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ASEAN ministers sign agreement on e-commerce
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Trade ministers of ASEAN member countries pose for a photograph after signing an agreement on e-commerce in Singapore on Nov. 12. (Courtesy of/The Singaporean Trade and Industry Ministry)
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SEAN member countries agreed on Monday to a cooperation framework to support the development of the digital economy through e-commerce schemes.
The agreement on e-commerce was signed by ASEAN trade ministers, including Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita. The signing took place amid the 33rd ASEAN Summit and other related summits that will take place in Singapore until Thursday.
Singaporean Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said in his remarks that it was the region’s first agreement to facilitate cross-border e-commerce transactions, which were expected to encourage ASEAN countries to promote paperless transactions.
“This agreement will help bolster trust and confidence among ASEAN consumers in e-commerce. We will enable ASEAN businesses to grow domestically, regionally and globally,” he said, adding that discussions on the agreement had begun in June last year.
The agreement was signed after nine rounds of negotiations involving representatives of 10 ASEAN member countries.
The agreement was formulated with three objectives -- to facilitate cross-border e-commerce transactions, to create an environment of trust and confidence in the use of e-commerce and to deepen cooperation among ASEAN member states to further develop and intensify the use of e-commerce to drive regional economic growth. (bbn)
