Title: E-commerce in Nepal: a case study of an underdeveloped country

Authors: Penjor Ngudup, Jason C.H. Chen, Binshan Lin

Addresses: School of Business Administration, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA 99258, USA. ' School of Business Administration, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA 99258, USA. ' College of Business Administration, Louisiana State University in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71115, USA

Abstract: Electronic commerce has affected the ways in which enterprises and countries produce, trade, and compete in fundamental and qualitative fashions. Even in countries with poor infrastructure and access to information technology, evidence exists that dynamic enterprises and governments have taken advantages of the possibilities offered by e-commerce. Countries with poor communication and internet infrastructures should therefore act now in order to develop a strong e-commerce market to prevent landing on the wrong side of the digital divide. This article introduces the history of internet and the current state of e-commerce in Nepal. It aims to identify projects that can possibly facilitate the growth of e-commerce ventures in underdeveloped countries such as Nepal. Finally, the article explains what ought to be done to establish a profitable e-marketplace in Nepal.

Keywords: e-commerce; telecommunications infrastructure; internet; business to customer; B2C; vertical portals; information products; Nepal; electronic commerce; e-marketplace; electronic marketplace; underdeveloped countries; developing countries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2005.006564

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2005 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.306 - 324

Published online: 21 Mar 2005 *

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