PH Calls for Empowered MSMEs in the Digital Economy 

Ms. Maria Crispina S. Reodica, Officer-in-Charge of E-commerce Office, Department of Trade and Industry, delivered two PH statements during the initial meeting of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts MeetingonE-commerce and the Digital Economy in Geneva on 04-06 October 2017.

18 October 2017 GENEVA –The Philippines called for greater efforts to help micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries to maximize opportunities in e-commerce and the digital economy at the Intergovernmental Group of Experts(IGE) Meeting on E-commerce and the Digital Economy during its initial meeting in Geneva from November 04 to 06.

Ms. Maria Crispina S. Reodica, Officer-in-Charge of E-commerce Office, Department of Trade and Industry, who represented the Philippines at the meeting, also pushed for discussions of various e-commerce barriers/issues, apart from barriers to international e-commerce platform, with the aim of addressing challenges to MSMEs’ participation in e-commerce.

The Philippines’ advocacy on mainstreaming MSMEs in the digital economy is in line with the Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap 2016-2020 (PECR), specifically on integration, one of the six key areas that seek the connection of domestic industries and enterprises on the global economy. PECR is targeting 100,000 MSMEs for e-commerce by 2020 out of the more than 937,000 MSMEs in the country. 

The IGE on E-commerce and the Digital Economy, one of the two subsidiary bodies recently established by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) that will be held regularly, serves as a venue to discuss issues, as well as share experiences and best practices pertinent to e-commerce and the digital economy.

Approximately 200 experts and representatives from UNCTAD Member States, as well as representatives from specialized agencies, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, participated in the meeting.

Ms. Reodica also emphasized the need for accurate indicators on the impact of e-commerce and digital trade to help better equip MSMEs in developing countries and for the development of supportive and responsive policies. She also suggested that economies harmonize their domestic laws to international standards or models and engage in capacity building.

Furthermore, the Philippine representative stated that the Philippines will host the ASEAN/UNCTAD Workshop on E-commerce and the Digital Economy in Manila in November 2017. The Workshop, a manifestation of the Philippine’s recognition of the increasing role that information communication technologies (ICTs) play in the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is expected to produce pertinent policy recommendations. END