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Joint Facilitation Meeting on WSIS Action Lines C7 on e-Business E -COMMERCE AS A KEY FACILITATOR FOR SME COMPETITIVENESS 22 May 2008, ITU. Building a legal framework for the information economy. Ms. Cécile Barayre-El Shami Economic Affairs Officer ICT Policy and Analysis Unit
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Joint Facilitation Meeting on WSIS Action Lines C7 on e-BusinessE-COMMERCE AS A KEY FACILITATOR FOR SME COMPETITIVENESS22 May 2008, ITU Building a legal framework for the information economy Ms. Cécile Barayre-El Shami Economic Affairs Officer ICT Policy and Analysis Unit Science, Technology and ICT Branch Division on Technology and Logistics
ICT policy framework for the information economy Creating a favourable environment for SMEs: • ICT infrastructure development • Legal and regulatory framework • Human capacity • E-business and economic environment • E-government • ICT-related trade and investment policies • Technological innovation
181 developing and transition countries and territories surveyed by UNCTAD National ICT strategy WSIS target: all countries have a national ICT strategy by 2010 2006: how many developing countries have adopted an ICT strategy or master plan?
UNCTAD survey on national ICT master plans in developing countries 80 countries have adopted an ICT plan (44%) 36 countries are designing an ICT plan (20%) No information available Source: UNCTAD (2006)
ICT and law reform WHY? • To ensure trust between commercial partners • To comply with other countries’ legislation • To facilitate the conduct of domestic and international trade • To offer legal protection for users and providers of e-commerce services
ICT and law reform HOW TO? • Involve all relevant Ministries to define priority areas for reform • Consider existing e-commerce laws (UNCITRAL ML and convention, other countries’ legislation) and regional/international harmonisation • Make an inventory of the legislation that need to be adapted • Consult with stakeholders to present and discuss the draft legal framework
Challenges • the lack of human resources • the lack of public awareness about the scope and application of the law and its benefits • consumers' lack of trust in the security of e-commerce transactions and privacy protection • the difficulty in setting up the technical infrastructure • the different legal, social and economic systems of countries in a particular region
UNCTAD’s program on ICT and law reform • UNCTAD builds capacity with legal issues related to ICTs (training course, workshops) • UNCTAD assists countries and regions (Latin America, ASEAN, EAC, UEMOA) in the preparation of hamonized legal frameworks
UNCTAD survey on legislation relating to ICT in developing countries • Out of the 32 responses, 20 countries have adapted their legislation to e-commerce and 8 were in the process of doing so • Priority given to e-transactions, information security law, consumer protection, IPRs, ISP’s liability, privacy, dispute resolution and e-contracting
UNCTAD survey on legislation relating to ICT in developing countriesINTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL HARMONISATION • 20 countries have considered UNCITRAL Model law on e-commerce; 25 the ML on e-signature and 11 the Convention on e-contracting • 8 countries based their legislation on the EU directive on e-commerce and on other instruments adopted by European countries, India, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
UNCTAD survey on legislation relating to ICT in developing countries The adoption of a legal framework has helped expand business opportunities and attract FDI. Examples: • The Republic of Korea: e-commerce transactions in 2005 rose 14.1% over 2004 • El Salvador: new trade opportunities for products and services over the Internet • Cambodia: conduct of trade in the region facilitated
UNCTAD survey on legislation relating to ICT in developing countries Next challenge: Enforcement • Need to build capacities of legal professionals (seminars, training programs, diploma) Ex: Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, the Philippines • Need to accompany legal reform by a broader reform on the information economy to create awareness of e-commerce opportunities and build trust
Joint Facilitation Meeting on WSIS Action Lines C7 on e-BusinessE-COMMERCE AS A KEY FACILITATOR FOR SME COMPETITIVENESS22 May 2008, ITU Thank you cecile.barayre@unctad.org www.unctad.org/ecommerce measuring-ict.unctad.org