ESCAP-OECD Initiative on Digital Trade Regulatory Analysis

01 April 2021 | By invitation only

Thailand
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Regional integration is seen as a key priority by many developing countries towards achieving economic diversification, industrialization and structural transformation that are critical steps to enable sustainable growth and development. However, for the regional integration process to be successful in the 21st century, particular attention to integration into the digital economy is needed. As highlighted by ESCAP’s Digital and Sustainable Regional Integration Index (DigiSRII), removing regulatory bottlenecks and ensuring harmonization with regional regulatory frameworks will be essential for regional integration in the modern economic ecosystem.

As an extension of the research under DigiSRII, the ESCAP-OECD Initiative on Digital Trade Regulatory Analysis aims to establish a tool for policymakers and analysts in the region to compare their digital trade policies with regional trade partners. In this context, ESCAP, with technical support from OECD, will establish the Asia-Pacific database on digital-trade regulatory restrictiveness to be a resource for policy makers and policy analysts in the region to compare, benchmark, and formulate evidence-based policy strategies to enhance digital economy integration for their country.

Strategy
ESCAP and OECD, as core partners of the initiative, will provide technical support and training to regional and local researchers including potential partners to be able to collect and verify data and information on national regulations affecting digital trade environment of respective countries (ESCAP- OECD research project on Digital-trade regulatory integration in Asia-Pacific region). As a training process, the selected researchers will work on project assignments database and prepare country briefs summarizing the digital-trade regulatory profile of the country concerned under close supervision and technical guidance from ESCAP and international experts, including those from OECD. The datasets will eventually be used as inputs for the regional database including ESCAP DigiSRII and OECD DSTRI databases, the country-profile briefs will be subsequently published on the ESCAP website. The outputs will be a resource to further develop knowledge products, policy advisory services and capacity building materials as deemed fit.

Partnerships
ESCAP would like to invite interested agencies, including national institutions, working on digital economy integration of Asia-Pacific economies to partner with us in this initiative. Moving forward, ESCAP is looking for an opportunity to work with national partners to ensure that the initiative will support countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development.

Trainings and workshops
• Training for project researchers on OECD Digital Services Restrictiveness Index (DSTRI). 
• Training for project researchers on ESCAP's Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII) approach.
The training materials are available for invited participants only.

Papers and Publications
TBC

Relevant links
DSTRI

RDTII

Contact person

Please email Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka, the project coordinator, at [email protected] if you have any question.

BACK to the project

26 Nov 2020
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14:30
16:00
OECD DSTRI: An introductory briefing on OECD Digital Services Restrictiveness Index

Workshop facilitator: Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: Read the preparatory materials.

 

02 Dec 2020
14:30
16:00
ESCAP RDTII: The Brief on ESCAP's Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII) approach (Q&A and focused discussions on RDTII methodology)

Workshop Facilitators: Ms. Martina Francesca Ferracane (Consultant) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

To clarify RDTII methodology and agenda for the following months.

Pre-session assignment: Read all materials sent before joining the session.

10 Dec 2020
14:30
16:00
OECD DSTRI: Meeting to respond to questions

Workshop facilitator: Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

To discuss progress, answer questions, identify potential challenges.

Pre-session assignment: 

  • Complete the Digital STRI regulatory database for the measures under the policy areas on Infrastructure and connectivity and Electronic transactions.
  • Prepare questions in advance.

 

16 Dec 2020
14:30
16:00
ESCAP RDTII: Meeting to respond to questions on first assignment

Workshop Facilitators: Ms. Martina Francesca Ferracane (Consultant) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

To respond to questions and verify that the update is on track.

Pre-session assignment: Update current information available in the database → check sources, update sources, verify the correctness of the information (year, name of the law, impact, etc).

 

23 Dec 2020
15:00
16:30
OECD DSTRI: Meeting to respond to questions and prepare the computer services STRI activity

Workshop facilitator: Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: 

  • Complete the Digital STRI regulatory database for the measures under the policy areas on Payment systems, Intellectual property rights and Other barriers affecting trade in digitally enabled services.
  • Prepare questions the STRI framework for computer services.

 

05 Jan 2021
15:00
16:30
ESCAP RDTII: Meeting to respond to questions on the session assignments and updating Pillars 1 and 9

Workshop Facilitators: Ms. Martina Francesca Ferracane (Consultant) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: Update current information available in the database → check sources, update sources, verify correctness of information (year, name of the law, impact, etc).

 

14 Jan 2021
15:00
16:30
OECD Digital Services Restrictiveness Index (DSTRI): Meeting to finalise the draft Digital STRI database

Workshop facilitator: Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: Finalise the draft Digital STRI regulatory database.

21 Jan 2021
15:00
16:30
ESCAP RDTII: Meeting to respond to questions on Pillars 1 & 9 and updating Pillars 2 & 3

Workshop Facilitators: Ms. Martina Francesca Ferracane (Consultant) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: Update in detail Pillars 1 & 9; prepare shortlist of action points; take note of laws under discussion; verify the correctness of scores.

 

28 Jan 2021
15:00
16:30
OECD DSTRI: Meeting to respond to questions

Workshop facilitator: Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: 

  • Complete the computer services STRI regulatory database for the measures under the policy areas on Restrictions on foreign entry and Restrictions to the movement of people.
  • Prepare questions in advance.
03 Feb 2021
15:00
16:30
ESCAP RDTII: Meeting to respond to questions on Pillars 2 & 3 and updating Pillars 6 & 7

Workshop Facilitators: Ms. Martina Francesca Ferracane (Consultant) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: Update in detail Pillars 2 & 3; prepare shortlist of action points; take note of laws under discussion; verify the correctness of scores. 

11 Feb 2021
15:00
16:30
OECD DSTRI: Meeting to respond to questions

Workshop facilitator: Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: 

  • Complete the computer services STRI regulatory database for the measures under the policy areas on Other discriminatory measures, Barriers to competition, and Regulatory transparency
  • Implement comments received on the draft Digital STRI database, and submit the revised version by February 10th.
17 Feb 2021
15:00
16:30
ESCAP RDTII: Meeting to respond to questions on Pillars 6 & 7 and updating Pillars 4, 8 & 11

Facilitators: Ms. Martina Francesca Ferracane (Consultant) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka, (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignments: Update in detail Pillars 6 & 7; prepare shortlist of action points; verify the correctness of scores.

25 Feb 2021
15:00
16:30
OECD DSTRI: Meeting to finalise the draft computer services STRI database

Workshop facilitator: Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: Finalise the draft computer services STRI regulatory database, and submit it for comments before February 22nd 2021.

05 Mar 2021
15:00
16:30
ESCAP RDTII: Meeting to respond to questions on Pillars 4, 8 & 11 and updating Pillars 5 & 10

Facilitators: Ms. Martina Francesca Ferracane (Consultant) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka, (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignments: Update in detail Pillars 4, 8 & 11; prepare shortlist of action points; take note of laws under discussion; verify the correctness of scores.

11 Mar 2021
15:00
16:30
OECD DSTRI: Meeting to finalise the computer services STRI database

Workshop facilitator: Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka (ESCAP)

Pre-session assignment: Implement comments received on the draft Digital STRI database, and submit the revised version.

17 Mar 2021
15:00
16:30
ESCAP RDTII and OECD DSTRI joint meeting

Facilitators: Ms. Martina Francesca Ferracane (Consultant), Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka, (ESCAP)

ESCAP RDTII

To respond to questions on Pillars 5 & 10;  verifying and checking consistency in the parts  overlapping with OECD database.

Pre-session assignments: Update in detail Pillars 5 & 10; prepare short list of action points; take note of laws under discussion; verify correctness of scores

OECD DSTRI

To ensure consistency between RDTII and OECD STRI

Pre-session assignment: Verify consistency of information in the two databases and identify potential gaps

01 Apr 2021
15:00
16:30
[ESCAP-OECD Digital Trade Regulatory Analysis]: Final meeting

Facilitators: Ms. Martina Francesca Ferracane (Consultant), Mr. Janos Ferencz (OECD) and Ms. Witada Anukoonwattaka, (ESCAP)

Participants briefly summarize the results and comments on consistency. For those who conduct a study using both DSTRI and RDTII, please also summarize the consistency and divergence between the two datasets.

ESCAP OECD Initiative on Digital trade regulatory analysis for Asia Pacific economies
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for more information, please contact

Trade, Investment and Innovation Division +66 2 288-1234 [email protected]