WTO/UNCTAD/PIFS REGIONAL workshop on E-COMMERCE
"Promoting E-Commerce in the Pacific – Recent Developments, Policies and Laws"
Venue:Sheraton Fiji Resort, Denarau Island South, in Nadi, Fiji.
20 – 22 June 2017
Program[1]©
Working Copy
(as of 22 May2017)
The WTO/UNCTAD/PIFS Workshop on E-Commercein Fiji from 20 to 22 June 2017 is sponsored and organized by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and UNCTADin collaboration with the PIF Secretariat, as part of the agreed activities as per the Memorandum of Understanding between the PIFS and the WTO signed on 28 November 2012:
For questions and inquiries on the WTO/UNCTAD/PIFS Workshop on E-Commerce, please contact co-coordinators:
Dr LUANGA Mukela Faustin, Counsellor, Head for Asia and Pacific Economies Regional Desk, Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation of the WTO, (e-mail: ; Tel: +41 22 739 6328; fax: +41 22 739 57 64).
WERNER Hans-Peter, Counsellor, Development Division, WTO, (e-mail: ; Tel: +41 22 739 5286)
Cecile Barayre, eTrade for All Coordinator, UNCTAD, (e-mail:;Tel: +4122917 5369)
-Mere Falemaka (Tel: +41 22 730 1730; e-mail: ) and Mr Alex Kerangpuna (Tel: +41 22 730 1730; e-mail: , PIFS Office in Geneva, Switzerland
WTO/UNCTAD/PIFS REGIONAL workshop on E-COMMERCE
20 to 22 June 2017
Sheraton Fiji Resort, Denarau Island South, in Nadi, Fiji.
"Promoting E-Commerce in the Pacific – Recent Developments,
Policies and Laws"
Context: The growing influence of e-commerce globally in the last 15 years has revolutionised global trade in goods and services. Already in 1998, the third WTO Ministerial Conference (MC3) recognised the important role that e-commerce can play and mandated a work program. The Work Programme on e-commerce has been renewed at every Ministerial Conference since then. Given the recent surge in interest in e-commerce in various international fora, including at UNCTAD and at the WTO, Members are now looking to advance e-commerce discussions ahead of the WTO's Eleventh Ministerial Conference (MC11). Based on the discussions held so far under the Work Programme and the various proposals tabled recently, it is clear that e-commerce is of interest to both developed and developing country Members. Pacific island countries, in particular, should identify their needs and priorities in this area to secure their interests and ensure that they benefit from this essential technology in the future.
At the heart of the Pacific's concerns is the development dimension of e-commerce and building the necessary skills and capacity to take full advantage of digital trade in both goods and services. Given their isolation, e-commerce could be an important development tool for Pacific countries and one which can significantly contribute to the growth of SMEs in the region, to increased trade and to national economic growth and development. E-commerce can also contribute to enhancing the region’s use of ICT, which was one of the five regional priorities endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders under the Pacific Regionalism Framework of 2015. The WTO/UNCTAD/PIFS Regional Workshop on E-Commerce is, therefore, intended to stimulate discussions in the region of the types of supportive policies that will enhance the role of e-commerce for development and prepare the region for any future work.
Objectives: The main objective of the Workshop is to update the Pacific countries on recent developments in e-commerce, including on the state-of-play in regard to discussions in the WTO, and to identify appropriate policies and laws that will promote the development of domestic and trans-border e-commerce in goods and services throughout the region. Another objective is for Pacific island countries to use their national experiences and identified challenges to come up with appropriate recommendations to ensure that e-commerce works for their future national and regional development.
Countries to be invited: WTO Pacific Island Forum members - funded by the WTO (4 delegates per country): Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.Non-WTO Pacific Island Forum members – funded by UNCTAD (2 delegates per country): Cook Islands, Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu.
International Organisations / bilateral partners to be invited: UNESCAP, ADB, ITC, ITU, World Bank, University of South Pacific, Pacific Islands Private Sector Organizations (PIPSO), Australia, New Zealand, USA, South Korea, and other regional organisations dealing with ECommerce.
Target audience: Trade Officials, Telecommunication Officials, Officials from Finance, Transport and Logistics services providers, Customs, mobile service providers and private sector representatives.
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20– 22 JUNE 2017; Nadi, Fiji8:30 – 17:30 / TUESDAY, 20 JUNE 2017
8:30 - 9.00 / Registration
9:00 – 9:30 / Opening Ceremony
- Welcome remarks
- Opening remarks
- Fiji Government Representative: Minister, Ministry Of Trade and Industry (TBC)
- WTO Representative –Mr Tim Yeend, Chef de Cabinet and Principal Adviser to the Director General, Director General Office, World Trade Organization
- UNCTAD Representative: Ms Cécile Barayre
9:30 – 9:45 / Group Photograph
9:45 – 10:00 / Coffee Break
10:00–11:00 / Session 1: A Short background of E-Commerce in the WTO
Moderator: to be identified
Guidelines
This session will focus on understanding e-commerce parameters in the WTO and how discussion of e-commerce has evolved over nearly two decades. It will also include the perspective and views of the PIF Secretariat and the University of the South Pacific on how the region should best prepare for WTO-related work and/or regional challenges.
Speakers [20 minutes each]
- WTO
- PIF Secretariat
- University of South Pacific
Open Discussion[20 minutes]: All participants
11:00–12:00 / Session 2: Global Trends and Developments in E-Commerce, Policy Implications for Pacific Countries
Moderator: Dr. Faustin Mukela Luanga
Guidelines
This session will provide an overview of global trends and developments in e-commerce including the contribution of e-commerce to global trade, developments in e-commerce in different regions, and the contributing factors that influence the development and growth of e-commerce in goods and services.
Speakers [15 minutes each]
- UNCTAD:Ms Cecile Barayre "Global Trends and Developments"
- ITU: Wisit Atipayakoon, Project Coordinator, ITU Regional Office "Enabling E-Commerce: Broadband deployment and uptake in the Pacific"
4. World Bank:Mr Marcus Bartley Johns, Trade and Competiveness Global Practice, World Bank “E-commerce: prospects for development and poverty reduction”
Open Discussion (15 minutes): All participants
12:00–13:00 / Session 3: Contribution of and challenges for E-commerce in the Pacific region
Moderator: PIFs representative
Guidelines
This session will discuss the challenges and opportunities to further the development of e-commerce in the region and will examine how e-commerce can be used to enhance trade, growth and development in the Pacific.
Speakers and discussants [10 minutes each]
South Pacific Tourism Organization: Chris Cocker, Chief Executive Officer, "Private Sector Internet Challenges"
Australia: Mr Caleb Jarvis, Trade Commissioner, Pacific Trade and Invest Australia "Strategic trade and investment priorities for realizing the potential of e-commerce for business in the Pacific"
Central Banks / Finance Ministries)
Specify speaker and topic to be discussed
Digicel or B-Mobile or Telecom Regulator, and company active in business process outsourcing or IT services
Specify speaker and topic
Niklaus Lindner, Director Government Relations, E-Bay, “Role of online platforms for E-Commerce – key levers for success”
Open Discussion [10 minutes]: All participants
13:00–14:00 / Lunch: Restaurant
14:00–15:30 / Session 4: Payment Solutions
Moderator: Representative from Pacific Central Bank
Specify speaker
Guidelines
This session will discuss regional and national challenges involved with providing mobile banking and payment solutions for online customers.
Speakers and discussants [15 minutes each]
ITUWisit Atipayakoon, Project Coordinator, ITU Regional Office
Specifytopic to be discussed
Pacific Islands Private Sector Organization (B2B / B2C companies)
Specify speaker and topic to be discussed
ANZ Bank / Bank South Pacific
Specify speakers and topics to be discussed
Open Discussion [15 minutes]: All participants
15:30–15:45 / Coffee break
15:45–17:30 / Session 5: E-Commerce readiness assessment – eTrade for All and Questionnaires on connectivity as part of the 6th Global Review of Aid for Trade – preliminary analysis – main challenges for the region, World Bank indicators for the Pacific
Moderator: Nikolaus Lindner, Director, Government Relations, E-Bay
Guidelines
This session will discuss results from the questionnaires, especially as they touch on e-Commerce readiness, ICT infrastructure and services, trade logistics and trade facilitation.
Speakers [15 minutes each]
UNCTAD: Cecile Barayre and Sven Callebaut,Advisor, Aid for Trade and Trade Capacity Development,"E-Trade readiness assessments in the region"
WTO: Hans-Peter Werner,"Preliminary M&E Outcomes on Connectivity for the Pacific"
World Bank, Marcus Bartley Johns, Trade and Competiveness Global
Practice, World Bank "E-trade indicators for the Pacific"
Open Discussion: All participants
8:30 – 17:30 / WEDNESDAY, 21June 2017
9:00 – 13:00 / Session 6 - Pacific Countries' Experiences
9:00 – 11:00 / Part I: Pacific Countries' Experiences – National Policies, Laws and Regulations in E-Commerce
Moderator:Dr. Faustin Mukela Luanga
Guidelines
Format: Session to be moderated so that the 14 PIF members can provide brief updates on their respective national policies, laws and legislations concerning e-commerce. The status of implementation of these laws and any current or proposed regulations and amendments will also be examined. At least seven PIF representatives should volunteer to make presentations.
Speakers/Panelists [15 minutes each]
1.Cook Islands,
2. Fiji,
3. Federated States of Micronesia,
4. Kiribati,
5. Papua New Guinea,
6. Nauru,
7. Samoa
Followed by Q/As and Discussions [15 minutes]
11:00–11:15 / Coffee break
11:15–13:00 / Part II: Pacific Countries' Experiences – National Policies, Laws and Regulations in E-Commerce
Moderator: Dr. Faustin Mukela Luanga
Guidelines
Continue as necessary with presentations and begin drafting recommendations for possible action. The latter could include the elaboration of recommendations to be presented on the last day (by governments, the private sector, international agencies or academia) to promote the development of E-Commerce at the national, regional and multilateral levels.
The recommendations should address five broad areas: capacity building, regulation and infrastructure, public policies, E-Commerce facilitation and means of payment.
Speakers/Panelists [ 15 minutes each]
8. Niue,
9. Marshall Islands,
10. Palau,
11. Solomon Islands,
12. Tonga,
13. Tuvalu,
14. Vanuatu
Followed by Q/As and Discussions [15 minutes]
13:00–14:00 / Lunch: Restaurant
14:00–15:30 / Session 7: E-Commerce and SMEs – Opportunities for Development
Moderator/Discussant: Henni Arup, Trade Policy Officer, Office of Trade Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, Unique challenges and benefits for women-owned SMEs
Guidelines
This session will focus on how e-Commerce can help micro and small and medium-sized businesses broaden their consumer and sales base and what is required in terms of ICT infrastructure, technical skills, payment solutions and logistics.
Speakers/Panelists [20 minutes each]
South Pacific Tourism Organization, Chris Cocker, Chief Executive Officer, "E-Commerce experiences of private sector tourism operators"
Pacific Islands Private Sector Organization
Specify speaker and topic to be discussed
Niklaus Lindner, Director Government Relations, E-Bay, “Opening up opportunities at scale for small remote retailers through platform-enabled trade”
Michelle Slade, Lead Adviser, Trade Negotiations Division, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Trade, "E-Commerce opportunities for SMEs"
James Howe, Pre-recorded video message , International Trade Centre
Followed by Q/As and Discussions [10 minutes]
15:30–15:45 / Coffee break
15:45–16:45 / Session 8: Legal and Regulatory Framework – building trust
Moderator: PIFS Secretariat / invited participant
Guidelines
This session will discuss some of legal issues pertinent to the digital economy, such as security and data protection issues, consumer protection, that need to accompany e-commerce policies. Best practice principles will be shared with examples of domestic regulation and legislation in the area of e-commerce. E-Commerce chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement to be show-cased.
Speakers/Panelists [15 minutes each]
1. UNCTAD: Cecile Barayre,
-What legal framework for e-commerce?
2. ITU Wisit Atipayakoon, Project Coordinator, ITU Regional Office
Specify topic to be discussed
3. Michelle Slade, Lead Adviser, Trade Negotiations Division, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Trade: E-commerce in Regional Trade Agreements
4. Henni Arup, Trade Policy Officer, Office of trade Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia: E-Commerce Rules in RTAs and FTAs
Followed by Q/As and Discussions [15 minutes]
16:45–17:30 / Session 9: Prospects for E-Commerce in the run up to MC-11
Moderator:Michelle Slade, Lead Adviser, Trade Negotiations Division, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Trade: E-commerce in Regional Free Trade Agreements
Guidelines
This session will focus on the proposals submitted by WTO Members on specific topics in e-commerce and possible next steps.
Speakers/Panelists [30 minutes ]
WTO Representative –Mr Tim Yeend, Chef de Cabinet and Principal Adviser to the Director General, Director General Office, World Trade Organization
Followed by Q/As and Discussions [15 minutes]
8:30 – 17:30 / THURSDAY, 22June 2017
9:00 – 11:00 / Session 10: E-Commerce Facilitation - Transport and Logistics Challenges in the Pacific
Moderator: Dr Alisa DiCaprio, Research Economist, Asian Development Bank Institute
GuidelinesThis session will focus on shipping and air transport of goods and people in addition to warehousing and logistic services, many of which rely on the internet and e-commerce. The WTO's Trade Facilitation agreement will be discussed as well as challenges with goods clearance and delivery services
Speakers/Panelists [15 minutes each]
1. Representative from the Global Delivery Association (Carlos Grau Tanner) (tbc)
Specify topic to be discussed
2. Yann Duval, Chief, Trade Facilitation Unit, Trade and Investment Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
3. Representative from Pacific Forum Line
Specify speaker and topic to be discussed
4. Williams and Gosling Ltd – Logistics and Supply Chains
Specify speaker and topic to be discussed
5. World Bank – William John Gain, Global Program Manager for Trade Facilitation & Border Management, World Bank, Specify topic to be discussed
6. Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO)
Specify speaker and topic to be discussed
Followed by Q/As and Discussions [15 minutes]
11:00–11:15 / Coffee break
11:15–13:00 / Session 11: E-Commerce as a provider and processor of services – the Tourism sector
Moderator: Henni Arup, Trade Policy Officer, Office of Trade Negotiations, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia
Guidelines
A short intro will be provided by the WTO based on its recent Secretariat study on "Challenges and Opportunities Small Economies face when linking into Global Value Chains in Goods and Services Trade" followed by a presentation
Speakers/Panelists [ 20 minutes each]
1. Hans-Peter Werner, WTO, "Goods and Services Value Chains for the Pacific"
2. Chris Cocker, Chief Executive Officer, South Pacific Tourism Organization
Specify topic to be discussed
3. Pacific Trade and Invest
Specify speaker and topic to be discussed
4. University of the South Pacific
Specify speaker and topic
Followed by Q/As and Discussions [25 minutes]
13:00–14:00 / Lunch: Restaurant
14:00–15:00 / Session 12: Roundtable – Assistance for E-Commerce Development
IGOs, Australia, New Zealand and PIFS
Moderator: PIFS
15:00-16:30 / Session 13: Pacific Considerations for E-Commerce Development: The way forward
Moderator: PIFS
Guidelines
This session is to develop a summary of concerns and possible recommendations which aim to improve the use of e-commerce across the Pacific. The latter could include the elaboration of recommendations (by governments, the private sector, international agencies or academia) to promote the development of E-Commerce at the national, regional and multilateral levels.
The recommendations should address: e-commerce strategies,infrastructure, payment, legal frameworks, trade logistics, SMEs development and financing for e-commerce.
16:30–17:00 / Evaluation - Closing Session / Closing Remarks
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[1]Final Programme, presentations and Guidelines for Participants will be posted on the on the WTO/UNCTAD/PIFS Workshop on E-Commerce. Webpage