Question
Mr Saktiandi Supaat: To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) (a) whether the
Ministry collates data on online retail sales for local and foreign e-commerce;
(b) if so, what is the sales volume transacted by Singapore-based residents
with foreign companies via e-commerce over the past three years; (c) how has
this overseas e-commerce impacted on local businesses; and (d) what is the Ministry
doing to help local e-commerce businesses to improve their sales.
Answer:
- The Government tracks internet transactions made with
locally-issued credit and debit cards. Over the past 3 years, the total value
of such transactions with local entities was about $18.3 billion, representing
around 74% of total internet transactions. Internet transactions with foreign
entities amounted to $6.4 billion.
- About
3% of total retail receipts in Singapore comes from e-commerce. While
e-commerce presents competition to our local retailers, it also gives Singapore retailers
the opportunity to expand their reach to the region and beyond. Under the Retail
Industry Transformation Map (ITM)
launched
in September 2016, we aim to grow the e-commerce share of total retail receipts
to 10% by 2020. This is in line with the retail ITM vision for a vibrant retail
industry comprising a mix of highly productive omni-channel retailers and local
brand owners with global footprints.
- The Government will assist local retailers to build
digital capabilities and enable access to e-marketplaces under the Retail ITM.
As part of the SMEs Go Digital initiative launched at Budget 2017, SPRING and
IMDA have pre-qualified e-commerce solutions that can be readily adopted by
SMEs. In collaboration with partners like Google, SPRING also provides support
to SMEs to strengthen their digital marketing. IE Singapore
also helps companies leverage e-commerce to unlock growth opportunities in overseas
markets. Besides support through the Market Readiness Assistance scheme and the
Global Company Partnership scheme, IE Singapore connects companies to global,
regional or niche e-marketplaces that are relevant to their
internationalisation strategies.
- Trade
Associations and Chambers (TACs) are also important multipliers to accelerate
e-commerce adoption among SMEs. For example, the Singapore Retailers
Association (SRA), with the support of SPRING and Workforce Singapore, is
developing an SME e-Commerce Accelerator Programme to help retailers build
integrated strategic plans for omni-channel implementation. Besides TACs, we have also
seen greater participation from the private sector in supporting our SMEs. The
99% SME movement is a national initiative led by SingTel, DBS, and Mediacorp.
Initiated in 2015, the effort makes e-commerce accessible to more companies
through the set-up of an e-marketplace and offering training opportunities.
- The Government also helps members of the retail
industry workforce adapt and upskill to keep up with developments in
e-commerce. To support this, SPRING has worked with SkillsFuture Singapore to
develop a Skills Framework for the Retail sector incorporating e-commerce and
digital marketing, which will be launched later this year.