Regional Policy Forum on Trade Facilitation and SMEs in Times of Crisis

Opening Session

Chair: Diao Mingsheng, Permanent Representative of China to ESCAP

• Yu Ping, Vice Chairman, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)  Welcome Speech (pdf)
  
  
• Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Trade and Investment Division, ESCAP Opening Statement (pdf)
  
  
• John S. Wilson, Lead Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank  Opening Remarks (pdf)
  
  

Session 1: Trade Facilitation and SMEs in Times of Crisis 
The Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the economy in the developing countries. However, they are facing many constraints in engaging in international trade, and these constraints may be exacerbated by the on-going global financial crisis. This session will discuss the impact of the crisis and the role of trade facilitation in promoting SME survival and development.

Chair: Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Trade and Investment Division, ESCAP or senior official

• Trade Facilitation: A Regional Perspective
  Yann Duval, Trade and Investment Division, ESCAP Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Promoting the Development of SMEs in Times of Crisis: Trade Facilitation and Finance
  Hamid Alavi, Senior Private Sector Development Specialist, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Impact of Crisis on SMEs in China
  Zhang Yuli, Deputy Director General, Business School, Nankai University  Presentation (pdf)
  

Session 1 (cont’d): Trade Facilitation and SMEs in Times of Crisis

• Improving Trade Finance Environment for SMEs
  Pipit Aneaknithi, First Senior Vice President, Kasikornbank Public Company Limited, Thailand   Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Utilization of E-Commerce in Reducing Cost for Trade: Alibaba’s experience
  Brian Li, Vice-President or Senior Manager, Alibaba Group, China
  
  
• Facilitating Landlocked and Least Developed Country SMEs participation in trade
  Ousavanh Thiengthepvongsa, President, Young Entrepreneurs Association of Lao PDR  Speech | Presentation (pdf)

Session 2: Identifying Priorities and Monitoring Progress in Trade Facilitation

Progress to achieve development goals through trade facilitation requires understanding how country and regional operations operate and succeed in a broad economic context. This is particularly true today. Significant progress has been made in identifying priorities and monitoring progress in reform – but more is needed. This session will review best practice in trade facilitation operations, and indicators to identify key problem areas and measuring progress in trade facilitation operations.

Chair: John S. Wilson, Lead Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank

• Trade Facilitation: Expanding the Benefits of Trade - Evidence from Firm-level Data
  Yue Li, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank  Background Paper | Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• WCO Time Release Study Methodology and other tools/applications
  Shujie Zhang, World Customs Organization, Asia-Pacific Regional Office for Capacity Building (WCO/ROCBAP)  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• China: Trade Facilitation Reform and Economic Development
  Yangsheng Zhang, Director, International Economic Research Institute, National Development and Reform Commission, China
  Presentation (pdf)
  

Session 2 (Cont’d): Identifying Priorities and Monitoring Progress in Trade Facilitation

• South Korean: Trade Facilitation Reform in an Overall Context
  Junsok Yang, Professor, Catholic University of Korea  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Reform in ASEAN and the Philippine: Progress and Challenges in Reform
  Josephine Nagallo, Director, Planning and Systems Development Service, Management Information Systems and Technology Group, Bureau of Customs, Philippines   Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Vietnam Experiences: Trade Facilitation and Country Competitiveness
  Dr. Nguyen Thang, Director, Center for Economic Analysis and Forecast, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam 
  Presentation (pdf)
  

Session 3: Impact of IT-based Trade Facilitation Measures on SMEs
The application of information technology (IT) to trade procedures is seen as an essential element of trade facilitation. This session will review the impact of information technology on trade and explore to what extent SMEs have benefited from IT-based trade facilitation measures and initiatives implemented in various Asian countries and the challenges associated with implementing these measures.

ARTNeT Policy Brief No. 16: Inclusive Growth and Trade Tacilitation: Insights from South Asia (pdf)

ARTNeT Policy Brief No. 19: Enhancing Export Diversification through Trade Facilitation (pdf)

Chair: Pushpa Raj Rajkarnikar, Coordinator, Industrial Policy Draft and Foreign Investment Policy Draft Taskforces, Nepal

• Information technology and trade facilitation: Linkages and emerging issues
  Ravi Ratnayake, Director TID/ ESCAP  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• IT-based trade facilitation in Developing Asia: Status, Impact on SMEs and Implications:
  • The Bangladesh Case
    Syed Saifuddin Hossain, Center for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh  Presentation 
    
    
  • The  Sri Lankan Case
    Ms. Suwendrani Jayaratne, Institute for Policy Studies, Sri Lanka  Presentation (pdf)
    
    
  • The Indian Case
    Mr. Sachin Chaturvedi, Fellow, RIS, India  Presentation (pdf)
    

Session 3 (Cont’d): Impact of IT-based Trade Facilitation Measures on SMEs

• The Impact of IT-based Trade Facilitation on Philippine SMEs
  Loreli de Dios, Center for the Advancement of Trade Integration and Facilitation (CATIF), Philippines  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Synthesis and Implications of the Case Studies
  Florian Alburo, Professor, CATIF, Philippines and ARTNeT Study Team Leader  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• IT-based Trade Facilitation Initiatives in Thailand
  Somnuk Keretho, Director, Institute for IT Innovation, Kasetsart University  Presentation (pdf)

Session 4: Customs Procedures and Trade Logistics for SMEs
Cumbersome Customs procedures and inefficient trade logistics are major obstacles for SME participation in international trade. The session will discuss how to improve Customs administration and develop trade logistics systems to better serve SMEs.

Chair: Sambuu Demberel, Chairman, Mongolia National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mongolia

• Improving Customs Administration to Develop Modern Trade Logistics System
  Gerard McLinden, Senior Trade Facilitation Specialist, World Bank  Presenation (pdf)
  
  
• Customs Modernization in China
  Yin Liqun, Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, General Administration of Customs, China  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Customs Modernization and SMEs Competitiveness
  Lee Sang-Hyup, Professor, Korea Customs Service, Korea
  Presentation (pdf)
  

Session 4 (Cont’d): Customs Procedures and Trade Logistics for SMEs

• Trade Logistics Services: Importance of Logistics for SME Competitiveness
  James Goh, Regional Vice-President - Asia Pacific Region, International Trade Services, United Parcel Service  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• DTTN’s experience on facilitating SME’s participation in trade
  Kong Cheung, Vice President, Business Development, Digital Trade and Transportation Network, Hong Kong, China  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Facilitating SME trade through electronic exchange of document: the case of Australian Wine exports to Ireland 
  Ian Watt, Applied Electronic Commerce   Presentation (pdf)
  

WTO Trade Facilitation Negotiations and Aid for Trade

• Negotiations Status and Prospects
  Nora Neufeld, WTO  Fact Sheet (pdf) | Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Trade Facilitation in Aid for Trade (AfT)
  Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Trade and Investment Division, ESCAP 
  Presentation (pdf)

The World Bank Group  Agenda in Trade Facilitation: Review of Priorities and Country Demand

• Hamid Alavi, Senior Private Sector Development Specialist, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank  Presentation (pdf)
  
  
• Gerard McLinden, Senior Trade Facilitation Specialist, World Bank
  
  
• John S. Wilson, Lead Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank  Presentation (pdf)
  

Plenary Discussion