15 April 2025, PIF Secretariat, Suva, Fiji. 

Your Excellency Ms Barbara Plinkert, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, 

Deputy Secretary General Pedro Moreno, and staff of UNCTAD, 

UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Dirk Wagener

Mr Torbjorn Fredriksson, Head of the E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch,

Friends and Partners of the Pacific E-commerce Initiative,

Excellencies and representatives of the Pacific,

Private Sector, 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my great privilege to welcome you all to the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat for the launching of the Digital Economy Report 2024, the second edition for the Pacific. I especially extend our warmest greetings to our chief guests from the EU, Her Excellency Ms Barbara Plinkert, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific; and the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Wagener and members of the Diplomatic Coorps. 

We regret that the Secretary General of UNCTAD, Mr. Pedro Morena, is unable to join us today due to the late hour in Geneva, but we appreciate her support through her recorded video remarks. 

I also welcome all those joining us through livestream from across our Blue Pacific region and around the world. Thank you all for being with us this morning.

The Global Digital Economy Landscape

The digital economy has become a cornerstone of global economic growth. In 2022, business e-commerce sales across 43 developed and developing economies reached an estimated USD 27 trillion, accounting for approximately three-quarters of worldwide GDP. This represents a 26 percent increase over pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the rapid acceleration of digital adoption globally.

The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated this digital transformation. As lockdowns became the norm, businesses and consumers increasingly turned to online channels, raising e-commerce's share of global retail trade from 14% in 2019 to about 17% in 2020. This shift underscores the critical role of digital platforms in ensuring business continuity and resilience during unprecedented times.

Opportunities for the Pacific Region

For the Pacific, embracing the digital economy presents a unique opportunity to build resilience and drive sustainable development. The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent recognises this potential, emphasising the need for improved infrastructure, digital access, and innovation under its Technology and Connectivity pillar.

The Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap serves as our collective blueprint for advancing e-commerce and the digital economy across our region. By leveraging digital technologies, we can overcome geographical barriers, enhance trade, and create new economic opportunities for our communities.

Empowering Youth and Addressing Migration Challenges

The digital economy is not just about IT jobs or selling goods. It is about selling skills and services. It is about ensuring that talented Pacific Islanders have a choice: the choice to build a future at home, to contribute to their communities, and to play an active role in their country’s economic growth. The rise of e-commerce and digital platforms has opened opportunities for graphic designers, architects, musicians, legal reviewers, accountants, writers, digital marketers, and even educators to offer their services globally without needing to migrate.

For example, a Nadi-based architect can now collaborate with international clients on sustainable building designs without leaving their home. Graphic designers in Apia can create branding materials for businesses worldwide, while Niuean musicians can record their tracks and earn royalties online. Lawyers in Honiara can offer legal review services online, and accountants in Port Moresby can handle financial management for clients across borders. Similarly, Pacific-based educators and trainers can conduct virtual classes, providing learning opportunities for students both locally and internationally.

By embracing e-commerce, these professionals can tap into higher-paying global markets while still reinvesting their income within their local communities, supporting families, strengthening local businesses, and contributing to national development. This shift is crucial in addressing the challenge of youth migration. When young people see viable career paths that allow them to stay in their communities, they are less likely to leave in search of opportunities elsewhere.

Insights from the Pacific Digital Economy Report 2024

The Pacific Digital Economy Report 2024 builds upon the 2022 edition, providing a deeper analysis of our region's digital transformation journey. It highlights the progress made, identifies ongoing challenges, and offers strategic recommendations to harness the full potential of the digital economy.

Key findings underscore the need for affordable, resilient connectivity; enhanced digital literacy; and supportive regulatory frameworks. Addressing these areas will enable us to create an inclusive digital environment that benefits all Pacific Islanders.

The Power of Collaboration

Achieving our digital economy ambitions requires strong partnerships and coordinated efforts. The implementation of the Pacific Regional E-commerce Strategy and Roadmap has been made possible through unprecedented regional collaboration, with over 40 partners supporting its initiatives. Our governance mechanisms, including the Pacific E-commerce Committee and its sub-committees, ensure that decisions are informed by all key stakeholders.

Through this collaborative approach, we have witnessed notable successes. However, challenges remain, particularly in areas like access to capital, trade facilitation, logistics, and ICT infrastructure. Sustained effort and investment are necessary to overcome these hurdles and drive meaningful progress.

A Call to Action

The findings of this report underscore the need for continued international support, strategic public-private partnerships, and a focused approach to implementation. As we anticipate the release of the Monitoring and Evaluation report in May, now is the time to take stock of our achievements, address existing challenges, and scale up successful initiatives.

The future of the Pacific digital economy will be built on collaboration. Let us continue to work together, governments, private sector actors, development partners, and regional organisations, to drive digital transformation in a way that benefits all Pacific people. Through strategic investments, capacity building, and knowledge-sharing, we can turn digital opportunities into tangible economic and social gains.

I encourage everyone to use this report as a resource, a guide, and a call to action. Let us harness its insights to shape policies, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate digital progress across our Blue Pacific.

Vinaka Vakalevu.

[ENDS]