Caption: III President Cheng-Hung Cho (second from the left), the National Representative and Forum Chairperson for Taiwan in AFACT, engaged in discussions with the forum chairpersons at the 40th UN/CEFACT Forum.

Mr. Cheng-Hung Cho, President of the Institute for Information Industry (III), was invited along with expert consultants to participate in the 40th United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) Forum at the United Nations European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland from May 10th to May 12th. The forum brought together over 400 digital economy representatives and leaders from around the world to discuss and engage in dialogue on how to streamline global business processes while ensuring transparency and efficiency in trade facilitation.

The Institute for Information Industry (III) represents Taiwan in the Asia Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (AFACT). In 2022, III assumed the role of the AFACT Secretariat, with Cheng-Hung Cho, President of III, serving as the National Representative and Forum Chairperson for Taiwan in AFACT. This role involves overseeing important matters and activities related to international data standardization organizations. AFACT is the only organization outside of Europe and the Americas that has a close affiliation with and similar operational functions to UN/CEFACT. In 2017, AFACT signed a cooperative memorandum of understanding (MOU) with UN/ECE to further strengthen their collaborative relationship with UN/CEFACT.

At the 40th UN/CEFACT Forum, there was an in-depth exploration of the future of trade facilitation and electronic business, as well as how to promote sustainable development through global trade and value chain management. At the "Open Travel and Tourism" group meeting, experts from Taiwan and AFACT representatives not only delivered a report on "How to Create a Digital Ecosystem for Tourism Transformation Through Experience and Sustainability", they also attended various group meetings on topics including Single Window, Digital Documentation and Transit Trade, ESG Challenges, Global Supply Chain Resilience, Standard Data Modules, and Electronic Data Management. These meetings provided opportunities for exchanging opinions with experts from different fields of other countries.


This time, III President Cheng-Hung Cho, the National Representative and Forum Chairperson for Taiwan in AFACT, attended the 40th UN/CEFACT Forum along with AFACT expert consultants. Through exchanges with experts and scholars from various countries, they kept an eye on the achievements and developments of various international mainstream standards and established channels for Taiwanese companies to communicate with enterprises, facilitating the alignment with the international standards. In the future, as the AFACT Secretariat, III will continue to promote cross-border data exchange projects in areas such as carbon trading, sustainable agriculture and food, as well as transportation and mobility services. Additionally, III will contribute Taiwan's experience and insights in implementing data standardization as well as share and collaborate with other countries to advance cross-border data platforms and trade facilitation measures in related fields.


UN/CEFACT was established in 1996 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) with the aim of promoting the exchange and application of electronic data in line with the development of information technology and e-commerce. It is recognized as one of the most important organizations in driving global trade and information standards. UN/CEFACT organizes one annual conference and two forum meetings each year, focusing on promoting e-business and trade facilitation, as well as improving business transaction processes. Through data standardization, the organization aims to simplify the flow of international trade for various products and services.

The Asia Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (AFACT) was established in 1999 as a non-profit organization composed of government and business experts from economies in the Asia Pacific region. Taiwan is one of the founding members, and currently, AFACT consists of 20 member economies in the Asia Pacific. The objective of AFACT is to assist in promoting electronic-related policies and activities in the Asia Pacific region, particularly the standards, regulations, and recommendations developed by UN/CEFACT. AFACT is committed to guiding and promoting the electronic capacity building of its member economies in the areas of commerce, trade, and administrative organizations.
 
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Ying Shen Tel: (02) 6631-8643 yingshen@iii.org.tw