DEVELOPING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE Constant technological innovation with respect to Internet access has aided in the expansion of on-line trade, thus enabling larger segments of the population to have the possibility to share in the benefits of on-line commercial transactions and enabling companies – including small and medium sized enterprises – to become part of the process, with an attendant increase in competitiveness and scale. The available indicators show that the greatest impetus to the growth and development of electronic commerce is taking place in the business-tobusiness sector (B2B). As part of this process, and in relation to the international marketing of goods and services, advances are being made in at least two respects: a) Through the adoption of electronic commerce as a tool for enterprises to market goods and services on the international market, by putting into service web sites/ electronic sites designed for that purpose such as “vertical markets” or “business community” type structures. b) Through the development of technology platforms such as the Internet, which make it possible to address operational aspects of the international marketing of goods and services by digitizing the procedures and documentation involved. It is useful to review some of the advantages and potential benefits of the promotion and introduction of e-commerce in the economic environment. THE IMPACT OF ECOMMERCE ON THE ECONOMY e-Commerce is the driver of what is termed the New economy. Its exponential growth is spurring Governments to promote its utilization within the respective national economies. The e-Europe Draft Action Plan lists A STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN FOR GRENADA Anurag Sinha 50