Bangkok--23 Mar--UNISBKK
Asia-Pacific countries meet in Bangkok 24-25 March to promote paperless trade
Countries in Asia and the Pacific will meet in Bangkok this week to discuss how they could pool expertise and experience to address delays at border crossings, harbours and docks caused by cumbersome procedures and excessive paperwork that cost as much as 15% of the value of goods traded.
The two-day meeting, starting Tuesday 24 March, will bring together more than 80 delegates from 25 countries, among them government ministers, policymakers, business leaders, and academics.
They will officially launch the United Nations Network of Experts for Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (UN NExT). The Network will establish a community of knowledge and practice to undertake capacity building on international standards and solutions; help bridge the gap between policymakers and technical experts in trade facilitation; and act as a clearing house for sharing lessons from the countries in the forefront of trade facilitation.
The High-Level Symposium on Building Regional Capacity for Paperless Trade is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia- Pacific (UNESCAP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
The meeting is open to the press and will start at the United Nations Conference Centre, Rajademnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, at 0900 on Tuesday. A programme is attached.
For more information, please contact:
Maria Misovicova, Trade Facilitation Section, ESCAP; Tel: +66 (0)2 288 2118; mobile: +66 (0) 81 257 5786; Fax: +66(0)2 288 1027; email:
[email protected]
Bentley Jenson, UN Information Services (UNIS), ESCAP; Tel.: +66 (0)2 288 1869; Mobile: +66 84 (0)80 5025; Email: [email protected] and [email protected]