Global Journal of Management and Business Research, B: Economics and Commerce, Volume 21 Issue 5

Moreover, there is a lack of researches, which integrate the demographic and cultural factors of e-commerce adoption not only in developing countries but also in regional blocks, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. E-commerce in Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), one of the main intergovernmental organizations in Eurasia, was established in 2001 and has eight member states: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan Pakistan, and India. As home to nearly half of the world’s population, SCO member states cover three-fifths of the Eurasian continent and contribute about 20 percent to world GDP 4 . While its original main focus was to ensure regional stability and security in the region and to fight against “terrorism, extremism, and separatism” (Stephen G, 2018), the SCO recently has more committed to fostering deeper economic integration and socio-economic sphere between member states 5 Since 2019 SCO is taking measures to develop e-commerce in the SCO region: one of the main topics of the talks held in Tashkent on November 2, 2019, was the prospect of economic partnership among SCO member states and the adoption of the trade and economic cooperation program until 2035 . 6 . Following that in November 2020, member states have signed the "Statement by the SCO Heads of State Council on Cooperation in the Digital Economy”. Furthermore, on 7 th June 2021, SCO Secretariat and Alibaba Group delegation had an online meeting, whereas SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov stated that member states are developing draft documents aimed at unlocking potential and using opportunities to increase digitalization in the region 7 As a member state and country with CNY 38 trillion e-commerce transactions in 2020 . 8 , China is actively proposing to develop the digital economy in the SCO region (LiKeqiang, 2020). Considering the fact that China has launched a “Digital Silk Road” initiative in 2015 and signed cooperation agreements with 16 countries within it (Steve Feldstein, 2020), China experience will be a priority in SCO; however, it is uncertain whether SCO member states have the capacity for adoption and diffusion of such e-commerce experience. 4 http://eng.sectsco.org/news/20191023/590687.html 5 http://eng.sectsco.org/news/20210607/765371.html 6 http://eng.sectsco.org/news/20190926/583587.html 7 http://eng.sectsco.org/news/20210607/765371.html 8 http://eng.sectsco.org/news/20210510/750204.html which indicates the readiness of a country to support online shopping. UNCTADB2C e-commerce index includes the following variables: account ownership at a financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider (percentage of population ages 15+); individuals using the internet (percentage of population); postal reliability index; secure internet servers (per 1 million people). Table 1 shows SCO member states ranking in UNCTAD B2C e-commerce index from2016- 2020: Demographic and Cultural Factors Influencing the Adoption of B2C E-Commerce in SCO Region © 2021 Global Journals 27 Global Journal of Management and Business Research Volume XXI Issue V Version I Year 2021 ( ) B b) SCO cooperation for e-commerce development c) B2C e-commerce in SCO member states One of the most reliable B2C e-commerce indicators is the UNCTAD B2C e-commerce index,