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The landscape of B2C e-commerce marketplaces in Singapore
Get PDFThis country brief is part of an eleven-part series exploring the landscape of B2C e-commerce marketplaces in various East Asian economies. This series offers in-depth insights into the traffic trends for active e-commerce websites, national established and emerging key players, main characteristics of the marketplaces, ease of online selling, the degree of specialization in terms of products as well as the products characteristics. For more project information visit https://www.unescap.org/projects/b2c Singapore shows a particularly high internet penetration rate (96%) and a sizeable proportion of e-commerce users (62%). In addition. the density of B2C marketplaces is in the middle range with a total of 191 e-commerce websites for a population of 5.6 million (3.8% of the total traffic in the region studied).
Over the period 2019-2022, traffic on the 191 B2C marketplaces has grown significantly, apart from a slight decrease in 2022, from 771 to 862 million visits. Among them, online shopping malls account for the largest proportion of marketplaces (46.1%) and capture most of the traffic (66.7%).
The e-commerce market is dominated by domestic companies (37%), but closely followed by the United States (24%). Of the total 191 B2C marketplaces, there is an important geographical diversity given the 28 other countries with companies holding B2C marketplaces.
The e-commerce market is relatively concentrated, with the Top 10 leading websites capturing 77.7% of the total traffic. This Top 10 is largely dominated by online shopping malls, 6 in total, and with companies mainly from Singapore (7), the United States (2) and China (1).
Regarding the ease of selling on these B2C marketplaces, only 50% allow foreign sellers to operate and 55% offer open registration to online sellers. Almost half of these marketplaces are fully transactional (48%) and, as a corollary, 50% require trading fees to sell online.
Singapore has a balanced proportion of generic (56%) and specialized B2C marketplaces (44%). Among the 84 specialized marketplaces, 30% specialize in fashion, accessories, and shoes (capturing 18% of the traffic) and 20% in automotive parts (25% of the traffic). The traffic dynamics also show that consumers’ preferences strongly lean towards electronics & IT (36% of the traffic).</p
How online courts effectively supplement digital trade and contribute to sustainable development goals: insights from a case study of China
Get PDFThe increasing volume of digital trades inevitably generates more disputes. An efficient online dispute resolution mechanism is an important digital trade promotion policy measure, as it ensures the cyber order and strengthens online users’ confidence. The immediate implication is the furtherance of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.3 on better access to justice and SDG 16.7 on having a responsive judiciary. But having an online judiciary does not only improve SDG 16. Drawing insights from the Internet Courts in China, the disputes arisen from the voluminous amount of digital trades provide more opportunities for the judiciary to contribute to other SDGs, such as SDG 2 (food safety), 3 (public health), 4 (online education), 8 (equality), 9 (intellectual property and innovation) and 10 (employment). Whilst digital trades can promote SDGs, they are usually private/commercial interests-oriented and only incidentally benefit the SDGs. Inevitably there will be occasional problems (e.g. irresponsible commercial behavior or market failures) which could undermine the SDGs. By contrast, the online courts are public interests-oriented, with the goal of maintaining public order and development. This legal policy measure helps align private digital trades and public SDGs. The judgements—coupled with widespread news reporting and subsequent response by other relevant public organs—help monitor and ensure proper sustainable development.
Two major policy recommendations emerge from the study. First, having a public, court-based system contributes more to the SDGs than having private dispute resolutions mechanisms (e.g. private and confidential arbitration or mediation) alone. The latter will not lead to publicly-available and normative judgements that serve as public guidance for the market and the SDGs. At the same time, other public organs become better informed—via the disputes in public courts—of the latest market developments and needs and can act accordingly. Second, it is helpful to broadly define the scope of jurisdiction of the online dispute resolution organs. This strategically allows the courts to hear more cases from the vast amount of digital trades, and accordingly offer guidance on more SDG areas and issues.</p
Challenges and opportunities for electric land-based public transport in four provinces of Thailand
No full textThe transportation sector releases approximately 25 per cent of global carbon dioxide (CO2) through
the combustion of fossil fuels. By 2050, the global share of CO2 from the transportation sector will
increase significantly. At COP 26, in its Nationally Determined Contribution, Thailand pledged to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30-40 per cent by 2030. Thailand also committed to reaching
carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero GHG emissions by 2065. The National Energy Plan, which is
being updated by the Ministry of Energy, will focus not only on energy security but also plans to help
achieve the carbon neutrality goal. As the transportation sector in Thailand emits significant quantities
of CO2, one of the key strategies is the 30@30 Electric Vehicle Policy, which establishes a target for
Zero Emission Vehicles, defined as Battery Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles, to constitute
30 per cent of total automotive production by 2030. The Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific (ESCAP) understands the importance of supporting the Thai Government through the
Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE). The study was conducted with
technical support from experts to understand the challenges and opportunities with regard to electric
vehicles (EVs) in public land transportation. The study identified types of public transportation systems
and target areas that have potential to convert from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to EVs.
The study started with a literature survey of EV promotion in Thailand with feedback obtained from
relevant organizations in four target provinces prior to conducting surveys to analyse the potential for
reducing CO2 emissions and assessing the cost-effectiveness of investment in conversion
Report on sustainable urban transport index : Dushanbe, Tajikistan
No full textThe findings of the study were presented and discussed at the Expert Group Meeting on Integration
of Urban Public Transport Systems and Application of Digital Technologies held in Suwon, Republic of
Korea on 24 and 25 October 2023 in conjunction with the 8th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum and the National
Workshop on Integration of Urban Public and Application of Digital Technologies, held in Dushanbe,
Tajikistan on 18 and 19 April 2024.Dushanbe, the capital and largest city of Tajikistan, spans an area of 203.2 km2 with a population of 1.2 million people. In recent years, Dushanbe has seen major transformations, particularly in its public transport system and operates a fleet of buses, trolley buses and minibuses and uses digital payment system. Dushanbe is enhancing its transport network overall, with a focus on incorporating green technologies to reduce carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels.
This report outlines the exiting urban public transport system in Dushanbe City, Tajikistan and assess the sustainability of the urban public transport system in the city using the ESCAP Sustainable Urban Transport Index (SUTI) methodology.
The assessment indicates a good score for Dushanbe with SUTI score of 56.33. In order to improve active modes, the analysis suggests that Dushanbe should start to implement more cycle lanes and improve facilities for pedestrians. With most of the electricity being generated from renewable energy in Tajikistan, a transition to electric public transit such as a metro would reduce transport emission, alleviate congestion and improve air quality. There is a need to improve the quality and reliability of the public transport system by leveraging the use of modern technology and providing real-time access to information on bus routes, schedules and any changes to the public transport uses in Dushanbe. The city needs to invest more on public transport system and explores the ways to recover operational costs of public transport systems. Some of the recommendations of the assessment are renewing minibus and taxi fleet to reduce air pollution and emissions, expanding the cashless payment system to taxis and minibuses, developing dedicated cycle lanes and building infrastructure for electric vehicles.</p
Manual : Sustainable and energy efficient freight transport sector
No full textThis Manual is developed based on the “Study Report on Enhancing Energy Efficiency of the Freight Transport Sector in Asia and the Pacific”This manual is intended to serve as a comprehensive guide for policymakers, planners and stakeholders
involved in the development and implementation of sustainable freight transport strategies.
The objective of the manual is to provide an in-depth understanding of the various aspects of sustainable
freight transport. The manual covers a wide range of topics, ranging from modal shift and multimodality
to the latest in technological advancements, policy measures and regulatory frameworks. This information
is crucial for informed decision-making and strategic planning.
For more information, please contact: Mr. Edouard Chong, Transport Division, e-mail: [email protected]
Related materials:
1. Study Report : Enhancing Energy Efficiency of the Freight Transport Sector in Asia and the Pacific
2. Policy Brief: Enhancing Energy Efficiency of the Freight Transport Sector in Asia and the Pacific (English)
3. Policy Brief: Enhancing Energy Efficiency of the Freight Transport Sector in Asia and the Pacific (Russian)
Contents ...................................................................................................................................................................................................i
Figures ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... ii
Tables ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... ii
Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................................ iii
Purpose of the manual ..................................................................................................................................................................... v
Chapter 1: Technologies for sustainable mobility ................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Electric and alternative fuel vehicles ............................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Highly and fully autonomous vehicles ......................................................................................................................... 5
1.3 Intelligent transportation systems ................................................................................................................................ 8
1.4 Alternative fuels: types and application ..................................................................................................................... 10
1.5 Renewable and nuclear energy in freight transport ............................................................................................. 12
1.6 Infrastructure modernization ........................................................................................................................................ 14
1.7 Self-test quiz for chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 16
Chapter 2: Policy and regulatory measures ............................................................................................................................. 17
2.1 Vehicle emission and fuel economy standards ...................................................................................................... 17
2.2 Greenhouse gas emissions pricing .............................................................................................................................. 18
2.3 Modal shift to low-carbon modes ............................................................................................................................... 19
2.4 Integration in national development policies ......................................................................................................... 21
2.5 Financial incentives and subsidies ............................................................................................................................... 22
2.6 Role of international climate initiatives ..................................................................................................................... 23
2.7 Self-test quiz for chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 25
Chapter 3: Design of a regional road map .............................................................................................................................. 26
3.1 The concept of a regional road map .......................................................................................................................... 26
3.2 Framework regional road map for promoting energy-efficient freight transport.................................... 29
3.3 Self-test quiz for Chapter 3 ............................................................................................................................................ 35
Chapter 4. Logical framework approach .................................................................................................................................. 36
4.1 Self-test quiz for chapter 4 ............................................................................................................................................ 46
References, recommended case studies and resources ..................................................................................................... 47
Answers to self-test quizzes ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Welcome to ESCAP Bangkok : information guide
No full textThis document is intended for the general guidance and information of new staff members. Some information contained in this document might also appear in the “Conditions of Service”, attached to the offer of appointment. The United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules constitute the authoritative text establishing the rights and obligations of staff members. The information in this document is subject to change at short notice
An exploration of paperless trade implementation in UN and other international conventions involving cross-border exchange of trade-related data and documents
No full textWith a view to informing the implementation of the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA), this paper reviews 14 international conventions of global scope involving the issuance and exchange of one or more trade-related documents as part of their implementation. The involvement of ESCAP members and existing CPTA parties in the digitalization projects under these conventions is significant and may provide a good foundation for cross-border paperless trade. The comparative analysis on the stage of development of the 14 conventions toward digitalization is conducted across six dimensions, including state of development and implementation of electronic exchange mechanism or system, existence of dedicated legal instruments and institutional mechanism, and attention to interconnectivity and interoperability. The scoring exercise reveals a significant gap between development of an electronic exchange mechanism under a convention, and its actual implementation and utilization. Further, limited thoughts seem to have been given in many cases about ‘interconnectivity and interoperability’ of the systems developed. Overall, the digitalization efforts under most conventions are still very much “work in progress”, providing ample opportunities for cooperation and systems’ harmonization. Going forward, the CPTA secretariat may invite experts involved in the digitalization efforts under the conventions reviewed to share their knowledge and experience. CPTA parties may consider undertaking coordinated implementation of digitalization projects under the most relevant and advanced conventions in this area (e.g., ePhyto under IPPC), as part of building trust towards broader collaboration on cross-border paperless trade.</p
Digital and sustainable trade facilitation in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Asian Countries
Get PDFBased on the 2023 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, the report analyzes the current state of trade facilitation in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Asian Countries, offering valuable insights into trade facilitation’s institutional, digital and sustainability aspects. The results from a comprehensive assessment serve as solid evidence for identifying critical areas for improvement and knowledge exchange opportunities among OIC Asian Countries.
For other reports and the results of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2023, please visit
http://wwww.untfsurvey.orgBOXES, TABLES & FIGURES 01
ABBREVIATIONS 02
1 INTRODUCTION 03
1.1 Background and objective 05
1.2 Survey instrument and methodology 06
2 TRADE FACILITATION IMPLEMENTATION: OVERVIEW 07
2.1 Most and least implemented trade
facilitation measures 11
2.2 Progress in implementation between 2019-2023 13
3 IMPLEMENTATION OF TRADE FACILITATION MEASURES: A CLOSER LOOK 15
3.1 Transparency 17
3.2 Formalities 18
3.3 Institutional arrangement and cooperation 19
3.4 Transit facilitation 20
3.5 Paperless trade 21
3.6 Cross-border paperless trade 22
3.7 Trade facilitation for SMEs 25
3.8 Agricultural Trade Facilitation 27
3.9 Women in Trade Facilitation 28
3.10 Trade finance facilitation 29
3.11 Trade facilitation in times of crisis 30
4 TRADE FACILITATION IN OIC ASIAN COUNTRIES 31
5 CONCLUSION AND THE WAY
FORWARD 35
ANNEXES 39
Annex 1 List of participating countries 41
Annex 2 Grouping of trade facilitation measures and correspondence with TFA articles 42
Annex 3 A three-step approach for data collection and validation 43
Annex 4 Definition of each stage of implementation 44</p
