be used to enable Myanmar businesses to trade with one another, with businesses elsewhere in ASEAN region and worldwide. Thus, the vision for e-commerce in Myanmar is that: By 2025, businesses of all sizes and in all sectors are trading electronically and using electronic payments giving rise to significant benefits for each business and for the economy as a whole. Impact on businesses For each business, benefits will include:  Shortening of supply chains and better access to markets in a manner that is not constrained by geography.  Improved access to supplies, with greater product variety and a wider range of suppliers.  Reduced business administration since many buying and selling functions, inbound and outbound logistics and payments may be undertaken electronically with much reduced manual intervention.  Potentially greater product quality enforced by a need for such quality when buying or selling at a distance; this will benefit buyers since they will have greater confidence in the product, and the sellers since they will ultimately be able to charge higher prices for the better quality, or compete with businesses elsewhere. Overall, such benefits will be experienced by businesses of all sizes and in all markets. It is essential that businesses in Myanmar invest in e-commerce. The impact of not investing will be that purchases by consumers and businesses in Myanmar from e-commerce sites outside the country will continue to increase rapidly. This will lead to loss of business for wholesalers and retailers in Myanmar, negatively impacting their supply chains. It would also increase the value of imports, since goods would be purchased at their final price rather than at a wholesale price. In terms of export performance, businesses in Myanmar will need to leverage B2B e-commerce to participate in increasingly digitally driven global supply chains. Impact on the economy The whole economy will benefit from the development of e-commerce. It will lead directly to increased growth in the distribution and communication sectors (transport, storage, and telecommunications, wholesale and retail trade). It will, in addition, through its use of e-commerce, lead to growth in agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, transport and tourism. The widespread adoption of e-commerce by Burmese businesses will result in the following outcomes:  Expansion in Myanmar’s market reach. E-commerce will enable businesses in Myanmar to reach customers in locations where they have no physical presence, and indeed customers in export markets. This reach will lead to greater revenue opportunities and overall to additional economic activity in the supply chain. Increased export market reach will give an opportunity for increasing the value of exports by Myanmar, thereby benefiting the balance of trade between Myanmar and other countries.  Cost reduction. Increased labour efficiency, reduction in the number of employees in the medium term, reduced requirements for buildings, concentration of economic activity in a smaller number of specialist firms leading to the increased labour efficiency. This improved labour efficiency will give opportunities for increasing wages.  Reduced supply chain costs. E-procurement and other forms of B2B e-commerce increase choice of supplier and the range of available goods and services to buyers. E-procurement can as well increase the efficiency of the procurement function through automation. Increased choice of suppliers, goods and services will ultimately lead to lower prices paid, and these lower prices and increased efficiency in procurement leads to an overall reduction in supply chain costs. 8