Bill to Strengthen E-Commerce in Kiribati

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) welcomed the Government of Kiribati’s (GoK) tabling of the Electronic Transactions Bill 2021 for consideration in Parliament by the Honourable Booti Nauan, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MCIC).

Through an official release, the MCIC stated that the Electronic Transactions Bill provides legal recognition and status to the use of electronic communications and signatures. It applies to all types of electronic transactions exchanged among Business, Government and Consumers, subject, in certain cases, to the adoption of implementing regulations”.

In his introductory remarks for the Bill, Honourable Booti Nauan, highlighted that the Bill fulfills the Government’s long-term development plans outlined in the Kiribati 20-Year Vision 2016-2036 (KV20) and the Government’s Manifesto aiming at developing a regulatory environment for electronic transactions and, in particular, enabling electronic communications in commercial dealings.

Honourable Booti Nauan further noted that electronic commerce is particularly important in Kiribati given geographical challenges and the shortage of physical infrastructure. The adoption of the Bill comes at a critical time as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has escalated the use of electronic communications in commercial activities, including in Kiribati.

The Bill is based on UNCITRAL texts. Once the Bill is passed, Kiribati will be one of the first countries in the world, and possibly the first in the Pacific, to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records.

The second reading of the Bill is scheduled in the next Parliament session, later this year.

Source : Tourism Authority of Kiribati