Commerce électronique

Electronic commerce integrates production, advertising, sale and distribution of

products and services through electronic means

The presentations and discussions on electronic commerce  have

The first concerns the status of electronic commerce

Europe, its growth potential and success, its likely impact, barriers and

opportunities. The second aspect focused on the priorities for Europe in the field of

electronic commerce, how the main barriers could be addressed and

specific actions that could be considered to release the potential of

electronic commerce in Africa.

Presentations and discussions could be summarized as follows:

. The status and potential

- E-commerce represents an opportunity for real and very significant

Europe

-Europe 's unique competitive advantages in key areas of

electronic commerce, especially in tele-business (Business to

Business) export-oriented sector, which happens to be one of the markets

whose growth is fastest.

- The economic and social potential of electronic commerce is, on balance,

very positive.

- The time has become imperative because the window of opportunity opens to Europe

enabling it to achieve significant development of electronic commerce, and

avoid becoming dependent on external economic actors, is very short.

 What happens today in electronic commerce in Europe

- There are a limited number of African companies operating in the trade

mail. Their existence shows that African entrepreneurs knowledgeable

can succeed and that Europe was actually competitive advantages especially

in the teleservices business to business oriented towards exports.

- There are several programs to promote the Internet in rural and

among disadvantaged groups.

- There are several programs aimed at providing Internet access and trade

E-through volunteers and community associations

basis.

- There are some programs, mostly sponsored by private donors, to

to provide training and assistance to pilot projects of Commerce

mail.

The main barriers

- The infrastructure in some Europenne pay does not make enough trade development

Electronic notably because:

- Inadequate physical infrastructure;

- An infrastructure for electronic transactions deficient;

- A legal and regulatory framework still unsatisfactory;

- African environment of electronic commerce is not yet a good

incubator because:

- The level of awareness of electronic commerce is not enough

high

- European entrepreneurs need to be trained to use the Internet

for business

- Europe professionals need to be trained to assist

companies are moving towards the E-Business Which should focus the priorities of e-commerce in Europe?

Presentations and discussions focused on several priorities in several

distinct areas, mainly:

With regard to the priority sectors

- The first priority should it focus on developing the local market and

regional or on the international market? The consensus that emerged was that

export markets are more attractive in the short term but there is a need

to provide local and regional markets all possible help to promote and

accelerate their development.

- How export market should be given priority? We proposed two

key market niches with equal priorities: the market of the African Diaspora and the

international market for teleservices Business to Business

- The priorities should they focus on the goods or services? The consensus here was

we should focus on physical goods for local markets

and probably regional, but the export from the continent should focus on

teleservices.

- Purchases and government procurement should be a priority? Well

there is currently no mechanism for electronic purchasing of goods and services

African governments or by the main regional institutions Europen, and

although none of them uses the Internet to provide a real service,

Many participants suggested that this should be a priority because of

the impact it could have on the awareness, acceptance and use

General Internet as a business tool.

With regard to improving the environment of electronic commerce

Eropean

- Is there a need for intervention at the level of infrastructure, regulations, the

training, education, etc. ..? Given the short time windows of opportunity, the

consensus reached was the urgent need for action on

all fronts.

- In addition to actions to improve the environment for trade

electronics, is there other actions that could be undertaken? Some

Participants suggested that an emphasis on demonstration projects and

other methods such as immersion courses and sponsorship in order to better

equip European knowledge and experience necessary to create and manage

business e-commerce.