Internet Use Rising Among Developing Country Firms, But E-Business Lags

Article type: Review Article

Abstract: A global database of ICT indicators is being prepared under the leadership of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This new information, presented in the UNCTAD 2004 E-Commerce Development Report, is intended to assist developing countries in addressing their lack of reliable, internationally comparable statistical information about ICT usage, which is essential for ICT policy-making. Already known is that automating and integrating business processes through ICTs (e-business) is much less frequent in SMEs, and E-Commerce is still rare, particularly for direct sales. This initiative is part of efforts to promote the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), the second phase due to take place in Tunis later in 2005. Another issue raised in the report is Internet Governance, that is a question receiving wide attention.

Journal: I-WAYS, Digest of Electronic Commerce Policy and Regulation, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 24-26, 2005