Regional Organizations Cooperation Mechanism for Trade Facilitation (ROC-TF) NEWSLETTER
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Issue IV, July 2013 Regional Organizations Cooperation Mechanism for Trade Facilitation (ROC‐TF) NEWSLETTER IN FOCUS: ADB ‐ ESCAP Asia Pacific Trade ESCAP ‐ WCO UNNExT Facilitation Forum 2013 Masterclass 2013: Implementing Single Window and Paperless The Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Trade Forum will be organized for the Fifth consecutive year on 10‐11 The ESCAP‐WCO UNNExT (United September 2013 at the China Nations Network of Experts for Inside this Issue International Electronic Commerce Paperless Trade in Asia and the Centre (CIECC) in collaboration with Pacific) Masterclass is an intensive ADB and CIECC. This year the Forum two‐week capacity building theme is “Towards more efficient programme intended to build the and inclusive supply chains: public capacity of Governments to simplify ROC‐TF UPDATE……….2 and private sector perspectives”. trade procedures and implement This year, the Forum will begin its paperless trade systems, including substantive discussion with a high single window facilities. It is level panel on the theme. The panel delivered by experts and PROJECT/ACTIVITY is expected to include a number of practitioners with extensive UPDATE…………………..3 Ministers and Deputy Ministers, experience on trade facilitation and and representatives of private paperless trade in English. Jointly sector. The sessions will cover the organized by the United Nations following topics : trade logistics for Economic and Social Commission for inclusive development, integrating Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the KNOWLEDGE SMEs into international supply World Customs Organization (WCO), PRODUCTS (PUBLICATIONS) .…8 chains through trade finance, in collaboration with the Korea enabling supply chain integration Customs Service (KCS), the using paperless trade and evolving Masterclass combines lectures with UPCOMING EVENTS ….14 national single window for efficient group discussions, hands‐on use of supply chains. Like every year, a paperless trade applications and field multimedia exhibition will be studies to maximize learning and organized in parallel with the interactions among course Forum, participated by leading participants. Training will be NEWS………………………..15 private sector service providers and delivered by a team of carefully international organizations. In selected senior UNNExT/WCO/KCS addition, a number of back to back experts with practical experience in events will be organized including a relevant area. Upon successful study tour to Tianjin port. completion of the course, UNNExT For more information: certificates will be issued to the Trade and Investment Division, th For registering online, participating participants. 4 Floor, The United Nations at the exhibition or more Dates: 7 – 18 October 2013 Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue information about the Forum and Venue: Customs Border Control Bangkok 10200, Thailand side events, please visit: Training Center, Korea Customs Phone: (662) 288 2118 http://www.unescap.org/tid/projec Service, Cheon‐an, Republic of Korea Fax: (662) 288 1027 ts/tfforum13.asp For more information please visit: Email: roc‐[email protected], http://www.unescap.org/tid/unnext NEWSLETTER ROC - TF www.unescap.org/tid, /mc2013.pdf w.unescap.org/tid/roctf.asp 1 Regional Organizations Cooperation Mechanism for Trade Facilitation (ROC-TF): UPDATE ROC‐TF UPDATE ECE‐ESCAP Regional Workshop on Regional Organizations Cooperation Mechanism for Trade Trade Facilitation Implementation Facilitation or ROC‐TF, into its third year, is a cooperation Guide (TFIG) mechanism for the sub‐regional, regional, UN and other international organizations involved in Trade Facilitation activities In October 2012, UNECE launched its in the Asia Pacific region. The overall goal of the mechanism is to Trade Facilitation Implementation facilitate exchange of information, identify synergies and Guide (TFIG): a web‐based and collaborate for effective implementation of Trade Facilitation interactive tool to help countries initiatives. better access global value chains, through easier and faster trade The mechanism was established following up on the explicit procedures. UNECE, in collaboration recommendation of the ESCAP Member States to the Secretariat in with ESCAP, will organize a regional July 2011 to support the creation of a region‐wide coordination workshop to disseminate the Guide in mechanism, bringing together representatives of key regional the Asia Pacific region on 18‐22 organizations active in trade facilitation. November 2013 at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand Since its inception in 2011, ROC‐TF generated interest among during the Trade and Investment international organizations to share more information about their Week, organized by the Trade and activities, projects and knowledge products. As a result, Investment Division of ESCAP. participating organizations are now sharing a common ‘calendar of The workshop aims to train events’ related to trade facilitation. The calendar is only shared participants on how to use the Guide among ROC‐TF participating organizations and updated every 2‐3 for Trade Facilitation reform efforts in months. ESCAP has received a (Guest) status to attend APEC SCCP their own country. It is also designed (Sub committee on Customs Procedures) meetings. ADB is to stimulate the sharing of national supporting organization of ROC‐TF annual meetings every year. practices and the discussion of Furthermore, ESCAP is acting as secretariat of the mechanism and opportunities for regional brings out a newsletter bi‐annually. A number of organizations cooperation in Trade Facilitation including Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asia‐Pacific Economic areas covered in the Guide Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat, UNCTAD, the World Customs (Documents simplification and data Organization (Regional Office for Asia‐Pacific), the World Bank, the harmonization, Single Window Asia‐Pacific Center Council for Trade Facilitation and e‐Business implementation, Consultation and (AFACT), South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) cooperation for TF, Cross border and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) are regular management, etc.). contributors to the newsletter. The workshop is expected to be The ROC‐TF Annual Meeting 2013 participated by policy makers from Asia Pacific developing countries The ROC‐TF Annual Meeting will be organized on 9 September including ministries of 2013 at the China International Electronic Commerce Centre commerce/trade, Customs, inspection (CIECC) in Beijing, immediately before the Asia Pacific Trade agencies etc. Facilitation Forum 2013. The meeting is expected to bring together The guide is available online at: many participating organizations, some of which have already http://www.unece.org/trade/tfig. confirmed their attendance. This year, the annual meeting will discuss updates of the mechanism, individual updates from the More information about the event organizations on their activities related to trade facilitation and will be available at this webpage in a ways for further synergy and cooperation among the participating few weeks: organizations. For more information about the event, please visit: http://www.unescap.org/tid/tiweek‐ NEWSLETTER ROC – TF home.asp http://www.unescap.org/tid/projects/roctf2013.asp 2 PROJECT/ACTIVITY UPDATE Selected project/activity update from ROC-TF organizations on Trade Facilitation ADB – SASEC (South Asia Sub‐regional Economic Cooperation): Trade Facilitation and Transport Working Group Workshop Senior officials responsible for trade facilitation and Customs from the SASEC countries were joined by representatives from the Maldives and Sri Lanka for a 3‐day SASEC trade facilitation workshop, and the inception meeting of the SASEC Customs Subgroup. Proceedings and discussion focused on . Findings and next steps in the ADB‐ESCAP Business Process Analysis study for SASEC region; . Issues and challenges of trade facilitation in SASEC countries and development of SASEC regional trade facilitation road map; . Information and experience sharing on Customs standards, international best practice on Customs administration and national electronic single window; SASEC Customs Subgroup terms of reference and Action Plan 2013–2015. For more information: http://sasec.asia/web/index.php/en/news‐events/news/205‐sasec‐trade‐facilitation‐week ADB‐SASEC Officials in TRS Training 39 participants from 23 Asia Pacific region Customs administrations attended this Time‐Release Study (TRS) Workshop, organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and hosted by Japan Customs Cooperation Fund. Eight representatives attended from SASEC member countries. The workshop . Introduced and discussed TRS concepts and application tools; . Shared experience in TRS implementation; . Drafted the process map; and . Introduced WCO TRS software. Participants from Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal presented their national Customs procedures and process maps. For more, see http://sasec.asia/web/index.php/en/news‐events/news/212‐sasec‐officials‐attend‐time‐release‐ study‐workshop Integrated Trade Facilitation "At the Border" and "Behind the Border": Reforms and Implementation, A Learning Opportunity for CAREC Decision Makers, Republic of Georgia: 10‐13 April 2013 National Focal Points, customs officials, and representatives of border management agencies from CAREC countries participated in a program that highlighted Georgia's reforms to facilitate trade. Presenting the scope and impact of specific reforms adopted by Georgia aimed to serve as a demonstration effect of the potential