Access to ICT Technologies in the ESCWA Member Countries
E-commerce evolving very rapidly in the world*:
- B2B - worldwide: $45B (1998) _ $3.2T (2003)
- B2C - US: $20B (1999) _ $185B (2004)
- B2B reduces prices: 4% average, 40% electronics, 14% automobile
- B2C volume: Computer $7.5B (9.3%), Travel $7.3B (2%), Financial brokerage $5.8B (15.2%)
- Companies turning virtual: Cisco e-commerce revenues $10B (1999)
Still very limited in the Arab world
*Source: The Economist, 26June 1999 and 26 February 2000