MORE: Infographic - Vanuatu eTrade Readiness Assessment
VANUATU RISING
Meanwhile, about 1,000 kilometres southeast of the Solomons, the tiny nation of Vanuatu is also looking toward an online economy by considering its own Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessment.
The report was launched in Porta Vila in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Bob Loughman.
“Vanuatu’s e-commerce ecosystem is still incomplete,” the report says.
“Yet, the combination of government willingness and efforts, public investments in information, technology and communications (ICT) infrastructure (with a goal of 98% of the population covered by a mobile signal by 2018) and trade facilitation on top of a favourable regulatory regime in recent years have created solid foundations for the country to benefit from the digital revolution other economies in the region have started to enjoy.”
As well as being “sealocked” (in the words of the report), Vanuatu has several challenges its government will need to overcome to make the most of the digital future.
“E-commerce adoption by businesses, especially micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, in Vanuatu will require confidence and trust in electronic payment solutions, which are not yet widespread,” the report says.
“Similarly, in order to invest in ICT solutions towards moving to online solutions later, banks and microfinance institutions must work hand in hand with the government and leading business associations to ensure that financing gaps are bridged. This could also motivate business incubators and venture capital from Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Islands nations to put Vanuatu e-commerce on their investment map.”
COHERENT VISION
The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu assessments are part of UNCTAD’s commitment to help integrate small island developing states into the global trading system and support them in mitigating their economic and geo-climatic vulnerabilities.
“The Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessments for Vanuatu and Solomon Islands enable the development of a coherent vision by the governments to develop their e-commerce ecosystems and better integration with regional and global economies,” Shamika N. Sirimanne, director of UNCTAD's technology and logistics division, said.
“They will also support broader efforts among the Pacific Island Forum states to leverage the potential for e-commerce for national trade and private sector development.”
The Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessments were the ninth and tenth conducted by UNCTAD and the second and third for a Pacific islands nation after Samoa in July 2017.
“The launch of these new assessments represents an important milestone, but the real impact will be secured when the concrete recommendations included are effectively implemented,” Ms. Sirimanne said.
“Together with other partners of the eTrade for all initiative, UNCTAD stands ready to assist Vanuatu and Solomon Islands in this context."
Requests for eTrade Readiness Assessments have also been received from Kiribati and Tuvalu, which UNCTAD hopes to support in coming months.
The Solomon Islands is scheduled to leave behind its Least Developed Country status – after an improvement in fundamental economic indicators but entailing loss of some preferential treatment – with Vanuatu likewise recommended by the United Nations to graduate in 2020.
UNCTAD held a workshop on achieving structural economic progress toward and beyond graduation from Least Developed Country status in the Pacific in the Vanuatu capital Porta Vila on 20–21 June.
Funding for the Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessments of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu was provided by the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), a core partner of the eTrade for all Initiative. The authors would like to thank the coordinators responsible for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, respectively Mbaye Ndiaye and Simon Hess, for their guidance and support.
