APEC joins key forum to advance paperless trade in Asia-Pacific
The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum 2010 will be held in Kuala Lumpur from October 5-6 under the theme "Trade Facilitation for Regional Connectivity: Advancing Paperless Trade."
The forum provides an open platform to exchange information, experiences and practices for trade facilitation and to learn about new tools and services which can increase the efficiency of cross-border transactions.
Participants include government ministers, traders and international groups including the UN's Economic Commission for Europe, ASEAN and the World Customs Organization.
APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Muhamad Noor, has been invited to speak at the forum, and will share APEC's initiatives and experiences on enhancing connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region to boost trade.
He said the event was an important opportunity to share knowledge and collaborate more closely on developing a more integrated and prosperous region.
Ambassador Noor said APEC is involved in a myriad of activities to facilitate trade in the region, including promoting the use of electronic documents and internet technologies to achieve a paperless trading environment.
The APEC Business Travel Card was one example. Used by more than 80,000 travellers throughout the year in most APEC member economies, the scheme provides business travellers with pre-approved visa clearance and expedited airport processing when visiting APEC economies.
"APEC member economies are working towards an environment in which businesses can take the best advantage of e-commerce," Ambassador Noor said.
"Taking a more tactical approach, APEC is collaborating with business, academia and government sectors to further develop its Supply-Chain Connectivity Framework. This Framework will tackle eight priority chokepoints that relate to regulatory impediments, customs inefficiencies, and inadequate transport networks and infrastructure.
"APEC is firmly committed to the work of liberalising and facilitating trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. We see this as an important means of achieving sustained economic growth and progressing our goal of 'Advancing Free Trade for Asia-Pacific Prosperity'."
APEC is also among groups that will host a booth at the forum's multimedia exhibition to maximize information sharing about initiatives, case studies and findings.