The use of digital technologies in trade and economic activities – the digital economy – is growing rapidly in the Pacific. Across the region, people and businesses are increasingly using digital tools to communicate, expand into new markets, develop new services, export, and pay for goods and services. Despite this growth, the availability of robust, comparable data on e-commerce and the digital economy remains limited. Limited availability of statistical data in this area creates challenges for policymakers who wish to establish benchmarks and monitor progress in their transformation to a digital economy.
Organized together with the Pacific Community (SPC), this Talanoa* will address the role of data in today’s digital economy and explore how the region is tackling digital transformation, modernization of data collection and measuring of the digital economy. The panel of experts will discuss the critical challenges to harnessing data for value creation in the digital economy and learn about training opportunities on e-commerce and the role of statistics for evidence-based policymaking in the Pacific.
Questions to be discussed
- How is data powering the digital economy in the Pacific?
- What are the key data gaps in the region and how can these be addressed?
- How can the Pacific Region benefit from emerging opportunities in the digital world?
The webinar precedes an online training course on the production of digital economy statistics for national statistical offices in the Pacific. Both are activities part of the Pacific Digital Economy Programme, a joint initiative by UNCDF, UNDP and UNCTAD’s E-Commerce and the Digital Economy Work Programme, and benefit from technical support of UNCTAD’s TrainForTrade programme and financial support of the Governments of Australia and Sweden.
* The term ‘Talanoa’ is used in many parts of the Pacific to describe a process of inclusive and transparent dialogue. The Talanoa space is a place for sharing of ideas, knowledge and understanding.
