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The Ministry of Commerce advises entrepreneurs to leverage technology in the new era to penetrate markets, strengthen their businesses, and adapt to competition in the digital trade landscape. The aim is to use e-commerce to stimulate offline trade and elevate commerce across the region simultaneously.<\/span><\/p>

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        Ms. Pimchanok Wonkohporn, Director of the Office of Trade Policy and Strategy (OTPS),<\/span> stated that the "CLMVT Cross-Border Digital Trade" event builds on the success of the previous CLMVT Forum 2019. This event attracted over 300 participants from CLMVT and ASEAN countries to delve into e-commerce and cross-border trade.

        In addition to raising awareness among entrepreneurs about utilizing cross-border digital trade data for business planning and strategy adjustments in line with the new trade economy, it also provides insights from the government on developing digital trade data to enhance the capabilities of entrepreneurs. This will lead to more accurate policy formulation and economic trade guidance for the country. Thus, it presents an opportunity for Thai entrepreneurs to network with counterparts from other countries in the region.

        Statistics show that in 2015, the Asia-Pacific region, including ASEAN and CLMVT, had the highest share of B2C e-commerce value in GDP globally at 4.5%. It is estimated that by 2019, the e-commerce value of this region will reach $381 billion, with an average growth rate (CAGR 2014-2020) of 37%, surpassing North America and Western Europe.

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         Among the countries in CLMVT, Thailand has the highest e-commerce value. From 2015 to 2018, Thailand's e-commerce value ranged from 2.24 trillion to 3.1 trillion baht. In 2018, Thailand's B2C value grew by 14%, and it is projected to increase by another 2% in 2019. Furthermore, the "UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index 2017" ranks Thailand 49th globally, the highest among CLMVT countries, indicating varying levels of e-commerce readiness within the region.

         Nevertheless, e-commerce will be a crucial mechanism for enhancing both the value and relationships of cross-border trade with neighboring countries in the CLMVT region, both online and in traditional commerce. It is hoped that this event will serve as a significant starting point towards developing the CLMVT region into a new global value chain hub, enabling entrepreneurs to fully leverage digital technology and foster cooperation to drive sustainable economic growth in the region.

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