1. U NITED N ATIONS C ENTRE F OR T RADE F ACILITATION A ND E LECTRONIC B USINESS Under the auspices of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UN/CEFACT Leading Edge Solutions for Trade Facilitation Ray Walker Chairman, UN/CEFACT Steering Group; Special Advisor on Trade Processes and eBusiness to the UK Department of Trade and Industry; raywalker@attglobal.net

2. UN/CEFAC T Some of the results of the first inter-governmental working party on trade facilitation (WP.4) and its successor UN/CEFACT 32 Recommendations to governments covering policy, best practice, eLegal agreements, and many fundamental codes United Nations Layout Key ( UNLK) United Nations Trade Date Element Directory (UNTDED) United Nations Location Code (UNLOCODE) UN/EDIFACT – the first global eBusiness Standard ebXML – the Web compatible eBusiness standard Universal Modelling Methodology (UMM) The Reference Model for the International Supply Chain www.uncefact.org

3. UN/CEFAC T Established in 1997, the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business has a global remit. Its membership covers all regions as well as the leading inter-governmental and non- governmental international trade organisations Its mission is to develop and promote: Simple, Transparent, Effective Processes for Global Commerce Its extensive work programme is carried out through empowered groups Trade facilitation work includes trade policy considerations and the rationalisation of trade and business processes and procedures

4. UN/CEFAC T UN/CEFACT & Trade Facilitation Simple, Transparent, Effective Processes for Global Commerce Trade facilitation is much more than the simplification of Customs or Transport procedures. It covers the global supply chain and payment processes There is great value in modelling these processes using advanced modelling techniques (UMM) and using the models to drive the rationalisation of both official and commercial trade procedures ICT implementations based on international standards have proven to bring major benefits to advanced and developing countries of all sizes

5. UN/CEFAC T UN/CEFACT & Trade Facilitation Simple, Transparent, Effective Processes for Global Commerce ICT implementations based on international standards have proven to bring major benefits to advanced and developing countries of all sizes Leading edge workshop starting at 14: 00 in Salle 7 with speakers from the USA, Malaysia and Ghana But, significant advances can be made without huge ICT investment Trade Facilitation Maturity model

6. UN/CEFAC T UN/CEFACT & Trade Facilitation Steps in the Trade Facilitation Maturity Model Firstly, irrespective of the development status of an economy, and before any investment: Establish effective coordination mechanisms between government, industry and commerce (No Silo ’ s) Promote and apply international best practice in trade facilitation to all relevant government and private sector applications and transactions Recognise that unambiguous transferable core data is fundamental (80% of international trade transactions have the same core/master data)

7. UN/CEFAC T UN/CEFACT & Trade Facilitation Steps in the The Trade Facilitation Maturity Model Secondly, undertake a rigorous analysis of national trade procedures Thirdly initiate a vigorous programme aimed at rationalising national trade procedures Then (and only then) promote and apply appropriate information transfer techniques. These can be: Paper based (UNLK) A mix of paper and electronic techniques (UNLK & eDocs) Electronic Data Interchange – UN/EDIFACT Advanced Web techniques (ebXML/Web Services) I

8. UN/ CEFACT S IMPLE, T RANSPARENT AND E FFECTIVE P ROCESSES FOR G LOBAL B USINESS.