MI ORGANIZES WORKSHOP ON NATIONAL SINGLE WINDOWS OF THE MEKONG COUNTRIES

Trade and Investment Facilitation

To present the highlights of research results among relevant stakeholders, Mekong Institute (MI) organized an online validation workshop on the study titled ‘Implementation of National Single Windows (NSWs) in the Mekong Countries and Operability with the ASEAN Single Window (ASW)’ on January 21, 2022.

The online workshop aimed to present and validate the findings and recommendations of the study with relevant stakeholders from the four Mekong countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam and to obtain perspectives and discuss pertinent issues related to NSWs of the Mekong region and their interoperability with ASW. 

The workshop was attended by 80 participants from the four Mekong countries, other developing countries, and experts from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific and GIZ. The participants were from the respective countries customs department and other relevant government agencies, such as the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Industry, and Council for Development of Cambodia. Other participants were representing logistics and business associations, such as the Cambodia Logistics Association and Thai Chamber of Commerce, institutes and organizations working under government departments, logistics and transport companies, and other companies engaged in export and import businesses.

MI shared to the participants some of the key highlights of the study, particularly the issues related to NSWs of the Mekong countries and their interoperability via ASW. Based on the study, the pressing concerns on the implementation of NSWs are related to the low awareness of the relevant sectors, shortage of technical manpower, and the lack of understanding and cooperation to facilitate interlinkages, among other issues.

During the workshop, the participants also shared and discussed on the current status of their respective NSWs, their perspectives on the full operationalization of NSWs, and the ways to enhance effectiveness of the NSWs and their interoperability with ASW.

Commissioned by the ASEAN Economic Ministers – Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (AEM-METI) Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) Secretariat in Bangkok, Thailand, the study was conducted by a research team from MI along with country experts.

The study will be refined with the inputs from the workshop and will be submitted by MI to AMEICC, who will take it to the next level by sharing the results with the countries.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.