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Trade Facilitation in ESCAP

This international conference aims to promote the simplification, harmonization, and standardization of trade procedures and documents to reduce trade transaction costs, improve trade security, and promote the use of ICT applications for trade facilitation. The event will also focus on strengthening regional cooperation and promoting the establishment of national trade facilitation organizations.

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Trade Facilitation in ESCAP

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  1. Trade Facilitation in ESCAP International Conference on Trade Facilitation, 16-17 October 2006, Moscow, Russian Federation. Noordin Azhari Chief Trade Efficiency and Facilitation Section Trade and Investment Division UNESCAP

  2. Facts and Figures • Cost of trade procedures may range from 2 to 15 per-cent of the traded goods’ value • A one per cent reduction of trade transaction costs of traded goods’ value would bring annual gains of about US$ 40 billion on a world-wide basis: OECD • A five per cent reduction in trade transaction costs in 2006 will raise APEC’s GDP by 0.98 per cent (around US$ 154 billion): APEC

  3. Current TF Drivers • WTO trade facilitation negotiations • Just-in-time operations; need for swift flow of data and information • Trade and security • Regional trade arrangements and initiatives in Asia and the Pacific

  4. UNESCAP Trade Facilitation Strategy • Mission: • Promoting the simplification, harmonization, standardization of procedures and related documentary requirements in international trade • Goals: • Reducing Trade Transaction Costs • Improving Trade Security • Approach: • Integrated approach to trade and transport facilitation, including ICT applications

  5. Strengthening Regional Cooperation • Establishment of theAsia-Pacific Network for Efficient Trade – APNET • Provide a regional platform for national trade facilitation coordination committees/bodies (NTTFCs) • Promote the establishment and strengthening of NTTFCs • Identify regional trade facilitation requirements of traders and governments • Formulate, coordinate and promote trade and transport facilitation strategies, action plans and best practices among UNESCAP countries.

  6. Promoting National Coordination Mechanisms • Good practices in implementing TF measures require cooperation of three main players – government agencies, logistics service providers, and traders • Assisting member states to establish National Trade and Transport Committee (NTTFC) and supporting institutions • Providing training and technical assistance to strengthen the capability of NTTFCs - lead agency, inter-government and private key stakeholders

  7. Assessing Needs, Priorities and Implementation Costs • Conducting benchmarking study and analysis of current conditions, impediments to trade, and indicators of TF-related performances (quantitative & qualitative) • Identifying opportunities for improvement • Refining and promoting assessment/benchmark tools, and assisting member states to build human and institutional capacity to regularly conduct TF self assessment • Tools available: • UNESCAP Trade Facilitation Framework • UNESCAP Time/Cost-Distance Analysis • WB Trade and Transport Facilitation Audit • WCO Time Release Study • WCO Self Assessment Checklist of GATT Articles V, VIII, X • UN/CEFACT Benchmarking Guidelines

  8. Simplification, Standardization and Harmonization of Trade Procedures and Documents • Providing studies, trainings and advisory services to: • Simplify formats and contents of trade documents • Develop aligned trade documents set • Tools available: • UN Layout Key for Trade Documents • UN Trade Facilitators Toolkit for trade documents • WCO Customs Data Model and UN Trade Data Elements Directory

  9. Promoting ICT Application for Trade Facilitation • Promote and assist member states to develop strategies and action plans to establish single-window and ICT-enable paperless environment • Tools available: • Guidelines for establishing Single Window (UN/CEFACT Recommendation 33) • Handbooks and Roadmap for Paperless Trade(UNESCAP TF Handbook, UN/CEFACT Roadmap) • UNeDocs (UN Electronic Trade Documents project) • WCO Customs Data Model

  10. UNESCAP Trade Facilitation Strategy 1. Assessing TF Needs, Priorities and Implementation Costs (Capturing TF Knowledge & Indicators) 2. Promoting the Establishment of, and Strengthening National Trade Facilitation Organizations and Regional Cooperation 3. Promoting Trade Facilitation Strategies and Action Plans 4. Assisting in Simplification and Harmonization of Trade Documents & Procedures 5. Promoting the use of ICT Applications for Trade Facilitation 6. Promoting Trade Finance and Payment Infrastructure Development CBP - Capacity Building Programmes: Awareness and Training iii. Creating awareness and organizing training courses and workshops for member countries KR - Knowledge Repository for Trade Facilitation ii. Developing and maintaining a repository and virtual communication mechanism for trade knowledge and TF current conditions, indicators, needs and priorities for continuous analysis and TF-improved recommendations APNET- Asia Pacific Network for Efficient Tradei.Facilitating a regional forum for policy makers, practitioners and resource persons from government and private sectors to share lessons learned, develop and promote trade facilitation measures suitable for the Asia-Pacific region

  11. THANK YOU

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