UNNExT Organizational Structure

UNNExT Secretariat

The Secretariat of the network is provided by ESCAP (Trade Facilitation Section, Trade and Investment Division), in collaboration with UNECE (Global Trade Solutions Section, Trade Division).


UNNExT Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee provides guidance on the work programme and activities of the network; promotes the network as a multi-stakeholder knowledge platform; and identifies potential synergies between the network and other trade facilitation institutions.

     Members of the UNNExT Advisory Committee 2010-11

  • Mr. Tahseen Ahmed Khan, UN/CEFACT Vice Chair and DDG, MICT, India
  • Mr. Sang-Bee Shim, Director of Paperless Trade Office, Korea (Rep. of)
  • Mr. Hisanao Sugamata, Secretary General, EDI Council, Japan
  • Ms. Mee Wan Wong, Senior Assistant Director, Customs Department, Malaysia
  • Mr. Khemdeth Sihavong, DDG, MIC, Lao PDR
  • Dr. Somnuk Keretho, Director, IITI, Kasetsart University, Thailand
  • Mr. P. Ajantha Dias, Additional DG of Customs, Sri Lanka
  • Prof. Hong Xue, Professor of Law and Director, IIPL, Beijing, China
  • Mr. Koh Tat Tsen, Director, Crimson Logic, Singapore
  • Mr. Demberel Sambuu, Chairman and CEO, MNCCI, Mongolia
  • Prof. Igbal Babayev, Chief, Customs Department, Azerbaijan
  • Ms. Anarkan Rakhmanova, DG, Ministry of ED & Trade, Kyrgyzstan

UNNExT Core Group of Experts

Experts of the core group are directly involved in delivering UNNExT activities, including as members of Advisory Groups established to build capacity in specific areas (See work programme) . They include:

  • Legal experts
  • Data harmonization experts
  • Process Analysis experts
  • Trade facilitation research [data and indicators] experts
  • Customs and Trade; and Transit logistics experts
  • Trade facilitation capacity building and training experts
  • Trade and Transport Facilitation; Institutional; and Public-Private Sector Partnership experts

UNNExT National Focal Points (NFPs)

The NFPs identify local experts and institutions that play a key role in trade facilitation; provide national updates on progress made towards paperless trade and trade facilitation; and disseminate UNNExT tools and information to relevant national stakeholders.

UNNExT Members

Individuals from the national governments, private sector and academia can become members of UNNExT. Benefits from UNNExT membership include:

  • Opportunities for capacity building and networking
  • Easy access to updated information and knowledge on trade facilitation in Asia and the Pacific Members are selected based on following criteria:
  • Evidence that the applicant is actively involved in trade facilitation and e-trade related projects, or that he/she can contribute to the mission and objectives of the network.
  • Individuals who completed a UNNExT training-of-trainers programme and subsequently conducted national-level training.

UNNExT Collaborators

Relevant organizations with which ESCAP and UNECE collaborate include: the World Customs Organization (WCO), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, etc.