Major Progress Towards Paperless Trade at United Nations Forum
in Dublin
Geneva, 1 May 2007 -- Cutting red tape, simplifying trade procedures,
reducing costs. These topics, which are close to the heart of any international
business, were the focus of a recent United Nations Centre for Trade
Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) Forum held in Dublin, Ireland.
Summarizing the Forum’s results, Mike Doran, Chair of the UN/CEFACT
Forum Management Group, detailed an impressive range of new developments and
standards delivered during the event. He noted, in particular, the publication
of the electronic Cross Industry Invoice and the Business Requirements Specification
of the UN electronic trade documents project, UNeDocs. These products will
greatly enhance the exchange of paperless trade information, both nationally
and internationally.
UN/CEFACT’s mission is to improve the ability of business, trade and
administrative organizations from developed, developing and transitional economies
to exchange products and relevant services effectively. A principal focus
is facilitating national and international transactions by simplifying and
harmonizing processes, procedures and information flows so as to contribute
to the growth of global commerce (http://www.unece.org/cefact/).
Opening the special Forum session for Irish business and government officials,
Irish Minister for the Information Society, Mr. Tom Kitt, emphasized the opportunities
for Ireland presented by trade facilitation. “Paperless trade and single
window processes represent a terrific step forward in achieving the goal of
only having to submit all trade-related information and documents once, to
a single point electronically. If the information flows can be simplified,
this will be of great value. Ireland strongly supports these initiatives and
it is heartening that the UN has devoted such energy and resources to advancing
the process.”
An initial meeting was also held during the Forum to progress the setting
up of a joint project between UN/CEFACT and the World Customs Organization
to develop an international Cross Border Reference Data Model. This groundbreaking
initiative will enable trade and Government to standardize the exchange of
international trade information between countries and regions.
Other important outputs of the Forum, which was attended by over 250 participants
from over 30 countries, include the release of the UN/CEFACT eTendering
specifications (21 schemas), which will allow the standardized exchange of
eTendering information, the launch of an eProcurement initiative to address
the needs of public procurement, and the revision of a series of code lists
to standardize the definition of key business terms. Further information on
these and other outputs from the Forum can be obtained at: http://www.uncefactforum.org/
The UN/CEFACT Forum meets semi-annually in various locations throughout
the world. The next Forum meeting will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, from
24 to 28 September 2007.
For further information please contact:
| |
Mike Doran
Chair, UN/CEFACT Forum Management
Group
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +41 (0) 22 767 1872
|
Jean Kubler
Chief, Global Trade
Solutions Branch
UNECE Trade Division
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 2774
|
Ref: ECE/TRADE/07/P03