14th International UNECE Seminar on Trade and Transport Facilitation

UNECE seminar

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International seminar

UNECE

Capacity-Building Seminar on Trade and Transport Facilitation
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22-23 May 2023
Hybrid format

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To participate in this conference, in person and online participants, please register at: https://itt.singlewindow.org/capacity-building-seminar-2023#form. After registration, online participants will receive a message with a link to connect to the seminar.

Venue for in person participation: Library of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, 129 Huseyn Javid Ave, Baku (mek.az)

This event is organized in collaboration between the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Institute of Control Systems at the Ministry of Science and Education of the Azerbaijan Republic, and the Ukrvneshtrans association as the fourteenth UNECE seminar on trade and transport facilitation held for the first time outside of Odessa, Ukraine.
The International High-level Conference "Digital Transformation of Information Exchange in Supply Chains Using United Nations Standards", held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 31 October 2022, enhanced the acceptance of the United Nations (UN/CEFACT) standards for the digitalization of multimodal data and document exchange in international supply chains. The participants in the Conference recommended to "strengthen work on training and raising the capacity of experts in the SPECA countries to understand and implement the UN/CEFACT standards and reference data models in the digitalization of data and document exchange in the region; develop and implement pilot implementation projects, e.g., digital twin projects on trans-Caspian movement of goods"; asking UNECE and Governments of SPECA countries to collaborate with development partners to secure funding for such pilot testing projects.
SPECA Ministers gathered in Geneva on 17 April 2023 and officially requested in their Joint Ministerial Statement "the UNECE to develop a Roadmap for a digitalization of multimodal data and document exchange along the trans-Caspian transport corridor using relevant United Nations standards, including through realizing a regional pilot project for SPECA participating States".
With these objectives in mind, UNECE, collaborating with partners in Azerbaijan and the region, is organizing a hybrid capacity-building seminar under the UN Development Account 14^th tranche project "Enhanced capacities of selected countries in the ECE region for pandemic-resilient, sustainable cross-border trade and transport" for the beneficiary countries (SPECA, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, and other neighbouring countries), and the business community to:
- identify business requirements for the digital transformation of concrete documents and sectors of the supply chain and availability of technical skills to implement the international standards in digital multimodal transport data and document exchange, using as a reference, for example, the supporting structures for the implementation of the European Union's Electronic Freight Transport (eFTI) Regulation – eFTI platforms.
- review best practices in implementing port community systems in the transition economies and issue recommendations.
- discuss possibilities for concrete pilot testing of the digitalization of information exchange in collaboration with TRACECA.
- discuss with possible development partners the development of implementation projects.
The participants in this seminar will include experts with technical skills from the relevant national agencies dealing with trade regulations, transport and transit procedures, as well as the business community (traders, transporters, freight forwarders, IT developers, etc.). This will be a capacity-building seminar for building skills in the target countries to implement innovation practices, including technology transfer for the implementation of electronic data and document equivalent exchange, aligned to UN/CEFACT standards and supporting tools.
Discussions on the contribution of UN standards and involvement of international organizations and the private sector will help formulate the conclusions and recommendations on the next steps to support relevant initiatives in the region.

The Seminar is conducted under the aegis of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Agenda

22 May 2023

9:30 – 10:15 GMT+4 Baku

OPENING SESSION

Welcome notes
Mr. Fariz Aliyev, Head, Transport Policy Department, Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Ms. Vladanka Andreeva, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan

Mr. Ali Abbasov, Professor Dr. , Director General, Institute of Control Systems at the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Ms. Elisabeth Türk, Director, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE

Presentation of the concept and expected results of the seminar
Mr. Mario Apostolov, UNECE ECTD Regional Adviser

10:15 – 11:15 GMT+4 Baku

SESSION I: IMPLEMENTATION OF UN STANDARDS FOR THE DIGITALIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS

Moderator: Mario Apostolov, Regional Advisor, UNECE

How to implement the package of standards for digitalization of data and document exchange
Ms. Sue Probert, Chairperson, UN/CEFACT

Update on the status of implementation of the EU Electronic Freight Transport Information Regulation and use of UN/CEFACT standards
Mr. Michael Dill, European Commission, DG MOVE

11:15 – 11:30 GMT+4 Baku

COFFEE BREAK

11:30 – 12:30 GMT+4 Baku

Implementing the eFTI Regulation: eFTI platforms
Ms. Ulrika Hurt, Digital Transport and Logistics Forum, European Commission

Gap analysis of the implementation of the UN/CEFACT standards in Azerbaijan
Mr. Kazim Samadov, IT expert Customs Committee of Azerbaijan

Port Community Systems and the use of UN/CEFACT standards
Mr. Tahseen Akhmad Khan, UN/CEFACT Vice Chair

This session will end with a panel discussion on a roadmap for digitalization of multimodal information exchange along trade and transport corridors, using the presentations in this session suggestions for collaboration with Governments, the business community and development partners on the next steps

12:30 – 13:30 GMT+4 Baku

LUNCH

13:30 – 15:00 GMT+4 Baku

SESSION II: POSSIBLE PILOT IMPLEMENTATION TEST PROJECT WITH TRACECA, E.G. ON DIGITALIZATION OF THE CIM/SMGS CONSIGNMENT NOTE

Moderator: Mr. Goran Andreev, TRACECA expert

e-CIM/SMGS pilot project
Mr. Asset Assavbayev, Secretary General, TRACECA

Work on the digitalization of the railway consignment notes
Mr. Erik Evtimov, Deputy Secretary General of the International Committee on Railway Transport (CIT)

Support for pilot projects
Ms. Sandra Géhénot, Director Freight, Coordinator European Region, International Union of Railways (UIC) t.b.c.

OSJD work on data harmonization and digitalization
Mr. Zurab Kozmava (or Mr. Mario Matta), OSJD (t.b.c.)

Digitalization of railway data and document exchange and multimodal and cross-sectoral interoperability, the role of UN standards
Mr. Mario Apostolov, UNECE ECTD Regional Adviser

15:00 – 15:15 GMT+4 Baku

COFFEE BREAK

15:15 – 17:30 GMT+4 Baku

SESSION II: POSSIBLE PILOT IMPLEMENTATION TEST PROJECT WITH TRACECA, E.G. ON DIGITALIZATION OF THE CIM/SMGS CONSIGNMENT NOTE

Business Requirement Specification and supporting artefacts (data sets, structures and schemas) enabling intermodal interoperability for the railway consignment notes
Mr. Kagisho Ramatsa, UN/CEFACT expert, and Sue Probert, Chairperson, UN/CEFACT

ESCAP's position on pilot projects
Mr. Sandeep Jain, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP

Practical development and testing of eCIM/SMGS based on UN/CEFACT standards in pilot projects
Mr. Uladzimir Padalitsa, former UNECE consultant and railway data exchange expert

Panel discussion on pilot project for (1) the digitalization of a prototype consignment note, using the international standards, (2) legal aspects of the pilot project

Brief interventions on the positions of railway operators from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and Ukraine on the possible pilot projects

Signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on organization of pilot project(s) for use of electronic CIM/SMGS consignment note along selected TRACECA routes (t.b.c.)

23 May 2023

9:30 – 11:15 GMT+4 Baku

SESSION III: BEST PRACTICES IN PORT COMMUNITY SYSTEMS, INTEROPERABILITY, AND MULTIMODAL DATA EXCHANGE

Moderator: Mr. Oleg Platonov, Head of Delegation of Ukraine to UN/CEFACT

Port Community Systems and the use of UN/CEFACT standards
Mr. Nico de Cauwer, Secretary General, International Port Community System Association (IPCSA)

Building successful port community system on a transition economy's own resources
Mr. Oleksandr Fedorov, CEO of PPL 33-35, Odessa port community system

Linking port community systems to the UN/CEFACT standards and Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model to ensure interoperability in digital trade corridors
Mr. Eugene Seah, Chief Operating Officer, Port of Baku t.b.c.

Update on data exchange between Caspian ports
Marco Politi, DBA Group SpA

This session will focus on best practice experience of building port community systems from Ukraine, the Caspian Sea region, and the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA), and how this subject links to the harmonization and standardization of multimodal digital data and document exchange along the supply chain.

11:15 – 11:30 GMT+4 Baku

COFFEE BREAK

11:30 – 12:30 GMT+4 Baku

Linking public and private, business and regulatory (Customs) information flows
Mr. Oleg Nikolaychuk, Deputy Head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitization (CDTO)

Possible use of the UN/CEFACT standards for air cargo documents in pilot projects
Mr. Elkhan Nahmadov, Deputy Regional Director, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), European and North Atlantic Office

A new approach to implementing UN/CEFACT standards and tools in the Middle Corridor to simplify trade procedures: the case of SMART WAY
Mr. Igbal Babayev, expert, Azerbaijan

12:30 – 13:30 GMT+4 Baku

LUNCH

13:30 – 15:00 GMT+4 Baku

SESSION IV: PARTNERSHIP DIALOGUE: POSSIBILITES FOR FUNDING IMPLEMENTATOIN PROJECTS

Partnerships and synergies in support of implementation pilot projects
Moderator: Mr. Mario Apostolov, Regional Adviser, UNECE ECTD

Representatives of the European Union, EU member States, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, China, Switzerland, Norway, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, ICAO, IMO, ADB, IPCSA, IsDB, World Bank, EBRD, USAID, GIZ, TIKA, JAICA, TRACECA, GUAM, CIT, UIC, FIATA, IATA, the Middle Corridor, and other organizations are invited for this discussion.

UN/CEFACT Recommendation 41: Public-Private Partnerships in Trade Facilitation
Ms. Kamola Khusnutdinova, Economic Affairs Officer, UNECE Economic Cooperation and Trade Division

Pathway to deploy eFTI in the non-EU countries: Insights from the EU4Digital Facility, Phase 2
Mr. Arturas Piliponis, EU4Digital Facility Team Leader, EY Digital and Technology Leader for EU institutions

Collaboration with EU4Digital, phase 2
Mr. Tofig Babayev, Azerbaijan

Cooperation in the framework of TCA's "Increased Trade across Trans-Caspian corridor objective"
Ms Aizhan Beiseyeva, DAI, USAID contractor

15:00 – 15:15 GMT+4 Baku

COFFEE BREAK

15:15 – 17:30 GMT+4 Baku

CLOSING SESSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The conclusions of this seminar will address further steps in the development of practical pilot projects for the digitalization of multimodal data and document exchange using global standards.

Registration

Participation online Participation in Baku

For more information, please contact:

Agenda issues
Mr. Mario Apostolov,
Regional Adviser, UNECE Economic Cooperation and Trade Division

+41 22 917 11 34
mario.apostolov@un.org

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