Lack of trust is a major factor impeding online trading of goods and services, a new survey supported by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has revealed.

The survey, conducted by Ipsos and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), in collaboration with the UNCTAD, indicated that internet users are increasingly concerned about their online privacy, and that 49 per cent of users polled said lack of trust was their main reason for not shopping online.

Released at the on-going UNCTAD E-Commerce Week in Geneva, the 2017 CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey on Internet Security and Trust shows that among those worried about their privacy, the top sources of concern were cybercriminals (82 per cent), Internet companies (74 per cent) and governments (65 per cent).

Speaking at the conference, Nigeria’s Chief Negotiator Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, tasked African countries to integrate digital economy strategies and action plans into domestic structural reforms for diversification, modernisation and growth.

Osakwe spoke on “Trumping Timidity: The Importance of Audacity in the Digital Economy.”

Ambassador Osakwe said Africa needed to be offensive in this e-commerce, acting innovatively, purposefully and expeditiously because the gains and development yields were considerable as evidenced by the Nigerian example.

POSTED BY:OPUOMONI PRIYE

DATE:04/27/2017