SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO Gordon Cragge Director - Trade Facilitation & Promotion

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO The Aligned Series of Export Documents for International Trade The SITPRO Experience

SITPRO The UK trade facilitation organisation Established since 1970 Sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry Supported by British business & industry Board directorship drawn from all the sectors of the international trade and the payment and finance functions

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO The Problem - too many documents International Trade Transaction Chain Imp Exp EXPORTER FORWARDER BANK BANK CUSTOMS PORT CARRIER PORT CUSTOMS FORWARDER IMPORTER Imp Imp Imp Imp ExpExpExp Exp Exp

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO The Solution Simplify the processSimplify the process Adopt international trade facilitation tolls and techniquesAdopt international trade facilitation tolls and techniques Standardise information & dataStandardise information & data Align documentationAlign documentation

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO So – A Trip to the Opera forAIDA (With acknowledgment to G Verdi)

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO A = Awareness UN Recommendation No 1 - UN Layout Key for International Trade Documents Improve trade efficiency Enhance competitiveness Increase profitability Reduce costs and administrative burden

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO I = Information Consultation with the users of trade documents – exporters, ports, freight forwarders and other service providers Programme of visits to observe commercial practice and official procedures Committee formed of Trade, Government and Printers

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO D = Decision Decided to simplify, standardise and aligned shipping documentation Standard Shipping designed to the UNLK providing a single, simple set of data for processing goods through the ports Licensing regime established to ensure credibility and integrity

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO A = ACTION Simpler Export Documents launched in 1965 but reproduction method not specified In 1976 Systematic Export Documentation issued based on the Master Document Technical specification supplied for document reproduction by: - Spirit Duplicator - Copier - alternative Copier techniques

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO The Aligned Series of Export Documents SAME details are found in the SAME place on all documents System maintained and promoted by SITPRO System maintained and promoted by SITPRO

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO Aligned Documents - the Past SED updated and enhanced in 1979 with the inclusion of the Overlay system TOP FORM made its first appearance in 1987 with three systems: - single-typing simple export sets - photocopier systems using the Master Document with Overlays - laser printed forms using computer systems

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO Aligned Documents – the Present TOP FORM 2 – over 70 documents aligned to the UNLK with UK requirements Reproduction of documents offered by: –Printers of pre printed forms –Software products for computer systems –Web service providers Incorporated into the ElecTra Toolkit for both p-docs and e-docs Foundation of UNeDocsUK

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO Aligned Documents in Practice Export Sets OverlayComputer

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO Benefits for UK Traders - easy to use, producing error free documents - accurate and timely information - international standard understood by all parties in the trade transaction - better compliance with commercial practice and official procedures - reduced delays at the port - 50% reduction in export admin costs

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO Value of Licensing Regime -credibility and integrity of the system -experience and expertise in document standards -network for obtaining feedback from exporters -‘multipliers’ for promoting aligned documents

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO Finally – some observations Introduction of aligned documents requires political will and government commitment Recognition that implementing standard documents is not a 100m dash but a marathon UK Customs accepted the SSN as the export declaration

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO Finally, finally Over 30 years ago SITPRO introduced the UK Aligned Series of Export Documents – a Single Window for Port Information Systems Now the task is to expand the Single Window to cover all trade related information and where possible make it electronic

SITPRO Simplifying International Trade SITPRO Thank you for being a wonderful audience Any Questions?