eCommerce & internet payment

system

Key Reasons Aruba should qualify as a PayPal Payment Receiving country

Edward M Erasmus, MA Aruba, August 2012

Outline presentation

• State of e-Commerce in Aruba

• PayPal (key information)

• Key reasons to be listed as a PayPal payment receiving country

• Team, plan and proposal

• Closing remarks

Since the commercialization of the Internet (1990s)

• Tremendous impact on culture and commerce.

• The rise of near instant communication by email, instant messaging, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) "phone calls", two-way interactive video calls, and the World Wide Web.

The rise of online shopping and eCommerce

• Online shopping has boomed both for major retail outlets and small artisans and traders.

• Business-to-business and financial services on the Internet affect supply chains across entire industries.

• $246 billion* spent annually online.

* Source: Forrester Research, PhoCusWright & Internet Retailer

As we speak...

• More than 2.2 billion people are using the Internet.

• The internet is revolutionizing every aspect of our daily lives.

• Faster speed, open source technology, cloud computing, smart phones, tablets and the growth of socially interactive platforms (social media) enable creative and innovative new forms of online business opportunities.

Disrupting markets and business models

We are witnessing the next level of the digital revolution

It's now or never....

So how is Aruba doing?

State of e-Commerce in Aruba

• E-steering Committee (final report, August 2000).

• Objective: to make recommendations to the government to promote e-commerce on Aruba.

• Recommendations: legal and fiscal issues, technical and infrastructure issues, banking and security issues, logistical issues, organization, training and educational issues.

• Quick decision-making and implementation was crucial.

State of e-Commerce in Aruba

• Unfortunately not much has happened since the publication of the e-Steering Committee Report.

• So much has changed globally.

• Priority: update report to help boost online commercial opportunities for local businesses.

...and meanwhile...

A new breed of young entrepreneurs is here

• Tech 'savvy-er' than ever before

• Developing creative ideas and business models

• Using the internet as platform to develop international business (export of goods and services)

The new faces of entrepreneurship

e-Opportunities

• Mobile: access from anywhere anytime.

• Social media: hyper connectivity and global outreach.

• Open source technology: app development. and social commerce.

• From e-Commerce to omni-Commerce.

The era of omni-commerce

• Commerce as a multi-channel approach to retail that allows the consumer to buy from the channel that suits them at the time that is convenient, whether that be a mobile (phone or tablet), a physical store or from the quiet of the laptop or at your desktop location at home.

It's a global market space...

Our biggest e-Commerce challenge today...

• No commercial transactions through the Internet without an affordable and reliable payment system.

• Limiting overseas sales of goods and services.

What is PayPal?

PayPal is an online payment service that allows individuals and businesses to transfer funds electronically. PayPal can be used to:

• Send or receive payments for online auctions on eBay or other websites.

• Purchase or sell goods and services.

• Make or receive cash donations.

• Exchange cash with someone.

Key information

• Founded: Palo Alto, California

• Owner: eBay Inc.

• Website: https://www.paypal.com

• Revenue: US$4.4 billion (2011)

Services

• As of 2011 PayPal operates in 190 markets and manages more than 150 million active accounts.

• PayPal allows customers to send, receive, and hold funds in 25 currencies worldwide.

• PayPal operates locally in 21 countries.

Regulatory status

• In the United States; licensed as a money transmitter on a state-by-state basis.

• Not classified as a bank in the United States, though the company is subject to some of the rules and regulations governing the financial industry including Regulation E consumer protections and the USA PATRIOT Act.

• In Europe; registered as a bank in Luxembourg under the legal name PayPal (Europe) Sàrl et Cie SCA, a company regulated centrally by the Luxembourg bank authority.

Localized Sites

Send, receive and withdraw

Send, receive and withdraw (continued)

Send only

Fee structure of PayPal

Benefits of PayPal

Better for Buyers Gives buyers a faster way to pay. Provides convenience and security. Allows customers to utilize variety of payment types - PayPal balance, bank account, or credit card.

Better for Business Access 94 million active

online shoppers. 17% lift in sales*. A flexible payment solution for

retailers large and small. $3 billion of stored revenue

moving through PayPal accounts every 2 weeks.

*Based on a study by IPSOS in Q2 2010

PayPal research data

• Businesses get an average sales increase of 14% when they add PayPal (2006 PayPal phone survey).

• On average, active PayPal buyers use PayPal for more than half their online spending (Walker Information Inc. February 2006 Customer Relationship Assessment).

• The primary reason PayPal shoppers prefer PayPal is the security it affords (Quarterly PayPal brand tracker).

At a glance...

Aruba is located in the southern Caribbean, just off the northern coast of South America. It is 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across, at its widest point, with an area of approximately 74.5 square miles (193 square km).

Aruba is a well-developed island with a high standard of living.

Aruba - Key facts

• Capital Oranjestad 12°31’N 70°1’W

• Size 193 square kilometers

• Climate Tropical 82°F (28°C) average temperatures

• Population Approx. 108 thousand

• GDP Approx. US$ 2.7 billion

• Government type Parliamentary democracy

Aruba - Key facts

• Language Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Dutch, English dialect), English (business language, widely spoken) and Spanish

• Currency Aruban florins (AWG). The Aruba florin is pegged to the United States dollar (1$ = 1.79 AWG) and dollar is widely accepted as a method of payment

• Legal system Based on Dutch civil law system, with some English law influence.

Key Reasons Aruba should qualify as a PayPal Payment Receiving country

Reason 1 - Tourism

• Tourism receipts Afl 2.4 billion

• Tourism receipts in % of GDP: 50

• Stay over visitors: 871,300

• Revenue per available room Afl. 157

• Cruise visitors: 599,900

• Nearly 1/3 of spending is made in advance

• Huge market opportunities for PayPal-related services.

• Reliable booking and reservation option for hotels, car rentals, restaurants, providers of outdoor activities and local airlines.

Reason 2 - Green gateway

• Utilizing Aruba's unique socio-economic resources and geo-political position within the Kingdom of the Netherlands to develop new economic opportunities.

• Positioning Aruba as a strategic hub for European businesses doing business in Latin America.

• Moving towards a knowledge-driven economy.

• Attracting foreign investment with focus on innovation and sustainability.

Reason 2 - Green gateway

• Regional headquarters, medical tourism, product showcasing, renewable energy, commercial aquaculture, etc.

• Synergy free zone, airport and harbor.

• Opportunities for investment, growth and expansion.

• Huge market opportunities for PayPal.

• Reliable payment system for globally oriented companies.

Reason 3 - Untapped market potential

• Huge potential online sales of 'Made in Aruba' products and services to overseas markets.

• 'home-grown' products: crafts, art, photography, jewelry, pottery, cigars, wine, rum, beverages, honey, spices and ingredients (hot sauce).

• Cultural experience (music, movies, language, etc).

• Markets: USA, Latin America, Netherlands, Caribbean

• 'Made in Aruba' online market place powered by PayPal.

• Small and medium enterprises going global.

Reason 4 - Financial system

• Well-regulated monetary system

• Prudential supervision of banking, insurance sector pension funds and money transfer companies

• High solvency ratio financial institutions

• Strengthened regulations and systems AML/CFT

• US$ is widely accepted

• Financial integrity of banking activities.

• Safe and secure business environment for PayPal.

So where do we go from here?

We need a team

Key actors

• Prime Minister

• Minister of Economic Affairs

• Minister of Finance

• Parliament: Fixed commission Financial and Economic Issues

• Central Bank of Aruba

• ARINA

• Dept. of Economic Affairs/ IDEA

• Free Zone Aruba NV

• ATA

• AHATA

• ATIA

• Aruba Chamber of Commerce

We need a plan

Plan

• Explore PayPal's needs and how to match them.

• Explore Aruba's capabilities, economic impact, market and revenue potential (e-Commerce report).

• e-Commerce legislation and Intellectual property laws.

• Case studies (success of small islands in the region).

We need a proposal

Proposal

• Win-Win approach.

• Swift and not cumbersome.

• Establish legal and technical framework.

• Proactivity, creativity and flexibility is the key…

And don't forget....

Implementation plan

• Awareness campaign

• Assistance and guidance to small and medium enterprises

• 'Made in Aruba' online platform

• Integration with current Aruba apps

• Online marketers and web developers

This is a unique and awesome opportunity we can't afford to miss.

The timing is right, we need to seize the moment.

eBusiness combined with a reliable payment system will forever change Aruba's business landscape.

• 'Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.'

• - Calvin Coolidge

• Edward M. Erasmus, MA • e.erasmus@fzanv.com • erasmus.bpas@gmail.com

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/edwardmerasmus • Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/em_erasmus • LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardmerasmus • Blog: http://edwardmerasmus.wordpress.com

Image credits

• Andrea Dian / seisreyes.com

• aruba.com

• bob-photos.com

• checkingincheckingout.com

• Google images

• Kenny Theysen / visitaruba.com

• Luis Mejia / Luis Mejia Photography