Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum 2019

Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation for Regional Prosperity

The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum (APTFF) is the leading regional platform for the exchange of information, experiences and practice on trade facilitation. The APTFF has been organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and growing number of partners since 2009. The Forum attracts over 250 participants from over 30 countries.

The 9th Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum will focus on how digital and sustainable trade facilitation measures and practices can bring prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. The Forum will investigate opportunities from trade digitalization for sustainable progress of the region, and challenges ahead in materializing such opportunities. The Forum will feature panel discussions, interactive and informative sessions allowing the participants to share experiences and perspectives on different aspects of trade facilitation, including trade finance, cross-border e-commerce and paperless trade, transit, innovative application of emerging technologies, etc. The Forum will bring relevant regional initiatives and implementation cases to each session to make it a unique opportunity to share knowledge and practical lessons. The Forum will also include a number of side-events providing more in-depth exploration of the pertinent trade facilitation issues.

Event details

Date/Venue:

17–18 September 2019
New Delhi, India

Contacts:

  • Mr. Kijin Kim
    Economist, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department,
    Asian Development Bank
    Email: kijinkim@adb.org
  • Ms. Aleli A. Rosario
    Senior Economics Officer, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department,
    Asian Development Bank
    Email: arosario@adb.org

Download:

Program and Agenda



DAY 1: Tuesday, 17 September 2019



Registration / Opening:toggle

Opening Session:

10:00–10:30
Registration and Coffee/Tea
10:30–11:30
Opening Session
Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee Director General,
Confederation of Indian Industry
Mr. Bambang Susantono Vice-President,
Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, ADB
Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations,
and Executive Secretary of ESCAP

Launch of the ADB-ESCAP Joint Publication
Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2019: Bridging Trade Finance Gaps through Technology
Mr. Piyush Goyal Minister,
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India
11:30–11:35
Break


High Level Panel Discussion:toggle

Leaving no one behind in trade facilitation: Identifying challenges, priorities and solutions

11:35–13:05
Moderator
Ms. Mia Mikic Director,
Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, ESCAP
Panelists:
Mr. Pranab Kumar Das Chairman,
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, India
Mr. Madhav Ragam Vice President of Govt. sector for Asia Pacific,
IBM
Ms. Deborah Elms Vice Chair,
Asia Business Trade Association (ABTA)
Mr. Ali Ahmed CEO,
Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI)
13:05–14:10
Lunch


Session 1:toggle

Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in Asia and the Pacific – State of play and prospect

14:10–15:50
Moderator
Ms. Manamaya Pangeni Bhattarai Deputy Director General,
Department of Customs, Ministry of Finance, Nepal
Presentations:
Mr. Yann Duval Chief,
Trade Policy and Facilitation Section, ESCAP
Presentation
Ms. Aileen Pangilinan Senior Regional Cooperation Officer,
South Asia Regional Cooperation Division, ADB (tbc)
Presentation
Panelists:
Mr. Poul Hansen Chief, Trade Facilitation Section,
UNCTAD
Mr. Ying Qian Advisor,
East Asia Department, ADB
Ms. Jill Atieno Juma Trade Advisor,
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS)
Mr. S.P. Sahu Senior Trade Facilitation Specialist,
World Bank
Discussion points
15:50–16:10
Break


Session 2:toggle

Digital implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation - Lessons from implementation

16:10–17:40
Moderator
Mr. Yann Duval Chief,
Trade Policy and Facilitation Section, ESCAP
Presentations:
Mr. Xiaobing Tang Counsellor,
WTO
Presentation
Mr. Tahseen Khan Member of UNNExT Advisory Committee,
and UN/CEFACT Vice-chair
Presentation
Panelists:
Mr. Jihoon Park Director,
Customs Cooperation Division, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Republic of Korea
Mr. L Satya Srinivas Joint Secretary (Customs),
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, India
Ms. Battsetseg Tuvshintugs Deputy Director-General,
Foreign Trade, Economic Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mongolia
Mr. Mohammed Mostaba Ali Commissioner,
Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Khulna, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh
Mr. Akhmad Bayhaqi Senior Analyst,
Policy Support Unit, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) secretariat
Discussion points



DAY 2: Wednesday, 18 September 2019



Session 3:toggle

Aligning trade facilitation with sustainable development goals: Good practices in trade facilitation for agriculture, SMEs and women

09:00–10:40
Moderator
Ms. Mia Mikic Director,
Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, ESCAP
Presentations:
Mr. Melvin Spreij Head,
Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) Secretariat
Presentation
Mr. Mohit Sippy Senior Programme and Policy Manager,
DFID Asia Regional British High Commission
Presentation
Mr. Suresh Kumar Joint Secretary and Additional CEO,
Government e-Market place (GeM), Department of Commerce, India
Presentation
Panelists:
Mr. Bipul Chatterjee Executive Director,
CUTS International
Ms. Evdokia Moise Senior Trade Policy Analyst,
Emerging Policy Issues Division, OECD
Ms. Maria Cecarelli Chief,
Trade Facilitation, UNECE
Ms. Ally Spinu CEO,
Export Portal
Discussion points
10:40–11:00
Break


Session 4:toggle

Facilitating trade finance for inclusive growth: Bridging gaps through technology

11:00–12:30
Moderator
Mr. Jong Woo Kang Principal Economist,
Regional Cooperation and Integration Division, ADB
Presentations:
Mr. Kijin Kim Economist,
ADB
Presentation
Ms. Emily Chin Chief Product Officer,
Capital & Credit Risk Manager (CCRM)
Presentation
Panelists:
Mr. Santosh Pokharel Investment Specialist,
Trade Finance Unit, ADB
Mr. David Rasquinha Managing Director,
EXIM Bank of India
Mr. Ian Sayers Head,
Access to Finance and Enterprise Sustainability, International Trade Centre (ITC)
Ms. Urachada Ketprom Director of Standard Office,
Electronic Transaction Development Agency (ETDA), Thailand
Discussion points
12:30–14:00
Lunch


Session 5:toggle

Trade facilitation for e-commerce: Emerging innovations for seamless cross-border transactions

14:00–16:00
Moderator
Prof. Somnuk Keretho Director,
Institute for Information Technology Innovation, Kasetsart University, Thailand
Presentations:
Mr. Jong Woo Kang Principal Economist,
Regional Cooperation and Integration Division, ADB
Presentation
Mr. Guan Chengzhu General Administration of China Customs
Presentation
Panelists:
Mr. Ashutosh Bajpai Vice President,
DHL India
Ms. Hong Xue Director,
Institute for the Internet Policy & Law (IIPL)
Mr. Paul Donohoe Manager,
Digital Economy and Trade Programme, Universal Postal Union (UPU)
Mr. Patrik Jonasson Director,
Public Policy Asia-Pacific, GS1
Discussion points
16:00–16:20
Lunch


Session 6:toggle

APTFF Trade Facilitation Innovation Awards

16:20–17:10
Moderator
Mr. Nagesh Kumar Director,
South and South-West Asia Office, ESCAP
Presentations:
IPPC ePhyto Solution: Implementing the Generic ePhyto National System (GeNS) in the Asia Pacific region
Mr. Craig Fedchock IPPC Senior Advisor and ePhyto Project Director,
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Presentation
CoDEx: Container Digital Exchange
Mr. J David Raja President,
Tuticorin CFS Association, India
Presentation
Enhancing Digital Connectivity for China-ASEAN Trade
Mr. LOO Leong Seng Chief Technology Officer,
GeTS
Presentation
17:10–17:30
Closing session
Mr. Shri Rajneesh Joint Secretary,
Department of Commerce, India
Ms. Mia Mikic Director,
Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, ESCAP











Related Publications

Asia–Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2019
Bridging Trade Finance Gaps through Technology
September 2019
2019 Trade Finance Gaps, Growth, and Jobs Survey
September 2019
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Explores how international trade is promoting economic empowerment through the increased participation of women and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises
Toward Optimal Provision of Regional Public Goods in Asia and the Pacific