Doing It Electronically
IT is as clear as daylight that the world is witnessing information
technology revolution. The revolution is affecting all countries, big and small, rich and
poor. Whatever the stage of general development of a particularly countrty, it stands to
benefit from the spread of it if it thinks ahead and acts in time. And many countries in
the devleoping world too are acting in time. They have realised that the IT revolution is
prompting the emergence of a knowledge-based society in which development depends on
information, education and human resources. Some of them have been especially alert to
seize the opportunities offered by every new it innovation and development. Electronic
commerce is one of the latest information technology that is a rapidly growing economic
force in the knowledge society. In Nepal, though some strides have been made in the
information technology over the past years, there is much catching up to do in terms of
e-commerce. The government, according to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, is keen to
do that. Addressing a round-table on Electronic commerce and Development for Least
Developed Countries on Tuesday, he said Nepal was eager to utilise the potentials of
e-commerce that can promote the country’s trade, tourism and teleprocessing business
services.
Indeed, experience in other countries has demonstrated that latching on to
e-commerce can be beneficial for the country’s economy. So, Nepal could do well to
join the bandwagon. Luckily, the progress it has made in the telecommunications sector in
the recent past places it in a good position to furthering IT and developing e-commerce.
But, if Nepal is to boost Internet economy, it does need more It infrastructure investment
that can facilitate, for instance, exporting software products and expanding foreign
markets in carpets and garments, including the latest hot item Pashmina products. In this
connection, required legal and regulatory framework to boost IT investment is the most
crucial need of the hour. At the same time, the country needs a comprehensive policy on
it. Minister for Science and Technology Surendra prasad Chaudhary revealed that an IT
policy and strategy was being drafted currently while a bill on cyber law would soon be
presented in presumably the on-going session fo the parliament. That should be good news
for those wanting to see IT, and along with it the e-commerce, grow. The process of
putting in place policies and legislations should be however, expedited, as information
technology developments, like time waits for no man or country
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