Saudi Arabia Leads Global Initiative to Measure E-Commerce in Partnership with UNCTAD

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In her opening remarks, Vice Minister of Commerce and CEO of the National Competitiveness Center (NCC), Dr. Eiman Al-Mutairi, highlighted that Vision 2030—spearheaded by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister—has driven an unprecedented transformation of the Saudi economy, positioning it distinctly for the future.

UNCTAD

Speaking at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Task Group on Measuring the Value of E-commerce session, hosted by the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Al-Mutairi explained that Saudi Arabia is collaborating with UNCTAD to develop a comprehensive framework for measuring all forms of e-commerce in the Kingdom.

This framework will cover domestic and international transactions, including Business-to-Consumer (B2C), Business-to-Business (B2B), and Business-to-Government (B2G) activities. The initiative aims to capture the full value of Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding e-commerce sector, which is projected to reach approximately $15.4 billion by the end of 2025.

The session was attended by Deputy Director-General of the WTO Johanna Hill, UNCTAD Director of E-commerce and Digital Economy Torbjörn Fredriksson, and was moderated by UNCTAD Senior Data Scientist Dr. Siriphan Wichaidit.

Fredriksson emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s engagement with the Task Group on Measuring E-Commerce (TG-eCOM) will enhance official e-commerce statistics, support the formulation of digital economy policies both domestically and globally, and contribute to the development of databases essential for understanding the worldwide e-commerce landscape.

WTO

Dr. Al-Mutairi highlighted that presenting this model at the WTO allows countries to keep pace with the transformative impact of e-commerce on the global economy. She also noted that it provides opportunities to fuel growth for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and promotes inclusivity across regions and demographics.

She further emphasized that managing this growth requires robust systems for seamless transactions, efficient logistics, and reliable digital payment infrastructure—especially at a time when digital ordering accounts for nearly 20% of global retail activity, with the market expected to reach $3.6 trillion by 2025.

Previously, Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with UNCTAD to measure e-commerce and digital trade, reinforcing the Kingdom’s leadership in the digital economy and supporting the development of e-commerce policies that enhance global competitiveness.

The NCC maintains strategic partnerships with international organizations to leverage global best practices in boosting national competitiveness.

Finally, UNCTAD stands out as a key partner, providing guidance for policymaking across all dimensions of development.

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