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The use of new technologies in general, and e-commerce in particular, contributes to a more vibrant and inclusive economy. The potential of e-commerce for job creation, innovation and related economic growth, however, remains largely untapped in many countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific today. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular could benefit more from linking to markets through e-commerce due to its comparatively low entry barriers and transaction costs. Supporting local innovation and entrepreneurship and making affordable e-commerce solutions available are essential steps that enable ACP countries to capitalize on the new opportunities.

The session will provide examples of first-hand experience from small-business practitioners from ACP countries and other e-commerce experts. It will focus on how to:

— Remove barriers to the development of e-commerce;
— Encourage the wider use of e-commerce solutions; and
— Develop public-private partnerships for technical assistance in the area of e-commerce.

Speakers

• Marwa Kisiri, Ambassador, Head, ACP Geneva Office
• Paul Kukubo, Chief Executive Officer, East Africa Exchange (EAX), Rwanda
• Thiendou Niang, Managing Director, Afrique Communication, Senegal
• Martina Dalla Vecchia, Professor, School of Business, Institute for Information Systems, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
• Sandra Ribeiro, Project Manager, e-Gov Upgrade Project, Núcleo Operacional para a Sociedade de Informação (NOSI), Cape Verde
• Martin Labbé, Adviser, Online Marketing & Digital Networks, International Trade Centre (ITC)