ASEAN ministers ink e-commerce agreement

Economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed an agreement to boost cross-border e-commerce transactions among member states.

In a post on his Facebook page, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the ASEAN Agreement on E-Commerce was signed on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Summit in Singapore this week.

“The ASEAN Economic Ministers signed the ASEAN Agreement on E-Commerce at the 33rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Singapore,” Lopez said.

The agreement seeks to facilitate cross-border e-commerce transactions and create an environment of trust and confidence in the use of e-commerce.

“The agreement encourages cooperation among ASEAN Member States to help businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, overcome obstacles and take advantage of electronic commerce,” ASEAN said.

The agreement entails cooperation on policies regarding ICT infrasctucture, education and technology, online consumer protection, e-commerce frameworks, eletronic security, electronic payments and settlements, and trade facilitation.

It aims to deepen cooperation among member states to further develop and intensify the use of e-commerce to drive economic growth and social development in the region.

“Discussions started last year during the hosting of the Philippines and was concluded last July 2018,” Lopez said. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News