E-commerce to soar by 35 pct in 2017 to EUR 2.8 bln

Online trade in Romania will reach this year approx. EUR 2.8 billion, up by 35 pct as compared to 2016, beyond the initial EUR 2.5 bln estimate, the Romanian Online Shops Association (ARMO) informs in a release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday. 

"The evolution of online trade January through September 2017, as well as the targets announced by the online shops for the most important shopping event of the year, Black Friday, have determined us to reassess on an uptrend the estimate regarding the value of online trade in 2017, to EUR 2.8 billion," Florinel Chis, CEO with the Online Shops Association, said. 

Last year, Romania's online trade soared by 38 pct to EUR 2.05 billion, according to the European report on the e-commerce conducted by Global E-commerce Association, placing Romania first in Europe by the growth rate, and second globally after Australia, that has recorded a 40 pct increase. 

"The online commerce has a very good growth potential. If concomitantly with the organic increase we could also count on a national digitization strategy capable to allow the development of the digital services so as to promote small businesses online and cross-border electronic commerce, and also on development initiatives of the citizens' digital competences, the perspectives could be even better. Besides, we are expecting a value of EUR 5 billion of the online trade until 2020," Florinel Chis added. 

According to DESI (Digital Economic and Society Index) calculated by the European Commission, the economy's digitization rate, public services and digital competences included, is the most reduced in Romania as compared to the other EU members, but with a huge growth potential. In February 2015 Romania has adopted the National Strategy on the Digital Agenda for Romania 2020, aiming to improve the country's infrastructure and digital services, the release says.