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recent releases from Leicester Shire Development Agency, Business Link for Leicestershire and Business Link Lincolnshire & Rutland | 
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16 January 2002
NEWS RELEASE
BRITISH BUSINESSES EMBRACE E-COMMERCE
British enterprises are getting ahead in e-commerce, according to figures published by the European Commission.
Details of the new Information Society Statistics Pocket Book, which outlines the e-commerce environment in Europe, are available through the Euro Info Centre based at Business Link for Leicestershire.
Similar research carried out in the East Midlands showed that in the year 2000, 69% of businesses in the region had access to the internet, which was second only to the South East at 70% and compared to a national average of just 63%.
The number of businesses making sales via e-commerce was also above the national average, at around 20%.
Fiona Bell, of the Euro Information Centre at Business Link said, "Trading via e-commerce is a growing market and it is important that businesses, especially SME's, recognise the benefits and do not miss out."
A total of 36% of UK businesses with internet access use Business to Business (B2B) e-commerce, a figure well above the EU average of 27%. This is followed by 31% of French businesses and 29% in Luxembourg. When it comes to using Business to Consumer (B2C) e-commerce, UK businesses are in second place on 32%.
However, in most European firms e-commerce use is still limited. Although 70% of European SME's had internet access in the year 2000, only a quarter of these had developed e-commerce activities.
The Enterprise Directorate of the Commission have launched a new website to give advice to businesses looking to use the internet to maximise their international business opportunities.
Found at www.iecomm.net, the site covers all aspects of trading on the net, including legal and financial issues, the costs of going abroad, electronic marketplaces and information on language and culture.
The Euro Info Centre network has also launched a website for businesses wanting to find out more about e-commerce. The site may be accessed through Business Link Leicestershire's website at www.leicestershire.businesslink.co.uk
For further information on e-commerce or trading overseas, please contact the Leicester Euro Info Centre on 0845 070 0086.
Ends
For further media information
CONTACT Kate Downs on 0116 254 4472
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