UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

 

Expert Group Meeting  

 

“Strengthening Partnerships for Development through Enhanced Regional Trade”

 

21-22 January 2009

United Nations Conference Centre, Room B

Bangkok, Thailand

 

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

 

SEGMENT I:  Establishing a UN Network of Experts for Paperless Trade in Asia and the
Pacific (UN NExT)

Session One: Introduction of the UN NExT

 

Introductory remarks

Mr. Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Trade and Investment Division, ESCAP

 

Presentation of the structure and work programme of the UN NExT, including its mission, objectives, activities, participation, contribution by participants

 

Ms. Maria Misovicova, Economic Affairs Officer, Trade Facilitation Section, Trade and Investment Division,

ESCAP

Mr. Markus Pikart, Economic Affairs Officer, Global Trade Solutions Branch, Trade and Timber Division, UNECE

 

Session Two: Brain-storming Session on the Structure and Work Programme of the UN NExT

 

 

                        Presentation of the final text of the Terms of Reference of the UN NExT.

 

Thursday, 22 January 2009

 

 

SEGMENT II:     Enhancing Partnerships for Trade Facilitation in Perishable Food Products

                       

 

Introductory remarks by Mr. Ravi Ratnayake, Director, Trade and Investment Division, ESCAP

 

Session 1:       Issues and Challenges in Trade Facilitation for Perishable Food Products

 

Key constraints to trade in perishable food products in the region and suggested trade facilitation measures to

address them by Ms. Shamika Sirimanne, Chief, Trade Facilitation Section, Trade and Investment Division,

ESCAP

 

Perspective of the Business Community

·         Mr. Poj Aramwattananont, President, Thai Frozen Foods Association, Thailand

·         Mr. Guoquan Liu, Chairman of Board, Qianxi Golden land Sweet Chestnut Food Co., Ltd, People’s Republic of China

·         Ms. Tui Pakarat Rutten, Vice-President, Cambodia Freight Forwarders Association, Cambodia

·         Ms. Dhanashree Shukla, Director, Farmpack, India

 

Discussion: Mr. Amitava Mukherjee, Head of Asian and Pacific Center for Agriculture Engineering and Machinery (APCAEM), People’s Republic of China

 

10:30 – 10:45     Coffee break

 

Session 2:       Perspectives of Governments

 

10:45 – 12:00     Presenters:

·   Mr. T.A. Khan, UN/CEFACT Vice-Chairman, Deputy Director General, NIC, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India

·   Mr. P. Ajantha Dias, Director, Sri Lanka Customs, Colombo, Sri Lanka

·   Mr. Suriyon Thunkijjanukij, Director, Logistics Strategic Section, National Economic and Social Development Board, Thailand

                       

                        Q&A

 

12:00 – 13:00     Lunch break

 

Session 3:       Solutions and Case Studies     

 

13:00 – 14:15     Presenters:

·   Mr. Jonathan Koh, Director, Solutions & Consulting, CrimsonLogic Pte Ltd., Singapore

·   Mr. Ian Watt, Project Manager, Head of the Australian Delegation to UN/CEFACT, Project Manager, Applied Electronic Commerce, Australia

·   Mr. Somnuk Keretho, Advisor, on Thailand e-Logistics, Institute for Information Technology Innovation, Kasetsart University, Thailand

 

Session 4:       The Way Forward: Recommendations and conclusions

 

14:30 – 15:00     Presenters:

·   Mr. T.A. Khan, India

·   Ms. Tui Pakarat Rutten, Cambodia

·   Mr. Florian Alburo, Philippines

·   Ms. Shamika Sirimanne, ESCAP

                       

15:00 – 16:00     Wrap-up discussion

 

16:00                Close of the meeting