DILI, 07 november 2023 (TATOLI) – The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) asked the Government to create Timor-Leste’s eCommerce law to regulate transactions that occur over the Internet in the country.
The request was made by UNCTAD E-commerce and Digital Economy Team Leader, Dominic Leong during a meeting with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) in Dili, where both parties committed to collaborate on the creation of the eCommerce law.
Leong emphasized that the e-commerce law will help the government to control Internet transactions as well as regulate the activities of the digital economy in the country.
The creation and implementation of the eCommerce law is part of the fulfillment of the criteria of the roadmap for Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN: “I believe that the government is working to finalize the e-commerce law, as this is one of the requirements for the country’s accession to ASEAN.”
UNCTAD pledged to support the development of Timor-Leste’s national e-commerce strategy.
“We have been working with MTI over the past few months to conduct an assessment of the country’s readiness to engage in eCommerce, and then we will develop a national eCommerce strategy,” Leong said.
During the meeting, both parties touched on the potential of eCommerce to create jobs and increase business opportunities for the private sector.
The Minister for Trade and Industry, Filipus Nino Pereira, said that e-commerce has become an integral part of people’s daily lives: “eCommerce law is therefore needed to regulate all parties involved in online transactions.”
“The digital economy is an opportunity for us to develop the country’s economy. That’s why we need laws that can regulate and control our digital economic activities, as we are preparing to join the WTO and ASEAN in the future,” said Pereira.
The eCommerce market in Southeast Asia is projected to grow by 11.43% (2023-2027) resulting in a market volume of US$169.00bn in 2027, according to Statista.
Minister Pereira thanked UNCTAD for its commitment to supporting Timor-Leste in the development and implementation of its National E-Commerce Strategy.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomeno Martins
