This research comes as the Ministry of Information Industry in
China reports that it expects the value of internet business in
China will reach $1.2 billion by 2002.
Until recently the Asia-Pacific internet market has been slow to
develop owing to a number of problems including cultural and
linguistic barriers. However, companies wishing to establish
themselves in the Asia-Pacific internet market are finding ways of
overcoming these difficulties.
There have now been a number of trade agreements signed between
Asian countries in order to facilitate e-commerce activities by
making provision for the use of digital signatures and cross-border
marketing.
US companies have also begun to recognise the potential in the
Asia-Pacific e-commerce market. The rise in interest is
demonstrated by Microsoft and Compaq’s joint “IgniteAsia”
competition which offers internet companies the opportunity to win
funding from US investors.
Observers suggest that Hong Kong is in the strongest position to
develop e-commerce because of its low trade barriers, but it is
believed that benefits and improvements will be felt throughout the
whole Asia-Pacific region.
Hong Kong internet portal and advertising company chinadotcom
has just spent $5 million to purchase a 3% share in one of
Australia’s leading online advertising networks.
Commenting on the deal, Anthony Bertini, chief executive of
BMCMedia, said, “we chose to partner with chinadotcom corporation
because we share a similar view of the huge growth opportunities
which are currently emerging in the Asian internet market”.
