Members of the TPT-WG are pleased
to take the opportunity to contribute to the work program on electronic commerce as
directed by Leaders in November 1997. Members of the TPT-WG are committed to facilitating
the extension of electronic commerce in the transportation and related trading sectors
within APEC. The TPT-WG will endeavour through the cooperative efforts of its members to
deliver a number of concrete outcomes to increase the take up of electronic commerce.
To give force to this commitment, the
TPT-WG is proposing the following activities directed to expanding the uptake and
facilitating the use and benefits of electronic commerce in the transport and related
trading sectors within APEC.
Development of action priorities for
TPT-WG member economies with a defined timetable of work. These action priorities will
take account of the needs of member economies, recognising the different circumstances of
each, and will seek to achieve concrete outcomes through activities directed to the
removal of barriers to electronic commerce implementation in the transportation and
related trading sectors. These include effective education and awareness programs and
assistance with trialing electronic commerce facilities best suited to individual
businesses. A draft of the action priorities is to be considered at the 14th meeting of the TPT-WG later in 1998.
Extension of a project, funded by
Australia, to assist the implementation of electronic commerce by businesses, including
SME’s, in the APEC region. The TPT-WG commenced that project in 1993 which included
identifying barriers to the take up of EDI. The primary barrier was identified as the
requirements, both legislative and institutional, in many economies for transport and
trade related documentation to be in paper form. The TPT-WG has prepared an issues paper
for the Leaders Task Force on paperless trading to facilitate the achievement of the
TPT-WG members goal of removal of all barriers to paperless trading in the transport and
related trade sector by 2005.
The final (and current) stage of the
project involves trialing commercial messages between businesses in the APEC region. The
TPT-WG has submitted a proposal for APEC funding to extend this project to a wider range
of businesses, including SME’s, within the region. Within the context of the Leaders
electronic commerce program, this project will help meet the identified need for pilot and
demonstration projects to demonstrate the benefits of electronic commerce between
businesses, particularly for SME’s.
TPT-WG members have agreed to give
priority in the TPT-WG’s human resource development activities directed to equipping
businesses and individuals to use electronic commerce effectively and to exploring the
opportunities for interactive internet based delivery of training needs.
The TPT-WG proposes to establish an
internet website which will be used as the primary method for carrying out the work of the
TPT-WG and of publishing the results of that work.
TPT-WG recommendations on further action
by Leaders
Recognising the limits to the areas of
government and business it can seek to influence, the TPT-WG recommends that, in
considering its electronic commerce work program, Leaders consider the following actions:
A commitment by all economies to the
removal of institutional and regulatory barriers to electronic commerce across all
business and government sectors related to trade and transportation and a request that all
working groups identify and address any barriers which exist within those areas for which
they are responsible.
Endorsement of the appropriateness of,
and priority for, the establishment of business/government partnerships where they are
critical to progressing electronic commerce implementation (for example, between customs
authorities, shipping companies and freight forwarders)
Endorsement of the leadership role of
government and APEC economies in developing electronic commerce by using it as the primary
method of communication between member economies in their APEC work (for example through
the establishment and use of web sites for all meeting arrangements, working papers and
publication of reports).
A commitment within the APEC region to
develop electronic commerce using recognised and accepted international standards for
equipment and messages to ensure APEC businesses are able to compete effectively within
the region and with other parts of the world.
This page was last updated on 10 Aug, 2006
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