Regional
Workshop in Muscat Highlights E‑Commerce Statistics, Digital Economy
Muscat,
23 Jun (ONA) — The activities of the regional workshop on e-commerce and
digital economy statistics commenced here today.
The
event, organized by the Statistical Centre for the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC-Stat), brings together representatives from the GCC General Secretariat,
national statistical agencies, ministries of commerce, central banks, and other
government bodies across the GCC countries.
The
two-day workshop aims to strengthen national statistical capacities in
collecting and analyzing data related to e-commerce and the digital economy,
ultimately supporting data-driven economic policymaking and advancing GCC
statistical integration.
Intisar
Abdullah Al Wahaibi, Director General of the GCC Statistical Center, noted that
recent years have witnessed rapid changes in the global economic landscape
driven by the rise of e-commerce, which is becoming a key engine of the digital
economy. She highlighted that the Gulf region has experienced fast-paced growth
in this area, fueled by advanced digital infrastructure, a young population,
and the adoption of national digital transformation strategies.
She
cited UNCTAD reports indicating that global e-commerce sales exceeded $27
trillion in 2022, a nearly 60 per cent increase since 2016. Regionally, the GCC
e-commerce market is expected to reach $33.3 billion in 2025 and $46.1 billion
by 2029, reflecting an annual growth rate of 10 per cent.
She
stressed that while this digital boom offers many benefits, it also presents
challenges in accurately and effectively measuring such rapidly evolving
activity. She emphasized the growing need for reliable, timely data to assess
e-commerce’s contribution to GDP, monitor the digital divide, and support sound
economic policymaking.
She
also explained that the GCC Committee for Commercial Cooperation has tasked the
Statistical Center with developing an integrated mechanism for building
e-commerce indicators, publishing information, and enhancing transparency. This
effort forms part of the executive plan for achieving the strategic objectives
of the GCC’s unified framework for e-commerce. The recommendation was
reinforced in successive meetings with the GCC e-commerce working group, which
began its work in 2023.
On
her turn, Dr. Hajar El Haddaoui, Director General of the Digital Cooperation
Organization, affirmed that digital data has become the cornerstone for
policymaking, sustainable development, and enabling individuals and businesses
to participate effectively in the digital space.
She
stated that the Organization believes accurate and up-to-date digital
statistics are essential for measuring the impact of digital transformation and
identifying challenges and opportunities in the digital business environment.
She praised the efforts of the GCC Statistical Center in developing the
statistical infrastructure for e-commerce and expressed a desire to strengthen
collaboration with statistical and relevant bodies across GCC countries to
develop unified indicators and standards that can be adopted regionally and
globally.
She
noted that enhancing the ability to measure the digital economy is not just a
technical necessity but a strategic imperative for building an inclusive,
thriving digital economy, one that can generate employment, foster innovation,
support SME growth, and ensure the inclusion of all segments of society,
including women and youth, in future opportunities.
The
first session of the workshop introduced the concept of measuring e-commerce
and the digital economy. It explained that measuring e-commerce, essential for
understanding the sector and crafting effective economic and trade policies,
involves collecting and analyzing data on commercial activities conducted via
electronic channels. This includes sales of goods and services through digital
platforms, whether between businesses, between businesses and consumers, or
among consumers themselves. It also covers transaction volume and value, types
of goods and services traded, platforms used (websites, apps, social media),
and consumer behaviour patterns.
Measuring
the digital economy involves systematically assessing the various components of
technology-driven economic activity. This includes digital infrastructure,
software, artificial intelligence applications, digital platforms, and
ICT-based job roles.
The
session also addressed the importance of measuring e-commerce and the digital
economy in the GCC, the operational definitions of both concepts, and the role
of measurement in supporting policy development, economic diversification, and
regional cooperation.
The
second session reviewed the GCC Statistical Center’s project on e-commerce and
the digital economy. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of digital and
economic data across GCC countries by establishing a unified statistical
foundation for e-commerce and digital economy metrics. The project is expected
to improve coordination among member states and develop indicators based on
established international standards.
—
Ends/AH
