2018-不丹_电子贸易准备度评估（英文版）-0mb

Bhutan Rapid e-Trade Readiness Assessment Summary

Core Content

This document presents the findings and recommendations of the Bhutan Rapid e-Trade Readiness Assessment, conducted as part of the eTrade for All initiative by UNCTAD. The assessment evaluates Bhutan's readiness to adopt and benefit from e-commerce, highlighting both strengths and challenges in the context of the country's unique socio-economic and geographical conditions.

Main Policy Areas and Findings

1. E-Commerce Readiness Assessments and Strategy Formulation

• Core Content: Bhutan has recognized the potential of ICT for socio-economic development, but no comprehensive e-commerce readiness assessment or strategy had been conducted before this report.
• Main Findings:
  • The Economic Development Policy (EDP) 2010 and National ICT Vision emphasize ICT as a key driver for development, aligned with the concept of Gross National Happiness.
  • The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) has developed the ICT Roadmap and the ICT Industry Development Plan (iDzodrak), which aim to mainstream ICT in the economy and promote innovation.
  • Despite these efforts, a dedicated e-commerce strategy is still missing.

2. ICT Infrastructure and Services

• Core Content: Bhutan has made progress in ICT infrastructure, but challenges remain in affordability and reliability.
• Main Findings:
  • 95% of the population has access to electricity and the Internet, but fixed/broadband Internet is costly and unreliable.
  • The iDzodrak includes initiatives to reduce the cost of Internet and mobile telephony, and to improve Internet accessibility.
  • A national fiber optic network is under development to support the growth of the ICT industry.

3. Trade Logistics and Trade Facilitation

• Core Content: Bhutan's geography and small population make trade logistics challenging.
• Main Findings:
  • The transport environment is difficult, leading to uncompetitive logistics.
  • Local entrepreneurs are deploying innovative solutions to address these challenges.
  • Bhutan Post is being supported to improve last-mile address localization outside Thimphu.

4. Payment Solutions

• Core Content: Payment infrastructure is evolving, but still limited in scope and accessibility.
• Main Findings:
  • Financial inclusion is a government priority, enabling the development of mobile payment solutions.
  • An e-payment gateway is planned for 2017.
  • There is a lack of online payment facilities, making it difficult for citizens to adopt e-commerce.

5. Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

• Core Content: Legal frameworks are in place but need to be more coherent and business-friendly.
• Main Findings:
  • Existing regulations support mobile payment solutions.
  • A comprehensive and up-to-date e-commerce law is still missing.
  • There is a need to review the compatibility of ICT-related regulations across different sectors.

6. E-Commerce Skills Development

• Core Content: The education system is integrating ICT, but there is a skills gap and mismatch.
• Main Findings:
  • Universities are progressively introducing ICT-related topics into curricula.
  • The Bhutan TechPark provides a platform for skills development but is insufficient to meet the needs of the growing ICT sector.
  • A skills gap exists, leading to excessive foreign outsourcing and a lack of opportunities for new ICT graduates.

7. Access to Financing

• Core Content: Access to financing is a key constraint for private investment and MSME growth.
• Main Findings:
  • No special facility exists to support the growth of the e-commerce sector.
  • A training program for BICTTA members on business planning and accounting is recommended to improve access to finance.

Key Recommendations

• Develop a National e-Commerce Strategy: Aligned with the ICT Roadmap, BICMA Act, and contributing to the revised EDP and 6th FYP.
• Carry out a Data Centre Investment Attractiveness Assessment.
• Support Bhutan Post’s last-mile address localization projects.
• Implement the national e-payment gateway and support its roll-out with merchants.
• Review the compatibility of ICT-related regulations to ensure alignment with the ICT master plan and other development strategies.
• Set up an ICT Academy - Industry Council to bridge the skills gap and promote industry-relevant training.
• Develop a training program for BICTTA members on business planning and accounting to enhance access to finance.

Conclusion and Way Forward

Bhutan is a latecomer to the ICT space but has a strong foundation for e-commerce development due to its stable government, high Internet penetration, and commitment to ICT as a development tool. However, the lack of a dedicated e-commerce strategy, high costs of Internet access, limited payment solutions, skills gap, and financing constraints remain key challenges.

The action matrix provided in the report outlines a series of initiatives aimed at improving the ICT environment and enabling e-commerce growth. These include:

• Raising awareness of Bhutan as an FDI destination for ICT.
• Enhancing the attractiveness of Bhutan for ICT service providers.
• Developing a national fiber optic network.
• Improving broadband infrastructure.
• Connecting all communities to the Internet.
• Enhancing government procurement efficiency.
• Promoting e-commerce in government and SMEs.
• Supporting the development of local ICT entrepreneurs and innovation centers.

Funding and Acknowledgements

• The report was externally edited by Nancy Biersteker.
• Desktop publishing was prepared by Nathalie Loriot, and the cover by Nadège Hadjémian.
• Funding for the report was provided by the Government of Sweden.
• The report was prepared by Mr. Sven Callebaut, under the supervision of Ms. Cecile Barayre, and the overall guidance of Torbjorn Fredriksson.

Summary Statistics

• Source: ITU ICT Development Index (IDI), Report 2016.
• Figure 1: Main bottlenecks for the effective use of e-commerce in Bhutan (number of responses).
• Figure 2: Survey methodology used to collect data.
• Figure 3: iDzodrak Programmes and Projects.

Methodology

• Phase 1 (October 2015 - November 2016): Official communication with MoEA and DoT, literature review from ITU, UPU, and EIF.
• Phase 2 (November 2016): Customized questionnaires sent to 25 partners.
• Phase 3 (November 2016): 16 interviews conducted in Thimphu.
• Phase 4 (December 2016): Final data collection and analysis.

Summary of Findings and Recommendations Table