The evolution of the digital economy is one of the most important developments within the global economic order. Digital trade, in particular, has become a significant enabler of growth and development. This transformation is evident in the volume of e-commerce transactions and in the remarkable growth in the trade of digitally delivered services.
In 2022, digitally delivered services exports represented about two-thirds of total services exported by the 56 Commonwealth countries, with a remarkable increase in digitally delivered services exports from Commonwealth developing countries. Vulnerable countries – least developed countries (LDCs), small states, and small island developing states (SIDS) – that are members of the Commonwealth have also benefited from growth in digitally delivered services exports, albeit to a relatively lesser extent. This indicates untapped potential for Commonwealth small states to expand their digitally delivered services exports. Digital trade creates opportunities for Commonwealth countries to enhance market access, but harnessing these opportunities requires appropriate policies and regulatory approaches, strengthening partnerships and implementing domestic frameworks.
The capacity development blended course Digital Trade and E-commerce Policy, Rules and Governance Frameworks, offered by the Commonwealth Small States Office (CSSO) in Geneva and delivered in partnership with Diplo and the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP), aims to make digital trade issues substantively accessible, and to anchor them in the specific realities of Commonwealth small states.
