2015 Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Century Summit Takes On a Trillion-Yuan Industry

The "2015 Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Century Summit," jointly planned and organized by the Industry Promotion and Service Division of the Institute for Information Industry (III IPSD) and SmartM Century Think Tank, grandly kicked off on the 5th at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC), and invited Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio Tsai Yu-ling to deliver a speech. The event attracted more than a thousand businesses interested in developing cross-border markets, and is estimated to help domestic platforms assist more than 200 businesses in expanding cross-border business, driving business opportunities worth over several hundred million yuan.

According to forecasts by the internationally renowned institution eMarketer, global B2C e-commerce transaction value will reach 1.7 trillion US dollars in 2015, a growth of 15.6% compared with 2014, and the Asia-Pacific region will replace North America to become the world's largest B2C e-commerce regional market, with transaction value accounting for 33.4% of the global total. At the same time, thanks to the advantage of its demographic dividend, the Asia-Pacific region's internet user ratio continues to climb, with enormous future business opportunities.

Taiwan's domestic demand market is limited, and cross-border e-commerce awareness is gradually rising, having become one of the necessary strategies for the future development of Taiwan's e-commerce. According to a 2014 survey by the Institute for Information Industry, among domestic online stores, the proportion already operating or intending to develop cross-border business is as high as 61.8%, of which 76.7% of businesses chose mainland China as their first choice market, while among the top ten cross-border target markets are Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Therefore, from the above development of the Asia-Pacific e-commerce market and the demand for and emphasis on the Asia-Pacific market by our country's businesses, this precisely matches our country's strategic goal for e-commerce to reach into the Asia-Pacific and face the world.

In his speech at the "2015 Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Century Summit," Minister without Portfolio Tsai Yu-ling particularly mentioned that the government assists e-commerce businesses in internationalizing and expanding into mainland China and Southeast Asian markets, and has already promoted bridging between domestic e-commerce platforms and foreign platforms, assisting 658 online merchants in cross-border sales, prompting the internationalization of our country's e-commerce businesses and further driving online shopping exports of Taiwan products. In addition, Minister Tsai also serves as the "Convenor of the Executive Yuan Steering Group for E-Commerce Industry Development," promoting the development of cross-border e-commerce through cross-ministerial cooperation, and in the future will further promote cross-border repurchases by tourists and promote the export of digital goods and services through the internet, expanding cross-border online transactions, demonstrating the government's determination to promote cross-border e-commerce.

Information Director Tai Hao-chun of the Institute for Information Industry, the organizer of the "2015 Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Century Summit," stated that cross-border e-commerce involves international trade as well as understanding local market consumption characteristics and needs, and various complex issues, while also facing competition from multinational e-commerce enterprises. How to smoothly go cross-border while successfully cross-"competing" has become a major issue for Taiwan's e-commerce industry today! SmartM Century Think Tank founder Hsu Ching-tai also stated that for Taiwan, e-commerce is not only a new challenge in products, talent and business models; how to step out of the Taiwan market and participate in global development through "cross-border e-commerce" is even more crucial. Now is exactly the opportunity to unite and cooperate, to fight as a group and go out together.

The purpose of the "2015 Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Century Summit" jointly organized by the Institute for Information Industry and SmartM Century Think Tank is to match domestic and foreign e-commerce businesses for cooperation, while introducing the current e-commerce situation in different markets such as mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia, and recommending partners in e-commerce platforms, logistics, cash flow and marketing, so that businesses intending to expand into overseas markets can quickly understand market conditions, find suitable partners, and thereby expand overseas markets and business opportunities.

The "2015 Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Century Summit" invited a total of eighteen heavyweight businesses operating cross-border e-commerce, including those from mainland China, Southeast Asia and Europe, to share on stage, sharing the issues and experiences they faced when operating in those markets from the two different perspectives of e-commerce platforms and brand e-commerce.

Taiwan businesses participating included: uitox, which aims to operate globally; 91APP, the largest mobile store-opening platform; momo Shopping Network, whose appeal is that getting a bargain with quality is a fashion; payeasy and shopping99, skilled at building the brand power of women's products; Yijia Biotech, which created the best-selling red bean water; OB, Taiwan's number one online women's clothing brand; and UNT, whose cosmeceutical skincare products are sold in 97 countries worldwide, among others.

Overseas businesses included Alibaba and Tencent, two of mainland China's three e-commerce giants; the TID Group, which has cultivated the Philippines for nearly 20 years; Malaysia's MyStartr and Youbeli; Indonesia's Celtic; and micepigs and Ouyang International, representing the Thai and Southeast Asian markets, among others. Through overseas market exchanges, Taiwan businesses can understand that, in addition to doing a good job of product differentiation and strengthening their own brand advantages, how to find the right channels and grasp market trends will be a very important part of gaining business opportunities ahead of others.

In addition, to assist businesses with cross-border marketing, the Institute for Information Industry also specially set up a "Shop Taiwan" (www.shoptaiwan.tw) recruitment zone outside the venue of the "2015 Asia-Pacific E-Commerce Century Summit," gathering numerous Taiwan e-commerce platforms and brand e-commerce businesses, classified by nature, and providing free entry for businesses interested in expanding cross-border e-commerce. The website currently offers Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English and Japanese interfaces, and in the future will increase businesses' exposure opportunities in overseas markets through connecting with the Tourism Bureau website of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, holding joint marketing, and assisting business matching activities. Taiwan brands and e-commerce platform businesses that already have a business registration, whose products are mainly made in Taiwan or designed in Taiwan, and that can provide overseas sales operations are welcome to apply.

Although global competition is fierce, Taiwan's internet enterprises possess innovation and vitality, and their products are of a certain standard. It is estimated that domestic e-commerce will reach trillion-yuan industry status this year. It is believed that in the future, with the joint efforts of the government, legal entities and industry, a new wave of business will surely be created, driving a new niche for Taiwan's online exports and successfully leading Taiwan's e-commerce into the Asia-Pacific and toward the world.