2018-所罗门群岛_电子贸易准备度评估（英文版）-3mb

Solomon Islands Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessment Summary

Core Content

The Solomon Islands Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessment is part of the eTrade for all initiative by UNCTAD, aimed at enhancing the capacity of developing countries to engage in and benefit from e-commerce. This report outlines the current state of e-commerce readiness in Solomon Islands, identifies key challenges, and proposes strategic recommendations to support its growth.

The assessment highlights that while the country has made progress in several areas, e-commerce remains in its early stages. The report is structured around seven policy areas that are critical for e-commerce development:

• E-commerce readiness assessment and strategy formulation
• ICT infrastructure and services
• Trade logistics and facilitation
• Payment systems
• Legal and regulatory frameworks
• E-commerce skills development
• Access to financing

The report also provides a methodology overview and main findings alongside recommendations for each of the seven areas.

Main Findings and Recommendations

1. E-Commerce Readiness Assessment and Strategy Formulation

Main Findings:

• The national readiness level for e-commerce is low, but recent progress has been made, including the adoption of the National ICT Strategy and coordination on digital finance.
• The government is actively promoting e-government initiatives, which are driving consumer adoption of online transactions and speeding up regulations.
• The private sector is still in the early stages of integrating e-commerce into its operations.

Recommendations:

• Expand focus on developing ICT as a business sector.
• Ensure future strategies include a market-side component with an e-commerce dimension.
• Reduce uncertainty regarding the Ministry of Communications and Aviation (MCA) mandate and strengthen it through financial/technical support.
• Strengthen public-private dialogue with a focus on e-commerce and the digital economy.
• Continue progress on e-government initiatives and harmonize activities.
• Develop a medium-term e-commerce strategy.

2. ICT Infrastructure and Services

Main Findings:

• Internet penetration has increased significantly over the past decade due to telecommunications liberalization and competent regulation.
• Mobile phones and related services (telephone, Internet, mobile banking) are the main drivers of financial and technological inclusion due to the country's difficult geography.
• Satellite Internet is slow, expensive, and unreliable, while the arrival of the submarine cable is expected to improve connectivity.

Recommendations:

• Ensure successful implementation of the submarine cable project.
• Develop a fair-play model involving service providers in last-mile connectivity and service diversification via high-speed broadband.
• Encourage network/infrastructure sharing among telecom providers in remote areas.
• Continue discussions on a universal access framework.

3. Trade Logistics and Trade Facilitation

Main Findings:

• The Solomon Islands Postal Corporation (SIPA) is a key driver of innovation and consensus-building.
• Challenges in paying membership dues to international partners like the UPU and WCO may restrict access to expertise.
• The de minimis value of 2 SBD (US$0.25) causes significant delays in customs processing.
• Several trade facilitation measures are pending implementation.

Recommendations:

• Advocate for the adoption of the recently piloted addressing system.
• Maintain progress on a national postal addressing system.
• Revise the national de minimis regime.
• Implement planned trade facilitation initiatives such as E-Single Window, E-Application, E-Payment, and E-Application for Customs refunds.
• Focus on paperless trade and institutional cooperation.
• Ensure participation in new regional UN treaties on cross-border paperless trade.

4. Payment Systems

Main Findings:

• The anticipated passage of the national payment systems bill and commitment under the Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA) to digitize 80% of payments by 2020 are promising developments.
• Mobile money has seen rapid growth, but its use for e-commerce (e-wallets) is not yet fully leveraged.
• Financial illiteracy is a major barrier to adoption of new payment services.

Recommendations:

• Pass the national payment systems bill and hold consultations with relevant stakeholders.
• Improve financial literacy and client identification, especially outside the capital.
• Foster development of an independent mobile money agent network.
• Promote digital payment channels in all government-to-citizen (G2C) and government-to-government (G2G) transactions.
• Introduce new value-added mobile money services like savings and loan products.
• Implement FATF recommendations on AML/CFT.

5. Legal and Regulatory Framework

Main Findings:

• There are no e-transaction, data protection, or cybercrime laws.
• The consumer protection act, though a decade old, requires revision to include electronic transactions.
• Enforcement of regulations and consumer awareness remain challenges.

Recommendations:

• Adopt legislation for e-transactions, data protection, and cybercrime.
• Adapt the existing consumer protection act to include electronic transactions.
• Improve enforcement capabilities and increase consumer awareness of regulations and their obligations.

6. E-Commerce Skills Development

Main Findings:

• The government has started introducing ICT skills at the primary and secondary school level, with positive outcomes.
• Tertiary-level ICT education is weak in both quality and quantity.
• The entrepreneurial ecosystem is underdeveloped, and small IT support supply chains limit business growth in e-commerce.

Recommendations:

• Develop institutional mechanisms to align skills provision with private sector needs.
• Promote ICT certificate-level courses and integrate e-commerce skills into national TVET infrastructure.
• Expand the government's preferred suppliers program to include software development.
• Establish incubators to support start-ups with mentoring and technical assistance.

7. Access to Financing

Main Findings:

• Financial inclusion and telecom liberalization have expanded access to financial services.
• MSMEs rely on community-based lending rather than commercial banking.
• The uptake of the government's MSME Business Loan Guarantee Scheme has been poor.

Recommendations:

• Strengthen linkages between commercial lenders and sector associations, especially in tourism and agro-industry.
• Resolve constraints on the uptake of the MSME Business Loan Guarantee Scheme.
• Consider developing e-commerce-specific lending instruments as the sector matures.
• Test digital solutions for savings clubs and market vendors to improve MSME financial literacy.
• Leverage agent networks for loan application processes.

Conclusion

The Solomon Islands has made progress in e-commerce readiness, particularly through e-government initiatives, improved ICT infrastructure, and increased mobile penetration. However, significant challenges remain, including weak legal frameworks, limited skills development, and inadequate access to financing for MSMEs. The report emphasizes the importance of continued public-private collaboration, policy alignment, and investment in digital infrastructure and services to support sustainable e-commerce growth.

The action matrix outlines specific steps that can be taken to address these challenges and enhance e-commerce readiness in the country.

The assessment was conducted in collaboration with local stakeholders and supported by the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and other development partners. It is part of a broader effort to promote e-commerce as a tool for economic and social development in the Pacific region.