ABSTRACT

In Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), facilitation of the growth of e-commerce is one of the six main areas covered by the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement, whilst at the national level, developing a digital economy and e-commerce have already been part of most Asian countries’ national strategies and action plans. A country’s preparation and readiness to support the digital economy will determine the level of success of businesses involved in e-commerce. Literature on e-commerce development and governance in Asia is under development. The radical growth of e-commerce could be a double-edged sword. Despite the new features of the digital economy, the development of e-commerce is influenced by traditional factors such as market size, trade facilitation, investment freedom, and so on. The national e-commerce roadmap consists of strategic priorities in areas such as taxation, consumer protection, human skills development, logistics, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.