A new report released today by the World Economic Forum (WEF) highlights the success that eBay small businesses have experienced engaging in cross border trade.  The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.  The section of the WEF’s report focused on eBay is entitled Unlocking SME Trade and it describes how small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) using eBay are able to truly engage in the global marketplace.  The report also highlights the benefits of a global marketplace for consumers stating: “The small merchants that do business through eBay, for instance, enable customers to enjoy niche products and experience the best of many cultures.”



The Internet and mobile technology are lowering barriers to international trade in a revolutionary way, creating new global trade opportunities for very small businesses in particular.  The World Economic Forum finds that that the Internet helps SMEs participate in global markets and creates a broader supply chain that spans the world.  According to a study released by eBay Inc. entitled Enabling Traders to Enter and Grow on the Global Stage, 97 percent of commercial sellers on eBay, which is heavily weighted to small businesses, export.



“We greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with the experts at the World Economic Forum to focus greater attention on the tremendous potential economic benefits of expanding global commerce opportunities to all size businesses, especially small businesses, the world over,” said Brian Bieron, eBay Inc. Senior Director of Global Public Policy.  “We look forward to sharing the emerging opportunities of global, open and inclusive technology-enabled commerce with the policy and thought leaders from around the world that work with this outstanding organization.”



eBay was also highlighted in the World Economic Forum’s press conference on the report yesterday in Davos Switzerland.