The Institute of Export & International Trade (IOE&IT) is celebrating one year since it convened the E-Commerce Trade Commission (E-CTC).
Convened 13 June 2023, the commission is aiming to help around 70,000 UK SMEs unleash their untapped potential to export through e-commerce channels. According to a report by Social Market Foundation, this could add £9.3bn to the UK economy.
The commission, which advises the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) on the best way to support businesses, includes major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba, eBay, Google and Shopify.
IOE&IT director general and commission chair Marco Forgione said:
“The E-Commerce Trade Commission is delighted to be celebrating its first-year anniversary.
“We have had feedback from businesses all across the UK since we started this journey and we are very alive to the struggles many small businesses, in particular, face in maintaining growth through e-commerce trade.”
E-Commerce Week
The commission highlighted the potential of online retail channels throughout the first 'E-Commerce Week' campaign that was held in March. The week was designed to boost SME understanding of how they can use online shopping to increase business growth.
The commission participated in the week’s official programme, with IOE&IT hosting several webinars to educate prospective traders on how e-commerce could support their business: ‘How Businesses can use e-commerce to grow internationally’ and ‘What is the social value of e-commerce trade?’.
Speaking events
Forgione also chaired a panel discussion at the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) eWeek in December, which highlighted how technological advances could support greater e-commerce participation and trade in countries beyond the UK.
The commission has also been present at UK events designed to promote the growth of e-commerce, and put opportunities for small businesses in the spotlight. This includes UK events Retail Without Borders and eCommerce Expo London.
Regional representation
The commission’s work in the UK has captured the views of SMEs from different regions, with events held in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to gather businesses’ perspectives on e-commerce.
Insights from the events will be collated into a policy paper, offering DBT recommendations on how to support small businesses to export through e-commerce.
Looking ahead
As the commission heads into its second year, it will continue to engage with businesses to inform the policy paper. Forgione also thanked those who had contributed to the commission:
“We are looking forward to putting out our first policy paper, with some of our key findings, in September, and encourage businesses to continue engaging with us as we continue on our mission of utilising every available route to support businesses to grow via e-commerce.
“The Commission board is so grateful for the inputs of everyone who has engaged with the Commission so far – whether inputting to topic-specific working groups, attending the regional evidence sessions or partaking in E-Commerce Week events.”