E-commerce booms in Southeast Asia since pandemic breaks out
An estimated 70 million more people shopped online in six Southeast Asian countries since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, according to a report from Facebook and Bain & Company.
Grab delivery cyclists ride past each other in Singapore in 2020 (Photo: AFP)
Hanoi (VNA) – An estimated 70 million more people shopped online in sixSoutheast Asian countries since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, according to areport from Facebook and Bain & Company.
As governmentsencourage people to stay at home to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Southeast Asia saw arapid adoption of digital services like e-commerce, food delivery, and onlinepayment methods.
This trend ispredicted to continue in the coming time. The report, which surveyedmore than 16,000 people in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,Thailand and Vietnam, projected the number of digital consumers in SoutheastAsia will reach 350 million by the end of this year.
By the end of 2021, Facebook and Bain expect more than 70 percent ofpeople 15-years-old and above in the surveyed countries to shop online. The reportpredicted the number of online shoppers in Southeast Asia will reach 380million by 2026.
Among the surveyed countries, Indonesia, the largest economy in SoutheastAsia, continues to see the highest growth rate, the report said, adding thatthe country’s digital consumer population is predicted to grow around 15percent, from 144 million in 2020 to 165 million in 2021.
According to the report, in the first three months of 2021, 88percent of private equity and venture capital investments in the region flowedinto the technology and internet sector. Of that, 56 percent went intofinancial technology./.
Digital transformation is considered to be among the key solutions to removing obstacles facing production and business and creating new development directions, and is being applied by many localities and enterprises amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
E-commerce platforms must be electronically connected with tax management agencies from the beginning of next year, not from next month, as the tax watchdog aims to better collect taxes from sellers operating on the platforms.
Vietnam has the highest number of people shopping on e-commerce platforms in the Southeast Asia region with some 49.3 million people, according to the E-commerce White Book 2021 released by the Vietnam E-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency (IDEA).
Policies are needed to support local e-commerce platforms and counter the might of cashed-up international e-commerce giants entering the Vietnamese e-commerce market, said Chairman of Nextech, Nguyen Hoa Binh, who owned chodientu.vn.
Though there remains much room for growth, e-commerce still needs joint support from authorities, businesses, and people to develop healthily and sustainably, said a leader of the Vietnam E-Commerce Association (VECOM).
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
Grab delivery cyclists ride past each other in Singapore in 2020 (Photo: AFP) 
