APEC’s vision is to lead the world in unleashing the potential of the digital and internet economy and support an accessible, open, interoperable and secure ICT environment for e-commerce to foster economic growth and prosperity, the APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group (ECSG) said on Wednesday in HCM City.

The ECSG seeks to enable economies at all stages of development to utilise information and communication technology (lCT) to drive economic growth and social development through e-commerce.

To this end, it promotes the development and use of e-commerce as part of the internet and digital economy by supporting the creation of legal, regulatory and policy regimes in APEC that are predictable, transparent and consistent.

The internet and digital economy allow businesses, especially SMEs, access a wider consumer base through new business models.

They also help establish stronger ties between government, business and consumers through transparent government services provided through digital means.

This creates a truly global market place for the exchange of goods and services.

The ECSG will engage with non-APEC economies and multilateral organisations to expand the internet and digital economy for the benefit of all member economies irrespective of their development level.

The ECSG is composed of policy officials, experts and industry representatives, who aim to develop an environment that is conducive to e-commerce promoting cross-border data flows, enhancing SME competitiveness globally, promoting and facilitating the development and uptake of e-commerce throughout APEC by the effective use of secure, resilient, and trusted ICT infrastructure, and promoting paperless trading. — VNS