E-BUSINESS

Round Table on E-Commerce with Indian Ocean Rim (IOR)
11th - 12th August 2004

FICCI along with Ministry of External Affairs organized a Round Table on E-Commerce with Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) country representatives on 11th - 12th August 2004 at Federation House, FICCI New Delhi.

The focus of the Round Table was discussion on streamlining the cross boarder taxation issues and related policies, harmonization of E-Business regulations and strengthening of intra IOR co-operations. There is urgent need to synchronize farsighted policies & practices with regional blocks to become a major economic force in the emerging world of E-Business.

Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) comprises of 18 countries, namely:Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

Dialogue Partners of IOR are China, Egypt, France, Japan and United Kingdom.

The participants for IOR Round Table were from Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, China and France.

The event helped the participating countries in understanding member's position in the regional platform, country's E-Business readiness and take facilitating actions at government and businesses. The outcome of the above-mentioned Round Table in New Delhi was presented at Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum meeting in Sri Lanka at the end of August 2004.

Click here for Programme of Round Table on E-Commerce with Indian Ocean Rim (IOR)

Outcome

The points are prepared as per the sessions held at the IOR E-Business Round Table Meeting:

Internet & E-Commerce (Inaugural)

1. The Internet is a disruptive technology that has brought about a paradigm shifts with anywhere to anywhere connectivity
   
2. It has become a tool for business efficiencies, opening up across to distant markets at low cost
   
3. The process of representing a commitment for a transfer of funds in exchange for goods and services is e-commerce.
   
4. E-commerce is growing at a dramatic rate worldwide
   
5. All countries need to ramp up Internet penetration and their ability to transact e-commerce within the country and with other countries
   
6. This covers infrastructure, policies, legislation on data protection & security, taxation policies etc.
   
7. Stages of building an Internet Society starts with Building a foundation, then Small pockets of growth, then Pockets expand & Begin to merge and finally An Internet Society.
   
8. We have seen that the Internet society starts as pockets, which manage to form larger e-commerce communities.

Streamlining Cross Boarder Taxation Issues (Plenary-1)

The opportunity is for the IOR countries to form a pocket with a common or global framework to streamline cross border taxation and policy issues

• Policies on network security, Privacy of information
  
• BPO Policy issues which involves complexity and risks
  
• Data Protection, IPR, Taxation, International Tax dialogue and policy

E-Governance (Plenary-2)

1. It is the largest service provider of any nation
   
2. Ideal catalyst for the provision of multiple services online and to take a nation forward on e-Commerce and to take a country towards global e-commerce
   
3. Multiple benefits:

   a. Greater efficiency in delivery of services
   b. Lower cost, evangelizing of online interaction for population with proliferation of Internet across
   c. Local language content & hosting
   d. User interface and online payments etc.
   

4. eGovernance is particularly relevant and of interest to both developing nations, as well as those with huge populations to improve the quality of life of their citizens.
   
5. Strong e-Governance initiatives will result in development of infrastructure, legislation, privacy and data protection issues etc and prepare a country for global e-commerce.
   
6. Online interaction as a way of life opens up possibilities for all
   
7. The Indian experience:

a. E-Seva - Online integrated services to citizens on any time anywhere basis under a single roof by utilizing latest IT tools.
b. Automatic Vehicle Tracking Systems - Project to organize Transport sector based on state of art technologies like GPS and GIS
c. Gyandoot - Online information on Mandi rates, Epidemics, Schemes/allotments, Directory of people, Certificates, Pension, Grievance redressal, Land record for farmers, online results, question banks, education course, library etc.
d. Other than industry verticals such as steel, the longest consumer e-Commerce website - Indian Railways
e. Filing of Income Tax online
f. Payment of utility bills
g. Water
h. DGFT applications / Interactions online
i. Fishermen downloading satellite weather information
j. Prevention of epidemics, Crop blight in Tamil Nadu
k. Treatment of cataract / eye diseases

Network Capabilities and Security (Plenary-3)

1. Secure Transactions is required which should be confidential, authenticated, non-repudiation and Integrated.
   
2. There should be Transaction Security Technologies in place like Encryption, Public Key Infrastructure, Secure socket Layer, Secure electronic Transactions
   
3. Common threats of online transactions like Denial of Services or Distributed Denial of Services and Phishing Attacks needs to be taken care of.
   
4. There is a need for Geography-specific legislations for cross border issues
   
5. Continuous Education & Training on Net is required for users and International co-operation / treaties are required to avoid all such attacks and make transactions secure.

Conclusion

1. The challenges and opportunities for co-operation for e-commerce growth within the IOR community is large and this meeting has served to highlight the challenges ahead in forming such as e-commerce community. Hopefully the sharing by various countries also helped to promote the way forward. But the key to success is that the findings of the Round Table are translated into actions.
   
2. The next meeting at Colombo will provide the opportunity to come together prepared to work out a common framework for e-Commerce in the IOR community.
   
3. The opportunity is for the IOR region to emerge as a vibrant, economic block that uses e-commerce as a means for economic growth within individual member countries, and across the region. And to participate in the global opportunity for e-Commerce.