Pacific officials have started a four-week training course to help them proactively engage with negotiations and implementation of e-commerce rules.
As stressed by the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap, the regulatory environment is an essential enabler of e-commerce readiness. Currently, many Pacific countries require support to negotiate and implement rules suitable to boost digital trade.
To address these gaps, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat has developed a regional course which brings together experts from across the globe through innovative delivery formats.
The first training week, beginning Monday, will build awareness of e-commerce and e-commerce rulemaking. In coming weeks’ participants will revise the training material and start developing national positions. In the final week participants will deepen their knowledge through a closer at e-commerce negotiations, notably at the World Trade Organisation, practical and interactive discussions on implementation of e-commerce rules and, finally, preparation and presentation of position papers on national E-commerce priorities.
Opening the virtual training, the PIF Geneva Office Permanent Representative, Ambassador Mere Falemaka said the training course responds to recommendations of the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap.
“To fully realise E-commerce potential, more must be done at the national and regional level to create an enabling environment,” she said, “There is a significant risk for those remaining outside the negotiations of new rules that will shape the conduct of E-commerce in the future. I am confident that this training will equip officials with the technical knowledge and skills to enable them to participate productively in E-commerce negotiations at regional and multilateral level,” she added.
The training is organised in partnership with the World Trade Organisation, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the Commonwealth Small States Office, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, and is assisted by Trade Worthy Ltd.
Funding for the training is provided by the Australian Aid Programme.
SOURCE: PIFS/PACNEWS
