Facilitating the development of electronic trade / e-commerce platforms will have a positive impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), - especially in the least developed countries. At its turn, this would help to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and employment, thus making a contribution to end poverty and impacting positively on several points of the sustainable development agenda.

A concerted effort is necessary to overcome a series of obstacles that stand on the way towards making electronic commerce more accessible. Cross border electronic trade is complex and costly. Complying with international standards; meeting fiscal charges and dealing with customs requires know-how and financial means.

On the purely technical side, building a secure ecosystem where buyers and sellers exchange information and make transactions following protocols that create and enforce trust is a considerable challenge. Building trust in electronic transactions is only possible if cryptography is at the basis. Cryptography is a necessary feature of any secure e-commerce or electronic communication system, though handling cryptography is politically sensitive.

Then, comes the question of enforcing legal certainty in electronic commerce. Where are we on the international, cross-border recognition of electronic signatures? What does Internet governance have to do with it all?