UNCTAD25-1

Digital technologies have made it increasingly feasible for buyers and sellers to place and receive orders on a global scale. They also enable the instantaneous remote delivery of services directly into businesses and homes. Although international trade statistics should, in principle, cover digital trade, compilers face considerable measurement challenges. The involvement of digital intermediation platforms (DIPs) compounds those difficulties. The 2023 IMF-OECD-UNCTAD-WTO Handbook on Measuring Digital Trade, clarifies the concepts and definitions related to digital trade and establishes the foundation for measuring digital trade in a way that is internationally comparable. The workshop will introduce senior officials from central banks, national statistics offices, and other agencies in Pacific Island States to the recommendations of the Handbook.