1 / 47

FACILITATION OF PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES FOR ADMINISTRATION, COMMERCE, AND TRANSPORT

FACILITATION OF PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES FOR ADMINISTRATION, COMMERCE, AND TRANSPORT. The Role of the UN By A.M. FARAHAT Chief, Sectoral Issues and Policies Division (ESCWA) UNITED NATIONS. OUTLINE. I . Global Context -The issue and the players -Trade facilitation

vernon
Download Presentation

FACILITATION OF PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES FOR ADMINISTRATION, COMMERCE, AND TRANSPORT

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. FACILITATION OF PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES FOR ADMINISTRATION, COMMERCE, AND TRANSPORT The Role of the UN By A.M. FARAHAT Chief, Sectoral Issues and Policies Division (ESCWA) UNITED NATIONS

  2. OUTLINE I . Global Context -The issue and the players -Trade facilitation - Electronic commerce - CEFACT - EDI - UN-EDIFACT II. A Regional Strategy - ESCWA Region - Role of ESCWA secretariat FARAHAT/CEFACT

  3. I. Global Context FARAHAT/CEFACT

  4. THE ISSUE AND THE PLAYERSInter-related Terms • Trade facilitation • Trade efficiency • Electronic Data Interchange • Electronic Commerce • EDIFACT FARAHAT/CEFACT

  5. THE ISSUE AND THE PLAYERSSeveral Actors Several actors are involved: • UN • WTO • World Bank • …etc FARAHAT/CEFACT

  6. THE ISSUE AND THE PLAYERSThe Goal Trade promotion through facilitation of procedures and practices throughout the “Trade, Transport & Payment Chain” (TTPC) FARAHAT/CEFACT

  7. THE ISSUE AND THE PLAYERSTrade, Transport & Payment Chain(TTPC) Banks, Brokers, Freight Forwarders, Transport carriers, Transport operators, Customs,Insurers, Government offices,etc... Exporter Importer FARAHAT/CEFACT

  8. THE ISSUE AND THE PLAYERS(TTPC) To move one consignment: 50 parties, 1 or 2 countries might be involved and: 50 documents, 360 copies. might be needed FARAHAT/CEFACT

  9. THE ISSUE AND THE PLAYERSUN Players • ECE :Trade Facilitation • UNCTAD :Trade Efficiency Our emphasis here will be on trade facilitation FARAHAT/CEFACT

  10. TRADE FACILITATIONHistory • 1959 Initiative of the Nordic countries • 1960 ECE took-over • 1961 First meeting of experts in ECE • 1971 Formation of Working Party WP.4 • 1996 Re-engineering of WP.4 FARAHAT/CEFACT

  11. TRADE FACILITATIONThrust Areas • Documents • Procedures • Information flows FARAHAT/CEFACT

  12. TRADE FACILITATIONObjectives • STANDARDIZE Documents • SIMPLIFY Procedures • HARMONIZE Information flow Soon it became clear that these issues are of GLOBAL nature FARAHAT/CEFACT

  13. TRADE FACILITATION1. Standardization of Documents In 1963 , the United Nations Layout Key (UNLK) was agreed upon. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  14. TRADE FACILITATION1. Standardization of Documents UNLK Advantages: • Master documents • Typing • Errors • Checking • Paper size • Multilingual environment FARAHAT/CEFACT

  15. TRADE FACILITATION1. Standardization of Documents Documents standardized and aligned based on UNLK spread rapidly in many countries with varying degrees of success in some disciplines. E.g. IATA formats Courier express parcels …etc. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  16. TRADE FACILITATION2. Simplification of Procedures WP.4 soon realized that documents standardization is the lighter part of the problem (tip of the ice berg). The core issue is the SIMPLIFICATION of administrative and commercial procedures. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  17. TRADE FACILITATION3. Harmonization of information flow Depends upon: • Documents embodying information and, • Means of information flow FARAHAT/CEFACT

  18. TRADE FACILITATIONDocuments Might be: • Paper or, • Electronic Processing of documents should add value to its information. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  19. TRADE FACILITATIONInformation Flow Might be: • By Mail • Tele-transmission between computers through communication networks FARAHAT/CEFACT

  20. TRADE FACILITATIONInformation Is either: • STRUCTURED e.g. invoices,purchase orders,…etc. • UNSTRUCTURED e.g. memoranda, letters….etc. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  21. TRADE FACILITATIONInformation Flow of UNSTRUCTURED information can be effected through: E-MAIL Flow of STRUCTURED information: • Between computers(application to application) • Through communication networks Is referred to as: ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI) FARAHAT/CEFACT

  22. ELECTRONIC COMMERCE Conducting business through E-mail, EDI, WWW technologies constitute what is increasingly referred to as: ELECTRONIC COMMERCE FARAHAT/CEFACT

  23. ELECTRONIC COMMERCEAdvantages • Direct link • Instantaneous • Bypass postal system • Data processable straight away • No data re-entry • Minimizes inventory (JUST-IN-TIME Technique) • Saves effort and time • Reduces cost • Improves customer services • Expands business opportunity (SME’s) FARAHAT/CEFACT

  24. CEFACTRe-engineering of WP4 In 1996, WP.4 was subject of a re-engineering process. The new body is known as CEFACT. CEnter for Facilitation of procedures and practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport. CEFACT is an intergovernmental body with a GLOBAL mandate. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  25. CEFACTOrganization of Work Regular meetings, twice a year. Work is oriented as before towards issuing standardized: • CODES and • RECOMMENDATIONS FARAHAT/CEFACT

  26. CEFACTRecommendations Cover the following scope: • Documents • Formats • Information • Information communication. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  27. CEFACTRecommendations • 26 Recommendations so far. • Examples: • Recommendation 4:National Trade Facilitation Organs. • Recommendation 16:UN/LOCODE Code for ports and other locations. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  28. CEFACT Recommendations UN/LOCODE Country code Location inside country XXX XXXX (ISO) (IATA&LLOYD’S Codes) 10000 locations FARAHAT/CEFACT

  29. ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI) Normally: A DOCUMENT is made up of SENTENCES which in turn is made up of WORDS(vocabulary) and ABBREVIATIONS according to rules of GRAMMAR FARAHAT/CEFACT

  30. ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)Structure • MESSAGE corresponds to DOCUMENT • SEGMENT corresponds to SENTENCES • DATA ELEMENTS corresponds to WORDS • CODES corresponds to ABBREVIATIONS • SYNTAX RULE corresponds to GRAMMAR Thus, it is clear that to have an efficient EDI, certain STANDARDS have to be adopted FARAHAT/CEFACT

  31. ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)Standards • ODETTE Europe, Automobile industry • TRADANET U.K., Retail industry • SWIFT Worldwide, Banking. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  32. ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)Standards Geographical Standards: • ANSI X12 (1985) North America • GTDI (1985) Europe UN Guidelines for Trade Data Interchange. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  33. ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)Standards Global Standards: In 1986 the UN-JEDI (Joint Electronic Data Interchange)group was formed to develop international EDI standards. This led to the development of UN-EDIFACT FARAHAT/CEFACT

  34. UN-EDIFACTDefinition Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport A set of standards, directories and guidelines for electronic interchange of structured data. It is : • Global • Used by all countries • Used by all industries • Used by private & public sectors. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  35. UN-EDIFACTMessages, Segments, Codes.. • Status 0 : Draft • Status 1 : Final draft • Status 2 : Standard form (UNSM) FARAHAT/CEFACT

  36. UN-EDIFACTInstitutional Set-up associated body ECE ISO WP.4 GE.1 GE.2 UN/EDIFACT RAPPORTEURS Pan American EDIFACT Board E.Europe EDIFACT Board W.Europe EDIFACT Board Austriasia EDIFACT Board Asia EDIFACT Board Africa EDIFACT Board FARAHAT/CEFACT

  37. UN-EDIFACTInstitutional Set-up EDIFACT Rapporteurs • To set up machinery and facilities to develop EDIFACT in the respective regions • Nominated by government and approved by WP4 • Coordinate regional EDIFACT activities • Six rapporteurs appointed to-date Regional EDIFACT Boards • Support the rapporteur • Handle EDIFACT activities within the country FARAHAT/CEFACT

  38. II. A Regional Strategy FARAHAT/CEFACT

  39. ESCWA Region Current shortcomings • Representation in CEFACT • Representation in Asia EDIFACT board • No Regional board • No National boards FARAHAT/CEFACT

  40. ESCWA SECRETARIATDirections of Actions • Liaison with CEFACT • Framework of cooperation • Regular work programmes • Technical assistance FARAHAT/CEFACT

  41. ESCWA SECRETARIATA Regional strategy • Promote CEFACT activities in the region • Promote EDIFACT standards • Building International Trade Transaction (ITT) national models • Harmonization of national models • Support the establishment of National Facilitation Committees • Establishment of a Regional Facilitation Committee • Cooperation with League of Arab States FARAHAT/CEFACT

  42. FARAHAT/CEFACT

  43. UN-EDIFACTDevelopments In 1987: • UN-EDIFACT regional rapporteur system established • UN-EDIFACT syntax adopted by ISO • Final trial method tried FARAHAT/CEFACT

  44. UN-EDIFACTInstitutional Set-up • Regional rapporteurs • Regional boards • National committees FARAHAT/CEFACT

  45. UN/EDIFACT Publications International UN/EDIFACT documents • Guidelines and Rules • ISO 9735 Syntax Rules • The UN/EDIFACT Syntax Implementation Guidelines (SIG) • The UN/EDIFACT Message Design Guidelines (MDG) • UNTDID (The United Nations Trade Data Interchange Directory) • UNTDED (The United Nations Trade Data Elements Directory) • UN/EDIFACT Working Directory Set Country level documents FARAHAT/CEFACT

  46. UN-EDIFACTUNTDED • Volume 1: Data elements • Volume 2: Codes • Volume 3: Recommendations FARAHAT/CEFACT

  47. UN-EDIFACTMessages • Status 1 : Under Development • Status 2 : Draft Standard • Status 3 : Standard Message FARAHAT/CEFACT

More Related