The Sustainable and Digital Trade Facilitation Week, will be held in-person at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland from 8 to 12 July 2024.
It will feature the 42nd UN/CEFACT Forum on 8-10 July 2024 and the 30th UN/CEFACT Plenary on 11-12 July 2024.
The mandate of the current Chair of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) ends at the 30th Plenary on 11 July 2024 at which time the UN Member States who are physically present at the Plenary meeting will elect the Chair for the period 2024-2027.
The Candidate will be expected to actively participate in at least four physical meetings per year:
Candidate will also be expected to participate in all official UN/CEFACT Bureau conference calls (there are currently calls every month for around two hours each).
The Chair is responsible for the organization and leading the Bureau calls, the Plenary meetings, the Forums and all UN/CEFACT meetings. Additionally, the UN/CEFACT Chair is responsible to ensure that procedures are being applied correctly, to oversee all UN/CEFACT projects and prepare strategic documentation such as the Programme of Work. It is appreciated if the Chair assists the UNECE Secretariat in representing UN/CEFACT at official meetings and events as well as assist with communication.
The mandate of the current Chair of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) ends at the 30th Plenary on 11 July 2024 at which time the UN Member States who are physically present at the Plenary meeting will elect the Chair for the period 2024-2027.
The Candidate will be expected to actively participate in at least four physical meetings per year:
Candidate will also be expected to participate in all official UN/CEFACT Bureau conference calls (there are currently calls every month for around two hours each).
The Chair is responsible for the organization and leading the Bureau calls, the Plenary meetings, the Forums and all UN/CEFACT meetings. Additionally, the UN/CEFACT Chair is responsible to ensure that procedures are being applied correctly, to oversee all UN/CEFACT projects and prepare strategic documentation such as the Programme of Work. It is appreciated if the Chair assists the UNECE Secretariat in representing UN/CEFACT at official meetings and events as well as assist with communication.
The mandate of the current Chair of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) ends at the 30th Plenary on 11 July 2024 at which time the UN Member States who are physically present at the Plenary meeting will elect the Chair for the period 2024-2027.
The Candidate will be expected to actively participate in at least four physical meetings per year:
Candidate will also be expected to participate in all official UN/CEFACT Bureau conference calls (there are currently calls every month for around two hours each).
The Chair is responsible for the organization and leading the Bureau calls, the Plenary meetings, the Forums and all UN/CEFACT meetings. Additionally, the UN/CEFACT Chair is responsible to ensure that procedures are being applied correctly, to oversee all UN/CEFACT projects and prepare strategic documentation such as the Programme of Work. It is appreciated if the Chair assists the UNECE Secretariat in representing UN/CEFACT at official meetings and events as well as assist with communication.
In recent years, the topic of climate-smart connectivity has become increasingly relevant for United Nations Member States. This includes ECE programme countries. For example, amidst the twenty-first century crises disrupting supply chains and escalating logistics costs, the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) participating States adopted the Roadmap for the Digitalization of Multimodal Data and Document Exchange Along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, Using United Nations Legal Instruments and Standard at the 2023 SPECA Summit. This roadmap leverages United Nations legal instruments and standards, including the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention), the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Roads (CMR Convention) and the UN/CEFACT Package of Standards. The shift towards the digital exchange of data and documents can improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance transparency, enable better accessibility and data analysis, and in so doing, it has the potential to foster greener and more inclusive economies.
Building on recent developments in the ECE region and beyond, this policy dialogue will bring together policymakers, private sector representatives and the international community to explore the potential of the digital transition for regional and global connectivity. It will reflect on the role of international, regional and national initiatives, as well as ECE legal instruments and UN/CEFACT standards to enhance facilitation procedures along trade and transport corridors while also helping address the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions. Key takeaways of this policy dialogue will contribute to the discussions at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29), which will take place from 11 to 22 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The discussion will be informed by findings and recommendations emerging from the 2023 edition of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation as well as the ECE and SPECA regional reports on digital and sustainable trade facilitation.
In recent years, the topic of climate-smart connectivity has become increasingly relevant for United Nations Member States. This includes ECE programme countries. For example, amidst the twenty-first century crises disrupting supply chains and escalating logistics costs, the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) participating States adopted the Roadmap for the Digitalization of Multimodal Data and Document Exchange Along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, Using United Nations Legal Instruments and Standard at the 2023 SPECA Summit. This roadmap leverages United Nations legal instruments and standards, including the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention), the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Roads (CMR Convention) and the UN/CEFACT Package of Standards. The shift towards the digital exchange of data and documents can improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance transparency, enable better accessibility and data analysis, and in so doing, it has the potential to foster greener and more inclusive economies.
Building on recent developments in the ECE region and beyond, this policy dialogue will bring together policymakers, private sector representatives and the international community to explore the potential of the digital transition for regional and global connectivity. It will reflect on the role of international, regional and national initiatives, as well as ECE legal instruments and UN/CEFACT standards to enhance facilitation procedures along trade and transport corridors while also helping address the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions. Key takeaways of this policy dialogue will contribute to the discussions at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29), which will take place from 11 to 22 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The discussion will be informed by findings and recommendations emerging from the 2023 edition of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation as well as the ECE and SPECA regional reports on digital and sustainable trade facilitation.
The ECE secretariat will report on Matters Arising Since the Twenty-Ninth Plenary and the activities of the ECE Economic Cooperation and Trade Division Regional Adviser. These documents provide a summary of UN/CEFACT activities in the period of 2023-2024, including normative work, policy advice and capacity-building.
These documents are presented to the Plenary for information and delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
The ECE secretariat will report on Matters Arising Since the Twenty-Ninth Plenary and the activities of the ECE Economic Cooperation and Trade Division Regional Adviser. These documents provide a summary of UN/CEFACT activities in the period of 2023-2024, including normative work, policy advice and capacity-building.
These documents are presented to the Plenary for information and delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
The ECE secretariat will report on Matters Arising Since the Twenty-Ninth Plenary and the activities of the ECE Economic Cooperation and Trade Division Regional Adviser. These documents provide a summary of UN/CEFACT activities in the period of 2023-2024, including normative work, policy advice and capacity-building.
These documents are presented to the Plenary for information and delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
The sixty-ninth and seventieth Commission sessions focused on the topics of “Promoting circular economy and sustainable use of resources” and “Digital and green transformations for sustainable development” in the ECE region and beyond. Member States invited subsidiary bodies to replicate and scale up existing approaches that facilitate broad and effective use of the appropriate instruments, including through capacity-building and knowledge-sharing activities.
This segment will include a technical dialogue on fostering sustainable and resilient value chains, which will provide updates on deliverables in support of the ECE strategic priorities. In this connection, UN/CEFACT has made progress on several initiatives, including (i) a draft policy recommendation on transparency at scale in value chains, outlining solutions for digital product passports; and (ii) a study on trade of second-hand clothing, providing global and regional perspectives, with a focus on the European and Latin American regions.
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The UN/CEFACT Chair and members of the Bureau will provide an overview of developments and deliverables since the twenty-ninth session including Bureau decisions, a summary of promotional activities and project activities.
The Regional Rapporteurs will report on activities related to UN/CEFACT in their respective regions. These discussions will set the stage for the subsequent agenda items.
The UN/CEFACT Chair and members of the Bureau will provide an overview of developments and deliverables since the twenty-ninth session including Bureau decisions, a summary of promotional activities and project activities.
The Regional Rapporteurs will report on activities related to UN/CEFACT in their respective regions. These discussions will set the stage for the subsequent agenda items.
The UN/CEFACT Chair and members of the Bureau will provide an overview of developments and deliverables since the twenty-ninth session including Bureau decisions, a summary of promotional activities and project activities.
The Regional Rapporteurs will report on activities related to UN/CEFACT in their respective regions. These discussions will set the stage for the subsequent agenda items.
The UN/CEFACT Chair and members of the Bureau will provide an overview of developments and deliverables since the twenty-ninth session including Bureau decisions, a summary of promotional activities and project activities.
The Regional Rapporteurs will report on activities related to UN/CEFACT in their respective regions. These discussions will set the stage for the subsequent agenda items.
The UN/CEFACT Chair and members of the Bureau will provide an overview of developments and deliverables since the twenty-ninth session including Bureau decisions, a summary of promotional activities and project activities.
The Regional Rapporteurs will report on activities related to UN/CEFACT in their respective regions. These discussions will set the stage for the subsequent agenda items.
The UN/CEFACT Chair and members of the Bureau will provide an overview of developments and deliverables since the twenty-ninth session including Bureau decisions, a summary of promotional activities and project activities.
The Regional Rapporteurs will report on activities related to UN/CEFACT in their respective regions. These discussions will set the stage for the subsequent agenda items.
All UN/CEFACT e-business context files, schemas, and OpenAPI specifications on:
The Plenary will have before it the Report of the Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy on its Third Session for endorsement. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
The Plenary will have before it the Report of the Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy on its Third Session for endorsement. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
The Plenary will have before it the Report of the Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Circular Economy on its Third Session for endorsement. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
At the twenty-ninth session, the Plenary adopted the Programme of Work of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group and decided to extend its mandate for the period 2024-2025 (Plenary decision 23-20). The 132nd meeting of the Executive Committee on 13 February 2024 approved the program of work as well as the extension of its mandate, as contained in document ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2023/23, for the period 2024-2025 (ECE/EX/2024/L.3). The Plenary will have before it for endorsement and information the Report of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group on its 2024 Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany on 16 and 17 April 2024. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
At the twenty-ninth session, the Plenary adopted the Programme of Work of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group and decided to extend its mandate for the period 2024-2025 (Plenary decision 23-20). The 132nd meeting of the Executive Committee on 13 February 2024 approved the program of work as well as the extension of its mandate, as contained in document ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2023/23, for the period 2024-2025 (ECE/EX/2024/L.3). The Plenary will have before it for endorsement and information the Report of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group on its 2024 Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany on 16 and 17 April 2024. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
At the twenty-ninth session, the Plenary adopted the Programme of Work of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group and decided to extend its mandate for the period 2024-2025 (Plenary decision 23-20). The 132nd meeting of the Executive Committee on 13 February 2024 approved the program of work as well as the extension of its mandate, as contained in document ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2023/23, for the period 2024-2025 (ECE/EX/2024/L.3). The Plenary will have before it for endorsement and information the Report of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group on its 2024 Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany on 16 and 17 April 2024. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
At the twenty-ninth session, the Plenary adopted the Programme of Work of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group and decided to extend its mandate for the period 2024-2025 (Plenary decision 23-20). The 132nd meeting of the Executive Committee on 13 February 2024 approved the program of work as well as the extension of its mandate, as contained in document ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2023/23, for the period 2024-2025 (ECE/EX/2024/L.3). The Plenary will have before it for endorsement and information the Report of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group on its 2024 Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany on 16 and 17 April 2024. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
At the twenty-ninth session, the Plenary adopted the Programme of Work of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group and decided to extend its mandate for the period 2024-2025 (Plenary decision 23-20). The 132nd meeting of the Executive Committee on 13 February 2024 approved the program of work as well as the extension of its mandate, as contained in document ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2023/23, for the period 2024-2025 (ECE/EX/2024/L.3). The Plenary will have before it for endorsement and information the Report of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group on its 2024 Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany on 16 and 17 April 2024. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
At the twenty-ninth session, the Plenary adopted the Programme of Work of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group and decided to extend its mandate for the period 2024-2025 (Plenary decision 23-20). The 132nd meeting of the Executive Committee on 13 February 2024 approved the program of work as well as the extension of its mandate, as contained in document ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2023/23, for the period 2024-2025 (ECE/EX/2024/L.3). The Plenary will have before it for endorsement and information the Report of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group on its 2024 Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany on 16 and 17 April 2024. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
At the twenty-ninth session, the Plenary adopted the Programme of Work of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group and decided to extend its mandate for the period 2024-2025 (Plenary decision 23-20). The 132nd meeting of the Executive Committee on 13 February 2024 approved the program of work as well as the extension of its mandate, as contained in document ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2023/23, for the period 2024-2025 (ECE/EX/2024/L.3). The Plenary will have before it for endorsement and information the Report of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group on its 2024 Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany on 16 and 17 April 2024. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
At the twenty-ninth session, the Plenary adopted the Programme of Work of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group and decided to extend its mandate for the period 2024-2025 (Plenary decision 23-20). The 132nd meeting of the Executive Committee on 13 February 2024 approved the program of work as well as the extension of its mandate, as contained in document ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2023/23, for the period 2024-2025 (ECE/EX/2024/L.3). The Plenary will have before it for endorsement and information the Report of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group on its 2024 Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany on 16 and 17 April 2024. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
At the twenty-ninth session, the Plenary adopted the Programme of Work of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group and decided to extend its mandate for the period 2024-2025 (Plenary decision 23-20). The 132nd meeting of the Executive Committee on 13 February 2024 approved the program of work as well as the extension of its mandate, as contained in document ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2023/23, for the period 2024-2025 (ECE/EX/2024/L.3). The Plenary will have before it for endorsement and information the Report of the UN/LOCODE Advisory Group on its 2024 Meeting held in Hamburg, Germany on 16 and 17 April 2024. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on these documents.
Delegates will be briefed on the activities of international organizations, standard-setting bodies, and other ECE bodies on matters of potential interest to UN/CEFACT. Representatives from partner organizations will be invited to highlight synergies and discuss current and future activities of relevance with the aim to enhance cooperation and further coordinate efforts in advancing sustainable and digital trade facilitation.
The Plenary will have before it the UN/CEFACT Programme of Work 2025-2026 (ECE/TRADE/C/CEFACT/2024/7) for decision. The programme of work is closely aligned with ECE cross-cutting priority themes focusing on the circular economy, sustainable use of natural resources and the digital and green transformations for sustainable development. It outlines
priorities for the coming years, including the focus on sustainable, transparent and resilient value chains as a driver for green and digital transformation. It stresses the importance of maintenance and development of UN/CEFACT outputs and explores opportunities for measurement of their impact and relevance. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on the document.
The secretariat and the Bureau will present the Proposed Amendments to the Consolidated United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business Mandate and Terms of Reference (Section D – The Bureau) for consideration and a subsequent decision on the way forward. Such amendments pertain to the governance structure of the UN/CEFACT Bureau and its responsibilities. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on this document, submitted to the Plenary for decision.
The secretariat and the Bureau will present the Proposed Amendments to the Consolidated United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business Mandate and Terms of Reference (Section D – The Bureau) for consideration and a subsequent decision on the way forward. Such amendments pertain to the governance structure of the UN/CEFACT Bureau and its responsibilities. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on this document, submitted to the Plenary for decision.
The secretariat and the Bureau will present the Proposed Amendments to the Consolidated United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business Mandate and Terms of Reference (Section D – The Bureau) for consideration and a subsequent decision on the way forward. Such amendments pertain to the governance structure of the UN/CEFACT Bureau and its responsibilities. Delegations will have an opportunity to clarify questions and provide comments on this document, submitted to the Plenary for decision.
In 2022, the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services evaluated the relevance, effectiveness, coherence, sustainability, and integration of cross-cutting issues in ECE Subprogramme 4: Economic Cooperation and Integration, and Subprogramme 6: Trade of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe for the period 2018-2021. The evaluation was part of the UN secretariat’s regular program periodically evaluating selected aspects of its operations. Delegates will be briefed on the progress of implementing the recommendations of the evaluation as they pertain to Subprogramme 6.
Delegations will be invited to raise other issues not previously addressed during the session.
Delegations will be invited to adopt the decisions and the draft report.