18TH APEC TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP MEETING
MIYAZAKI, JAPAN, 16 October 2000
Present:
Representatives from the following economies attended the meeting:
Australia; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and United States of America.
Welcome and Introductory Comments:
Ms Poh Aye Tan opened the meeting and welcomed all present and thanked them for their attendance, particularly Mr John Daly, an industry representative from Hong Kong, China, and Mr Chris Wall, an Australian delegate to the SCCP. Ms Tan noted that for the first time the TEL WG through Mr Daly and the SCCP, through Mr Wall, were participating at a TPT-WG EC meeting. This participation is particularly relevant for work on the paperless trading initiative and is in line with Trade Ministers¡¦ call for closer collaboration between APEC sub-fora to deliver the paperless trading goals.
Mr Daly briefed the meeting on relevant activities of the recent TEL meeting and gave a powerpoint presentation on e-commerce in the intermodal transport environment. Some of the issues highlighted in Mr Daly¡¦s presentation included: the increased need for integration of data as a result of the growth of intermodalism and greater automation; the complexities that currently exist in transport operational information systems such as IATA formats as well as messaging standards; options for integration solutions such as a centralised message broker for cargo hubs; and message security issues.
Mr Chris Wall reported on the SCCP¡¦s work on paperless trading. Mr Wall acknowledged the need to exchange information and provide updates on the paperless trading work between the two fora to avoid duplication. The SCCP has developed a paperless trading matrix under its Collective Action Plan on paperless trading. This matrix will draw on responses to a questionnaire concerning customs specific issues and can be viewed as a sub-set of the APEC ECSG matrix. It will be used to assist customs administrations in APEC economies to identify their priorities and develop action and implementation plans using a self-help approach. The project also includes funding for a consultant to assist each administration to identify the best way of automating, in line with individual action plans.
The meeting considered the following papers issued by Australia for TPT-WG18:
(1) Progress Report on the APEC Paperless Trading Initiative
(2) Final Report on Phase 1 of the Program to Assist the Implementation of Electronic Commerce for Commercial Messages (including consideration of follow-on action).
(3) Progress Report on the project HRD Steering Committee¡¦s Pilot Electronic Commerce Training in Maritime Transport (for information of the Electronic Commerce Group)
(4) Progress Report on the Port Expert Group¡¦s Electronic Port Manifest Project
(for information of the Electronic Commerce Group)(5) Progress Report on the APEC Paperless Trading Demonstration Project.
(6) Future Work Program of the Electronic Commerce Group & Transportation Ministers Meeting in Peru 2001.
1. Progress report on the APEC Paperless Trading Initiative
The meeting noted the progress report including the outcomes of the Darwin Ministerial Meeting and the 2nd ECSG meeting held in Thailand in July 2000 as well as the current status of the ECSG paperless trading matrix and preparation for the high level paperless trading symposium to be hosted by China in February 2001. Economies agreed to provide the TPT-WG input for the final questionnaire, which will be circulated to ECSG members soon. Results are to be reported to SOM1 in 2001. The input will be provided through the ECSG economy members.
Recommendation: The progress of the paperless trading initiative be noted and all economies be encouraged to respond to the final questionnaire for the ECSG matrix.
2. Final Report on Phase 1 of The Program to Assist the Implementation of Electronic Commerce for Commercial Messages
The meeting noted that this electronic commerce awareness-raising project has been delivered in all eight participating economies.
Economies agreed to provide comments on a new project concept based on the recommendations of the consultant. The project will seek to improve communication and information exchange in the transportation chain through the establishment of port communities using a generic port community web site.
Mr James Goh from United Parcel Services cited Singapore Port Net as an example of a port community web site.
Recommendation:
(1) The final report on Phase 1 of Program to Assist the Implementation of Electronic Commerce for Commercial Messages be endorsed.
(2) In light of latest developments in the field of electronic commerce, economies agree not to proceed with the implementation of EDI systems as originally envisaged for Phases 2 and 3 of the project.
(3) Economies are asked to provide comments and suggestions to Australia on an appropriate follow on project, which would improve communication and information exchange in the transportation chain through the establishment of port communities using a generic port community web site by end November 2000.
3. Pilot Electronic Commerce Training in Maritime Transport
The meeting noted that Carley Corporation (Orlando, Florida, USA) has been selected as consultant for this Internet-based training project. Australia briefed the meeting on progress to date. New Zealand; Hong Kong, China; Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and Mexico confirmed they will be participating in the project. The training is expected to commence in March 2001.
Recommendation: The progress report be noted.
4. Towards A Joint Electronic Document For Port Manifests And Customs Declarations
The Electronic Commerce Group noted the progress report on the Port Experts Group project, which received funding approval from BMC in July and which will commence in July 2001. The Electronic Commerce Group supports the Port Experts Group¡¦s involvement in electronic commerce issues and notes that the proposed project would complement the work of the APEC Paperless Trading Initiative.
Recommendation: The progress report on the project be noted.
5. APEC Paperless Trading Demonstration Project.
Ms Tan advised the meeting of the successful TILF funding application and Australia¡¦s intention to commence planning for the implementation of the project in 2001. The RFP for the project will be finalised at TPT-WG19. Economies acknowledged the significance of the project in demonstrating the beneficial aspects of paperless trading in a critical economic sector ¡V trade between APEC economies.
Participation in the SANCRT trial is open to all APEC businesses currently using SANCRT and will involve at least 4 APEC economies. Australia called upon economies who wish to participate in the project to provide details of businesses currently using SANCRT as part of their trade within APEC. This information will help Australia to identify APEC trading partners to participate in the SANCRT trial. All parties, including the SCCP and APEC health and quarantine authorities, will be advised on developments relating to the project.
Recommendation: The progress report be noted and economies which want to participate in the SANCRT trial, are asked to advise Australia by end November 2000.
6. Future Work Program of the Electronic Commerce Group and Transportation Ministers Meeting in Peru 2001
The meeting agreed that the 2001 Ministerial meeting would provide an opportune time to review the Group¡¦s work program and its future. Ms Tan briefed on the options identified in the Australian paper. Economies agreed to provide comments to Australia by 22 December 2000. Australia will prepare a further report for
TPT-WG19. Members noted APEC¡¦s increasing focus on electronic commerce related issues such as the new economy, human resources development and end-to-end e-commerce business models.
Recommendation: Economies are asked to provide comments on the future TPT-WG electronic commerce work program to Australia by 22 December 2000.
Other Business
The meeting agreed to support the ITS Group¡¦s proposal to develop a demonstration project proposal involving the ITS Group, the Intermodal Task Force and the Electronic Commerce Group for consideration by Ministers at the Peru meeting next year.
A representative from the Airports Council International for the Pacific Region, Mr Tsuneaki Iki, briefed the meeting on electronic commerce initiatives in the airport industry. ACI members are involved in a number of electronic commerce projects, including a B2B e-procurement and supply chain project between groups of airports and their suppliers for purchase of new and used equipment and materials; and a B2C application involving on-line purchase of duty free products.
Conclusion
Australia thanked all delegates for their contribution to the meeting including the representatives from the SCCP, TEL and the aviation industry.
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