Agência Brasil*
Rio de Janeiro – Electronic commerce – Internet purchases – reached R$ 12 billion (US$ 5.5 billion) in 2005, including auto and real-estate sales and auctions, reports the executive director of the Electronic Commerce Chamber (Camara-e.net), Cid Torquato. Expectations are for growth of 50% in 2006 when compared to last year.
Torquato bases his forecast on the development of the digital economy and also on the growth of the number of broadband users. "With the growth of these users, in general, electronic trade has grown," he said, in an interview to Agência Brasil. "Nowadays, around 80% of people who make Internet transactions on the Internet are broadband users. Therefore, the growth of the base automatically generates an increase in operations," he added.
Currently, according to estimates by the executive, 18 million Brazilians surf the net after purchases. Of these, around 5 million digital transactions were completed, showing that there is plenty of room for expansion.
The trade of consumer goods, like books, CDs, information technology equipment, electronic products and health and beauty products alone should have a turnover of R$ 3.9 billion (US$ 1.8 billion) in Brazil this year. From 2004 to 2005 there was growth of 43% in the trade of this kind of product on the Internet.
The Camera-e.net was established in 2001 and has become the main organization monitoring the digital economy in Brazil and Latin America. It currently brings together 160 partners who represent companies that are leaders in all sectors of the economy. According to Torquato, the partners do not focus exclusively on companies that sell products on the Internet, but they are connected to the operation of the entire economy that is undergoing a strong process of digitalisation.
Security
Torquato added that although the level of frauds in electronic trade is low, taking place mostly in financial transactions, the organization is proposing the adoption of digital certification to make Internet operations safer.
He stated that a large part of the frauds are a result of lack of precautions by the consumer. "We need to change this perception of security regarding digital trade. Buying from renowned and honest stores, the risk is practically nil," he evaluated, adding that security is an important aspect for the development of the sector and of the country as a whole. "It is fundamental for us to head in the direction of a digital economy and in the direction of a safer digital ecosystem, also to strengthen the development of any kind of trade transaction," he observed.
The director defended the universalisation of the use of digital certificates as a way to identify the parties involved in a transaction, reducing questions regarding the process and frauds to "insignificant levels, close to zero." Certification is an electronic process that, in general, is represented by a card with a chip or a removable memory (portable). This mechanism is used when the user or client needs to identify himself.
*Translated by Mark Ament
