(In collaboration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Thailand; Duration: May 2023 – June 2024)
PROJECT BACKGROUND
As the ACMECS Countries rapidly develop, international trade and investment are becoming critical factors for the region to achieve economic growth and improve living standards. Efficient border trade facilitation, reducing time and costs at borders, is crucial for the smooth flow of goods. Seamless cross-border trade can enhance economic integration, support startups, create jobs, and reduce development gaps among ACMECS nations.
During the 9 TH ACMECS summit, the emphasis was on using technology in cross-border trade, standardizing rules and regulations, and developing electronic platforms for MSMEs to boost entrepreneurial capacity and job creation. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) aims to reduce customs clearance times and deploy digital systems, highlighting the need for harmonized and coordinated customs procedures. To address these issues, ACMECS proposes a regional project to synchronize rules and regulations for facilitating cross-border trade.
TARGET GROUPS
The project targets the Private, Public and Government Sectors across the ACMECS countries. Beneficiaries include importers-exporters, freight forwarders, transportation businesses, MSMEs and startups, Government officials and related agencies, etc.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The regional branding project aims to facilitate cross border trade and investment for seamless trade among the ACMECs member countries. The specific objectives are:
- To assess feasibility of Common Control Areas (CCA) among ACMECS countries to support Cross Border Trade Facilitation;
- To establish of an information hub for operational online business;
- To pilot ACMECS paperless trade solutions and Intergovernmental agreement on the facilitation of cross-border paperless trade; To develop guidelines on an ICT Framework for promoting the interconnected Smart Sustainable Cities among ACMECS member countries;
- To get modern technology in producing value added coconut products to generate income and competitiveness of small coconut producers in ACMECS Countries.
PROJECT OUTCOMES & ACTIVITIES
Outcomes
The project aims to enhance cross-border trade facilitation and economic integration among ACMECS countries by focusing on different outcomes in the 5 ACMECS countries according to the identified specific needs of each area: Outcome 1: Assessed feasibility of Common Control Areas/CCA among ACMECS countries to support Cross-Border Trade Facilitation, Lao PDR; Outcome2:EnhancedCrossBorderDigitalTrade, Cambodia; Outcome 3: Improved Cross-Border Paperless Trade Measures, Thailand; Outcome 4: Acquired technology for producing quality coconut products and access to international markets, Myanmar.
- Collecting data at Laos-Thailand Border;
- Data evaluation and consultation meeting;
- Consolidation meeting to review and prepare workplan for potential CCA set up and other related collaboration with Vietnam (MOIT);
- Evaluation workshop.
- Assessing selected locations and preparing for the workshop;
Study visits to Republic of Korea;
Regional Workshop on Enhanced Cross Border Digital Trade;
Sharing and dissemination of the outcome.
- Capacity building program for coconut growers, associations and clusters in the form of targeted trainings and workshops;
- Participation in relevant international and domestic trade fairs, and business matching events;
- Study visits to ACMECS member countries.
- Preparation for collecting data process in Nakhon Phanom province;
- Field study for collecting, analyzing and synthesizing primary data in Nakhon Phanom;
- Trust building in order to start the MoU process;
- Collecting, analyzing and synthesizing of data based on the cross-border trade procedures among the R12 route; Brainstorming meeting in Nakhon Phanom province targeting related government agencies, importers-exporters, logistics, and freight forwarders;
- Collecting feedback from a focus group discussion and re-designing the website; Finalizing the website and developing website manual;
- Conducting training program for stakeholders from Vietnam, Laos, Thailand; Conducting report and policy recommendations.
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Successful coordination with 27 PIAs across5ACMECScountries;
- More than 350 participants from relevant associations and clusters, 180 officials, delegates and other stakeholders involved;
- Strengthened Public-Private partnerships among stakeholders involved in cross-border trade;
- Publication of a Guidebook on cross border digital trade in ACMECS countries;
- Development of the MoU between ACMECS Governments and preparation of a workplan for potential CCA set up and related collaboration;
- Creation of the “Digital Platform and Community” on paperless trade measuremen over the R12 route.
PROJECT RESULT
Lao PDR
- Reliance on paper-based documentation despite digital systems like the National Single Window , complicating the trade process;
- Need for unified online document system to streamline customs procedures and reduce clearance times.
Cambodia
- Disparities in customs clearance procedures and regulations among ACMECS countries hinder cross-border trade efficiency;
- Effective collaborative learning facilitated the exchange of best practices and
advancements in cross-border electronic trade.
Thailand
- Lack of a clear digital transformation plan for synchronizing customs procedures and legal standards;
- Effective stakeholder collaboration facilitated valuable insights and collaboration among stakeholders in Thailand ,and Lao PDR.
Myanmar
- The lack of access to modern technology and techniques for producing quality coconut products limited the coconut industry throughout the value chain, hindering industry diversification and export to international markets;
- Limited interaction and knowledge exchange with coconut industries in neighboring ACMECS member countries, such as Thailand, constrained opportunities for local stakeholders for learning best practices.
Download the project summary, click here.