific Islands, the need for improved internet access outreach, and the potential for promoting niche products in international markets.

Arguments

The Pacific e-commerce project aligns with SPC’s goal of sustainable Pacific development through science, knowledge and information.

Supporting facts:

• SPC is the principal technical and scientific organization in the region, offering services such as disaster recovery, backup, and information access.

• The Pacific Data Hub holds 796 data sets and 11,586 publications from over 100 different organizations, including both national and international bodies.

Topics: ecommerce, Sustainable Development

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Evelyn Wareham explains SPC’s strategy to provide support to small countries

Supporting facts:

• SPC assists countries to run their census of population and housing

• World Bank, IMF and other development partners also assist

• Assistance includes data processing and analysis, generating reports, compiling GDP and rebasing price indices

Topics: SPC, Statistical support, Niue, Capacity development

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Need to maintain regular updates of e-commerce indicators to help Pacific Island countries measure their growth

Supporting facts:

• Work is ongoing for harvesting new data for 2020 to 2022 to 2024 and beyond

• Aim to improve data availability for some of the existing indicators

• Looking at automating international reporting requirements

Topics: e-commerce, data updates, growth measurement

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Business surveys could provide more detailed economic statistics

Supporting facts:

• SBC has been considering ways to support countries with business surveys

• Few countries are running business surveys and need help with design and execution

Topics: business surveys, economic statistics

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Interest in exploring big data sources for a richer picture of e-commerce transactions

Supporting facts:

• Have seen good examples of marketplace explorers in Asia and Latin America

• Potential to expand those platforms to include Pacific Island countries

Topics: big data, e-commerce transactions

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Need for additional funding to achieve these future milestones

Supporting facts:

• The plan is a bit beyond the current resources and requires both staff and additional technical capacity

• Willing to seek help from donors and development partners

Topics: additional funding, future milestones

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The data gives a broad descriptive picture but its value increases when combined with analysis, reports, and research.

Supporting facts:

• The e-commerce portal and the Pacific Data Hub provide statistical indicators alongside reports for analysis

• Combining data with other insights helps in understanding the numbers and trends better

Topics: data analysis, research, data reports

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Report

The Pacific e-commerce project is aligned with the goal of sustainable Pacific development through science, knowledge, and information. However, challenges in collecting e-commerce data include issues with data availability, licensing, and accessibility, which hinder accurate measurement of e-commerce activities in the region.

Additionally, capacity limitations in Pacific data collection due to the small size of countries and their National Statistics Offices limit their ability to produce timely and comprehensive economic statistics. To address these challenges, the Pacific Community (SPC) provides hands-on assistance and capacity development to small countries, including running censuses, data processing and analysis, and generating reports.

The World Bank and IMF also offer assistance. Regular updates of e-commerce indicators are necessary, and the project aims to improve data availability by automating international reporting requirements. Business surveys are seen as valuable for detailed economic statistics, but few Pacific countries conduct them and require help with design and execution.

There is also interest in leveraging big data sources for a richer understanding of e-commerce transactions, following successful examples in Asia and Latin America. Additional funding, staff, and technical capacity are needed to achieve future milestones. Technology is seen as a tool to automate and enhance data collection and presentation, including interactive visualizations and dashboards for easy access.

Combining data with analysis, reports, and research provides a comprehensive understanding of the situation. In conclusion, the Pacific e-commerce project supports sustainable development through science, knowledge, and information. Despite challenges in data collection and capacity limitations, the SPC provides valuable support.

Regular updates, business surveys, and exploring big data sources are key areas of focus. Additional funding and technology leverage are necessary for future milestones. The combination of data, analysis, and research informs decision-making.

Arguments

Digital trade provides transformative opportunities

Supporting facts:

• COVID-19 helped to demonstrate the importance of technology in global supply chains and in the global economy.

• Digital trade provides enormous opportunities to accelerate economic recovery and promote inclusive development.

Topics: Digital trade, Digital economy

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Access to and sharing of data is essential

Supporting facts:

• Quality and accessible data is useful for setting benchmarks and monitoring progress.

• Data helps inspire innovation and pick up new opportunities.

Topics: Digital economy, Data accessibility

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The high level goal of the JSI is to develop a global set of rules on digital trade adapted to the unique challenges and opportunities of the digital economy

Supporting facts:

• The JSI brings 90 WTO members together

• Over all, the membership represents 90% of global trade

Topics: Digital trade, WTO, JSI

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Open government data trading rule will enhance public access and use of government data to foster economic and social development, competitiveness and innovation

Supporting facts:

• The JSI provides a framework for such data to be made available

• Spain’s open data trial created jobs and has been economically beneficial

Topics: Open data, Digital economy, Government data

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Digital trade rules provide opportunities for businesses of all sizes

Supporting facts:

• MISMEs, micro, small, medium enterprises face significant hurdles in overcoming those regulatory barriers, meeting compliant costs, participating in supply chains

• The JSI goes some way to addressing this and providing solutions for those businesses

Topics: Digital trade rules, Business of all sizes, JSI

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Report

The analysis explores the positive impact of digital trade on global supply chains and the overall economy. It highlights that digital trade offers transformative opportunities for economic recovery and inclusive development. COVID-19 has heightened the significance of technology in global supply chains and the global economy, thereby demonstrating the importance of digital trade.

Furthermore, digital trade opens up enormous opportunities to accelerate economic recovery and promote inclusive development. Access to and sharing of data play a crucial role in the digital economy. Quality and accessible data are essential for setting benchmarks, monitoring progress, and inspiring innovation.

This emphasizes the need for policies that facilitate data accessibility and sharing. Such policies enable businesses to pick up new opportunities and drive economic growth. Support for the Pacific e-commerce portal is viewed positively, as it provides a collaborative platform to enhance economic opportunities in the Pacific region.

Australia is actively supporting this initiative, recognizing its potential to foster economic development and cooperation. The Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) aims to develop a global set of rules on digital trade adapted to the unique challenges and opportunities of the digital economy.

The JSI brings together 90 World Trade Organization (WTO) members, representing 90% of global trade. This collaborative effort intends to facilitate the growth of digital trade by creating a conducive regulatory environment. Promoting paperless trading rules is seen as a beneficial step, as digitizing key trade documents can lead to significant cost and time savings.

Additionally, the trade facilitation digital trade rule guarantees the creation of data, which is valuable for various purposes. The analysis also underscores the importance of open government data trading rules. Implementing such rules would enhance public access and use of government data, fostering economic and social development, competitiveness, and innovation.

For instance, Spain’s open data trial has not only created jobs but has also proven economically beneficial. Consumer protection measures and trust-building initiatives are essential for building trust in online trade. This highlights the influential role that an article on consumer protection can play in creating a secure and reliable online trading environment.

Digital trade rules are recognized as providing opportunities for businesses of all sizes. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) face significant regulatory barriers, compliance costs, and difficulties in participating in supply chains. The JSI aims to address these hurdles and provide solutions, thus promoting inclusive economic growth and reducing income inequalities among countries.

It is essential for developing countries to be a part of discussions regarding digital trade rules. The JSI takes into account different levels of development and endeavors to involve developing countries in shaping these rules. By ensuring inclusivity, the JSI supports sustainable consumption and production patterns and strengthens the means of implementation for sustainable development.

Finally, Australia’s commitment to developing an inclusive agreement demonstrates its dedication to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and reducing income inequality. This commitment aligns with the broader goal of achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. In conclusion, the analysis highlights the positive effects of digital trade on global supply chains and the economy.

It emphasizes the transformative opportunities it offers for economic recovery and inclusive development. Access to data, support for regional e-commerce portals, the JSI’s efforts to develop global digital trade rules, paperless trading, open government data trading rules, consumer protection measures, and inclusion of developing countries in discussions are all crucial steps towards maximizing the benefits of digital trade.

Australia’s commitment to an inclusive agreement further demonstrates the importance of collaboration and inclusivity in shaping the future of digital trade.

Arguments

Andrea Giacomelli invites the Pacific e-commerce portal team to explain how the portal functions and how it supports decision making in the digital economy sector.

Supporting facts:

• The Pacific e-commerce portal functions as a knowledge repository that gathers information about e-commerce and the digital economy.

• The portal can help policymakers make evidence-based decisions by allowing them to quickly download data and produce relevant comparisons or charts.

Topics: E-commerce, Data collection, Policymaking

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Regional service provided by SPC is crucial for small governments and organizations in facilitating statistical capacity and knowledge

Supporting facts:

• SPC assists countries to run their census of population and housing

• It helps to process and analyze their data sets and produce reports

• Other partners like IMF also assist in areas like GDP compilation, rebasing of price indices.

Topics: Small Countries, Regional Service, Statistics

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SPC’s regional service justifies its importance by not only providing capacity building but also supplementing capacity where needed

Supporting facts:

• SPC prioritizes helping countries in statistics and in developing their own capacity

• In very small countries, SPC provides direct help to develop indicators for their priorities and global commitments

Topics: Capacity Building, Supplementation, Small Countries, Regional Service

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Seeks to know UNCTAD’s initiatives in establishing data on economic transactions in developing countries

Supporting facts:

• Digital trade increase is unknown due to lack of e-commerce transaction data

Topics: e-commerce, Data collection, UNCTAD, Developing Countries

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Suggests the potential role of regional partnerships between UNCTAD and SPC in facilitating the establishment of e-commerce transaction data

Topics: e-commerce, Data collection, UNCTAD, SPC, Regional Partnerships

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Andrea appreciates the efforts of Evelyn and team in developing a data visualization platform for digital economy

Supporting facts:

• Evelyn mentioned about their effort in making data accessible and easy to understand with visualization techniques

• They want to create interactive data dashboards for easy data understanding and access

Topics: Data Collection, E-commerce, Digital Economy

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Andrea is interested in knowing the UNCTAD strategy for data collection for the digital economy

Supporting facts:

• Andrea asked Scarlett about their future strategy for data collection, publication, and capacity building

Topics: Data Collection, UNCTAD strategy, Digital Economy

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Andrea Giacomelli identifies a need for a representative from the Pacific to join the UNCTAD working group in order to bring knowledge back to the region and stay up to date in the area.

Supporting facts:

• Andrea Giacomelli emphasizes the importance of having a Pacific representative in the UNCTAD working group meetings, as he believes this could facilitate ascertaining firsthand knowledge and information.

Topics: UNCTAD, Capacity building, Regionalism

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Technological limitations hindered in-person participation of the Pacific in the meeting

Supporting facts:

• Scarlett Fondeur Gil mentioned that the physical distance of the Pacific made in-person involvement challenging and online interaction was also not efficient

Topics: Technical Limitations, Participation , Pacific

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WTO members have better data representation

Supporting facts:

• 80% of non-WTO members are located in the Pacific which is not well represented in terms of data

Topics: Data Representation, WTO

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Report

The Pacific e-commerce portal functions as a comprehensive knowledge repository, gathering information on e-commerce and the digital economy. It supports policymakers in making evidence-based decisions by providing easy access to relevant data that can be quickly downloaded, compared, and visualized.

The portal was developed through a partnership between UNCTAD and SPC, leveraging their expertise in statistical data and e-commerce. The SPC plays a crucial role in providing regional services to small governments and organizations, helping them build their statistical capacity.

They assist with census data collection, analysis, and report generation, with additional support from partners like the IMF. However, there is a concern about the lack of data on e-commerce transactions in the portal. The focus has been on elements that enhance e-commerce and digital trade, rather than on the transactions themselves.

This raises questions about UNCTAD’s initiatives in establishing data on economic transactions in developing countries. It is suggested that regional partnerships between UNCTAD and SPC could help address this issue. In addition to the portal, efforts are underway to develop a data visualization platform for the digital economy.

This platform aims to make data easily accessible and understandable through visualization techniques and interactive dashboards. Andrea Giacomelli expresses support for data visualization and emphasizes the importance of providing assistance to countries in implementing it. He also seeks information on UNCTAD’s strategy for data collection in the digital economy and suggests the need for a Pacific representative in the UNCTAD working group to ensure knowledge sharing and stay up to date.

Furthermore, Andrea promotes the involvement of the Pacific region in policy and decision-making processes. He acknowledges the challenges faced by representatives from the Pacific due to the physical distance and highlights the need to address technological limitations for more effective participation.

The representation of Pacific countries’ data within the WTO is inadequate, with 80% of non-WTO members located in the region. This highlights the importance of improving data availability within the WTO Joint Statement Initiative on e-commerce. Overall, the Pacific e-commerce portal serves as a valuable tool for policymakers, providing them with access to data for informed decision making in the digital economy sector.

Efforts are being made to address the lack of transactional data, enhance data visualization capabilities, and increase the involvement of the Pacific region in policy discussions. Improving data representation within the WTO is also a key area of focus.

Arguments

E-commerce data is lacking not only in the Pacific but also in most developing countries

Supporting facts:

• The collection of e-commerce statistics can be a challenge due to other priorities, resources, and coverage constraints.

• The concept and definitions of e-commerce are still evolving and being agreed upon between countries.

Topics: E-commerce, Developing countries, Data collection

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UNCTAD is working on developing methodology, resources, and capacity building for e-commerce and digital economic statistics

Supporting facts:

• UNCTAD has a working group that works on measuring e-commerce and digital economy.

• UNCTAD provides online training courses on indicators of e-commerce and ICT use by businesses.

Topics: UNCTAD, E-commerce, Methodology, Capacity Building

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Regional counterparts like SPC are needed for the successful collection and utilization of e-commerce data

Supporting facts:

• SPC is in the same region as national statistical offices, knows the unique challenges of these offices and can therefore better support these offices in data collection.

• SPC was instrumental in the delivery of an online training course in the Pacific.

Topics: Pacific, SPC, E-commerce, Data collection

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The push for e-commerce data collection must come from policy makers

Supporting facts:

• Limited resources of national statistical offices will not be used for data collection if there is no demand from policy makers.

• The collected data should be useful to the policy makers for it to have value.

Topics: Policy Makers, E-Commerce, Data Collection

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UNCTAD’s data collection largely involves trade data and does not address specific e-commerce activities such as the use of the internet by enterprises for e-commerce, or the values of such transactions

Supporting facts:

• UNCTAD’s data is compiled from national sources and does not invent the indicators

• Indicators wanted to be known include whether enterprises are using the internet for e-commerce, whether they are ordering or selling online, and the value of the transactions

Topics: e-commerce, trade data, UNCTAD, internet use

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Challenges in data collection can be seen as opportunities, and UNCTAD is proactive in addressing these by revisiting statistical definitions and seeking alternatives where traditional survey-based data sources may not suffice

Supporting facts:

• UNCTAD has a manual for methodological development which was first written in 2007 and had its latest revision in 2020

• UNCTAD working group convenes once a year and their last meeting occurred last week, where the presentations and content shared are available online

Topics: data collection, e-commerce, digital economy, UNCTAD, methodology

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Plans for UNCTAD’s future technical assistance and capacity building are determined by formal requests from countries.

Supporting facts:

• UNCTAD provides assistance on demand.

• Enouragement has been given to countries to formally request assistance.

• UNCTAD can also facilitate contact with other players from the E-Trade for All initiative.

Topics: UNCTAD, Technical Assistance, Capacity Building

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Scarlett Fondeur Gil expressed that she would have liked more in-person participation from the Pacific but was limited by technical issues

Supporting facts:

• online participation was also limited in the ability to interact

• she would have loved to have more in-person participation

Topics: participation, remote working, communication

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Qualitative indicators that can complement quantitative indicators are often collected through the same vehicles

Supporting facts:

• Surveys are used as a vehicle to collect these indicators

Topics: qualitative indicators, quantitative indicators

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Pacific Island states need support to implement business surveys

Topics: Pacific Island states, business surveys

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Report

The collection of e-commerce statistics in developing countries, including the Pacific, presents various challenges. These challenges arise due to competing priorities, limited resources, and coverage constraints. Furthermore, the concept and definitions of e-commerce are still evolving and being agreed upon between countries.

As a result, there is a lack of comprehensive e-commerce data in these regions. However, efforts are being made by organizations such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and regional counterparts like the Pacific Community (SPC) to address these challenges.

UNCTAD has established a working group that focuses on measuring e-commerce and the digital economy. They are actively involved in developing methodologies, providing resources, and offering capacity-building initiatives to enhance the collection of e-commerce statistics. Additionally, UNCTAD offers online training courses on indicators of e-commerce and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) by businesses.

Regional counterparts like SPC play a crucial role in supporting the collection and utilization of e-commerce data. SPC, being situated in the same region as national statistical offices, understands the unique challenges these offices face and can provide tailored support in data collection.

They have also played a significant role in delivering online training courses in the Pacific. It is essential for policymakers to push for e-commerce data collection, as the limited resources of national statistical offices will not be allocated to this task without demand.

The collected data should be of value and usefulness to policymakers to justify the efforts put into data collection. UNCTAD’s data collection efforts primarily focus on compiling national trade data. While this provides valuable insights, it may not address specific e-commerce activities such as the use of the internet by enterprises for e-commerce or the values of transactions.

Indicators of interest include whether businesses are using the internet for e-commerce, whether they engage in online ordering or selling, and the value of these transactions. UNCTAD takes a proactive approach in addressing challenges in data collection. They have a manual for methodological development, revised in 2020, and convene a working group annually to explore alternative data sources when traditional survey-based data may not be sufficient.

This demonstrates their commitment to revisiting statistical definitions and seeking innovative solutions. The integration of insights on measuring the value of e-commerce and specifically cross-border e-commerce into existing training courses is a focus for UNCTAD. Ongoing capacity-building workshops, co-organized with international institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO), aim to update the data collection process in line with developments in understanding the value of e-commerce.

UNCTAD provides technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives based on formal requests from countries. They also facilitate contact with other players through the E-Trade for All initiative. Additionally, funding for specific needs can be addressed through formal requests, which can then be relayed to the donor community by UNCTAD.

During discussions, Scarlett Fondeur Gil expressed a desire for more in-person participation from the Pacific. However, technical limitations hindered online participation and interaction. Despite these challenges, Scarlett Fondeur Gil intends to improve and increase participation from the Pacific in the future.

Qualitative indicators, which complement quantitative indicators, are often collected through the same survey vehicles. This highlights the importance of capturing both types of indicators to gain a comprehensive understanding of e-commerce. Pacific Island states require support to implement business surveys, which can provide valuable insights into the digital economy landscape.

The ANTA Digital Economy Report for the Pacific offers context to the obstacles present in the enabling environment. In conclusion, while e-commerce data collection faces challenges in developing countries, initiatives led by UNCTAD, SPC, and other regional counterparts aim to overcome these obstacles.

The active involvement of policymakers, capacity-building efforts, and the inclusion of qualitative indicators are crucial for obtaining comprehensive and meaningful e-commerce statistics. With ongoing improvements and collaborations, the availability and quality of e-commerce data in these regions can be enhanced.