【联合国贸发会议】2024年数字经济报告促进数字创业与贸易太平洋版_145页_1mb

报告摘要

Digital Economy Report Pacific Edition 2024 Summary

Core Content

The Digital Economy Report: Pacific Edition 2024 provides an in-depth analysis of the current state and future prospects of digital connectivity, entrepreneurship, and trade in the Pacific region. It emphasizes the importance of these three pillars in fostering a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy. The report is a follow-up to the 2022 edition and aims to support policymakers and stakeholders in advancing digital transformation across Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Main Viewpoints

Digital Connectivity: Connectivity remains a cornerstone of the Pacific's digital economy. While recent infrastructure developments have improved access, challenges such as high costs and limited coverage in remote areas persist. Submarine cables and mobile networks have expanded, but LEO satellite services are still limited in scope and face regulatory and financial barriers.
Digital Entrepreneurship: Digital entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth and inclusion. However, entrepreneurs face challenges in accessing finance, digital skills, and tailored support structures. The report highlights the need for targeted policies to empower women and underserved groups in the digital space.
Digital Trade: Digital trade presents opportunities for Pacific economies to diversify and integrate into global markets. Despite this, logistical challenges, limited digital payment systems, and regulatory inconsistencies hinder its development. The report advocates for the creation of efficient and secure digital trade platforms.

Key Information

Digital Infrastructure

Submarine Cables: Recent projects have improved connectivity, but coverage remains uneven across the region.
Mobile Networks: 4G coverage is nearly universal in Samoa and over 90% in Fiji and Tonga, but less than a third in the Federated States of Micronesia and Solomon Islands.
LEO Satellite Services: Currently available in eight Pacific countries, but adoption is hindered by high costs and varying regulations.

Internet Access and Affordability

Internet Affordability: Internet costs remain high, especially relative to GNI per capita. Only three countries in the region have reached the Broadband Commission's Advocacy Target of 2% of GNI per capita.
Digital Literacy: Basic ICT skills are lacking in many Pacific countries, with only 32% of individuals in Fiji possessing them. This gap is more pronounced in rural areas and among women.

Digital Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: The ecosystem needs strengthening with formal support structures such as incubators, accelerators, and mentorship programs.
Women in Entrepreneurship: Women entrepreneurs face unique challenges, including limited access to finance and digital literacy. Targeted support is essential to address these issues and promote gender equality.

Digital Trade

E-commerce and DDS: E-commerce and digitally deliverable services (DDS) offer growth opportunities, but are constrained by high shipping costs, complex customs procedures, and limited logistics infrastructure.
Local Platforms: There is a growing need for local platforms that support intraregional trade, as global platforms like Alibaba have limited presence in the region.
Payment Systems: Efficient and affordable cross-border digital payment options are crucial for the development of digital trade.

Policy Recommendations

Promote Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Strengthen digital infrastructure and ensure end-to-end Internet services.
Support Affordable Connectivity: Develop policies that reduce costs and improve access to digital services for all communities.
Enhance Digital Literacy and Skills: Invest in training programs to bridge the digital skills gap, particularly for women and rural populations.
Improve Access to Finance: Encourage non-traditional financing mechanisms to support digital ventures.
Develop Digital Trade Ecosystems: Create integrated digital platforms and logistics systems that enable secure and consistent trade.
Strengthen Regulatory Frameworks: Establish coherent and supportive legal frameworks for digital trade and entrepreneurship.

Conclusion

The report underscores the importance of a coordinated and inclusive approach to digital transformation in the Pacific. By addressing the challenges in connectivity, entrepreneurship, and trade, Pacific SIDS can better leverage digital technologies to support sustainable development and economic resilience.

Key Tables and Figures

Table/Chart	Description
Table II.1	Recently completed and planned undersea cable projects in the Pacific region
Table II.2	Data centres, total and per million inhabitants, by selected country groupings and Pacific SIDS, 2024
Table II.3	Mobile and fixed-line Internet performance for Fiji, Maldives and Singapore in 2024
Table III.1	Financial and payment institutions, selected Pacific SIDS
Table III.2	Women, Business and the Law Index scores, by indicator, selected Pacific SIDS and country groupings, 2024
Table IV.1	Types of global and local or regional platforms operating in one or more Pacific SIDS
Table IV.2	Number of accommodations and tourist listings on popular travel platforms, 2024
Table IV.3	Overview of the status of e-commerce/digital trade law in the Pacific
Table IV.4	Bilateral and regional trade agreements involving Pacific SIDS
Table V.1	Assessments and e-commerce strategies concluded in the Pacific, year of completion

Figure	Description
Figure II.1	Population coverage of mobile network technology (2G, 3G, 4G and 5G), by selected country groupings and Pacific SIDS, 2023
Figure II.2	Internet connection speed, by type of broadband, selected country groupings and Pacific SIDS, 2023
Figure II.3	Smartphone adoption, global and Pacific SIDS, selected years
Figure II.4	Access to digital devices in selected Pacific SIDS, 2022
Figure II.5	Access to digital devices, by employment category, selected Pacific SIDS, 2022
Figure II.6	Mobile cellular and Internet subscriptions, by type, country grouping and selected Pacific SIDS, 2023
Figure II.7	Price of broadband subscriptions as a share of monthly GNI per capita, selected country groupings and Pacific SIDS, 2023
Figure II.8	Price of and subscriptions to mobile broadband, selected country groupings, Pacific SIDS and years
Figure II.9	Progress against Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development targets for broadband Internet user penetration, selected country groupings, Pacific SIDS and years
Figure III.1	Digital activities and literacy concerns, selected Pacific SIDS, 2022
Figure III.2	Commercial bank branches, selected Pacific SIDS, country groupings and years
Figure III.3	Cost of business start-up procedures, selected Pacific SIDS, country groupings (per cent of GNI per capita), 2014 and 2019
Figure III.4	Current account ownership and digital payment solutions, selected Pacific SIDS, 2022
Figure III.5	Labour-force participation rates, by sex, selected country groupings and Pacific SIDS, 2023
Figure III.6	Female share in senior and middle management employment, selected Pacific SIDS, 2022
Figure III.7	Gender parity score in access to finance, by urban and rural, selected Pacific SIDS, 2022
Figure III.8	Gender parity score for access to digital devices, by age group, selected Pacific SIDS, 2022
Figure III.9	Gender parity score in Internet use, by urban and rural areas, selected Pacific SIDS, 2022
Figure III.10	Gender parity score in digital literacy, by urban and rural areas, selected Pacific SIDS, 2022
Figure IV.1	Defining e-commerce and digital trade
Figure IV.2	Trade balance, by flow and selected categories, country groupings and Pacific SIDS, 2023
Figure IV.3	Origins of export revenues for Pacific islands exporters, 2014-2024
Figure IV.4	Trade by category and flow, Pacific SIDS, 2010-2023
Figure IV.5	Trade balance in DDS, by category, selected country groupings and Pacific SIDS, 2023
Figure IV.6	DDS, Pacific SIDS and selected country groupings, 2010-2023
Figure IV.7	Use of online channels for export revenue in the Pacific, selected years
Figure IV.8	Trade origin and destination, by transport mode and weight, selected Pacific SIDS, 2021
Figure IV.9	Ad-valorem freight rates, by transport mode, selected Pacific SIDS and country groupings, 2016-2021
Figure IV.10	International tourism receipts as share of total services exports, by product, selected country groupings and Pacific SIDS, selected years
Figure IV.11	Training needs as perceived by exporters in Pacific SIDS, by online activity, 2024

Boxes

Box	Description
Box II.1	The promise of 5G in Fiji and Papua New Guinea
Box II.2	Esiaola Quality Furniture: Internet reliability and impacts on business in Tonga
Box II.3	How the UNCDF digital and financial literacy surveys are carried out
Box II.4	The ITU Smart Islands initiative
Box III.1	Defiant Software and Defiant Robotics: Digital entrepreneurship in Tonga
Box III.2	AgBook: Digital business support for farming in Papua New Guinea
Box III.3	SkyEye Pacific: Navigating Pacific digital entrepreneurship support organizations
Box III.4	TWICT: Advancing gender equality in Tonga's ICT sector
Box III.5	Shenal Harakh: Empowering women through digital skills
Box III.6	The eTrade for Women initiative
Box IV.1	BPO services in the context of DDS in Fiji
Box IV.2	Alibaba ventures into the Pacific
Box IV.3	Sky Eye and Maua: Local solutions for e-commerce challenges in the Pacific
Box IV.4	Vaoala Vanilla: Onboarding e-commerce to increase sales
Box IV.5	Eau Des Iles: Challenges of a Pacific MSME
Box IV.6	E-Tourism Frontier: Leveraging digital tools for success in Pacific tourism
Box IV.7	Vodafone integrates mobile wallet with Mastercard for international payments

Acronyms and Abbreviations

ADB: Asian Development Bank
AI: Artificial Intelligence
ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations
ASYCUDA: Automated System for Customs Data
B2B: Business-to-Business
B2C: Business-to-Consumer
BPO: Business Process Outsourcing
CEO: Chief Executive Officer
COVID-19: Coronavirus Disease
DDS: Digitally Deliverable Services
ESO: Entrepreneurial Support Organization
GDP: Gross Domestic Product
GNI: Gross National Income
GSMA: Global System for Mobile Communications Association
ICT: Information and Communication Technology
ILO: International Labour Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
ITU: International Telecommunication Union
IXP: Internet Exchange Point
LDC: Least Developed Country
LEO: Low Earth Orbit
MSME: Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise
OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
PIFS: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
PPP: Public-Private Partnership
PRESR: Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap
PSDI: Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative
SDG: Sustainable Development Goal
SIDS: Small Island Developing States
SME: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise
TBD: To Be Determined
TWICT: Tonga Women in ICT
UNCDF: United Nations Capital Development Fund
UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDP: United Nations Development Programme
UNESCAP: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
USAID: United States Agency for International Development
WTO: World Trade Organization

Acknowledgements

The report was prepared under the guidance of Torbjörn Fredriksson, Head of the E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch of the UNCTAD Division on Technology and Logistics, and contributed by a team of experts including Chad Morris, Thomas van Giffen, Rodrigo Saavedra, Marcin Skrzypczyk, and Dominic Leong. Additional inputs were provided by several organizations, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), UNCTAD, UNDP, UNCDF, and others. The Pacific Digital Economy Programme is supported by Australia, the European Union, and New Zealand.

Preface

The report highlights the transition from assessment to implementation in the Pacific digital economy. It underscores the need for coordinated efforts and targeted policies to support sustainable and inclusive digital development. The eTrade for all initiative plays a significant role in this process, aiming to improve the ability of developing countries to benefit from e-commerce. The report serves as a guide for policymakers and stakeholders to advance digital transformation in the Pacific.

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