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Blockchain, IoT, traceability for sustainable value chains and cross-border e-commerce in focus at upcoming Hangzhou Forum

More and more countries are participating in international trade and global value chains, and the demand for instruments for electronic exchange of trade data and information is increasing at a rapid pace. The penetration of the digital economy in international trade reinforces the need to adopt international instruments such as the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) e-business standards. 


Global experts in trade facilitation and electronic business are to congregate in Hangzhou, China for the Forum of UN/CEFACT. The Hangzhou Forum will be focusing on several trending topics in trade facilitation and e-business. Specialized conferences on Blockchain and Trade Facilitation, Internet of Things (IoT) and its implementation, Traceability for Sustainable Value Chains and Cross-border e-Commerce will be taking place during the week. 


Various UN/CEFACT projects including the ISMIT (Integrated Services for MSMEs in International Trade), Smart Containers, Development of Single Windows are also on the agenda. In addition, the Forum plans to advance development of international standards in key areas including transport and logistics, agriculture, travel and tourism, and e-Government domains. The UN/LOCODE (United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations) Advisory Group meeting will be organized at the end of the week. 


During this week, at least two new trade facilitation recommendations will be finalized, the first on Sustainable Procurement and the other on Single Submission Portals. These projects aim at streamlining procedures for companies while helping countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals through increased efficiency and reduced use of resources.


The Forum is a platform for individual experts, governments and international organizations where a range of transformative trade facilitation and e-business topics are discussed in-depth. This will be the first time this global Forum will take place in China, jointly organized by the China National Institution of Standardization (CNIS) and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) from 14 -19 October in the Deefly Zhejian Hotel, Hangzhou. 


Hangzhou, home of the West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the host for the G-20 summit in 2016, will be welcoming more than a hundred delegates hailing from over 30 countries from government, industry, private sector and academia, as well as representatives from international organizations. 


The Forum is open for participation by public and private sector experts in an individual or organizational capacity who have registered to become an expert. 


UN/CEFACT is a subsidiary, intergovernmental body of UNECE with a global mandate for developing standards and recommendations for trade facilitation and e-business. 


For more information on how to participate at the Hangzhou Forum and a detailed programme, please visit: http://www.unece.org/hangzhouforum.html. The last date for registration to this event is 20 September. 

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