Significant Progress Plans to Facilitate E-Commerce in the Pipeline

On 3^rd April, the Society of Economic Journalist – Nepal (SEJON) organized an interactive seminar event entitled ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges for Nepal’. During the event, it was discussed that there are significant progress plans in the pipeline for e-commerce in the country, reports New Business Age.

Secretary at the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Chandra Kumar Ghimire said that a total of 23 government authorities have prepared roadmaps to facilitate e-commerce in the country. Adding, that those decisions will be forwarded to the cabinet for approval, which will help e-commerce boom in the nation.

What they are saying:

• “In this era of fourth industrial revolution, the focus should be on the opportunities and benefits of technological advancement, rather than worrying about its negative consequences,” Ghimire said, adding that Nepal has huge possibility to make e-commerce a huge success as the country has been producing a total of 4,000 to 5,000 information technology graduates every year.
• Hari Bhakta Sharma, president of Confederation of Nepalese Industries, said that using fourth-generation technology and innovation is a far-fetched notion for Nepal as it has yet to tap the potential of value addition of Information and Communication Technology industry that was offered by third generation industrial revolution.
• However, he said Nepal’s progress in the service sector is due to third generation industrial revolution and there are prospects for benefits of mass production from technological advancement and improving the livelihood of Nepali people.
• According to Ratnakar Adhikari, executive director of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), the government and private sector have to enter into a partnership to bring the technologies based on their national demands. He said, “Least Developed Countries should develop skills and knowledge to utilize technologies that are beneficial to them.”
• He also spoke about the possible negative sides of rapid technological development, like possible adverse impacts on jobs, which may increase outmigration of youth as industries and businesses start using sophisticated technologies, and could hit inflow of remittances.