Greater Mekong Subregion

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GMS Sector Activities
Trade

Read the Subregional Trade Facilitation Working Group Terms of Reference [ PDF: 26kb | 2 pages ].

For more information on the GMS Business Forum, visit www.gmsbizforum.com.

Trade Archive

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Fifth Working Group Meeting on Trade Facilitation (TFWG-5) (Bangkok, Thailand, 16-17 May 2007)

The Fifth GMS Trade Facilitation Meeting (TFWG-5) held on 16-17 May 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand was attended by the six GMS countries, representatives from development partners and the private sector. The TFWG-5 discussed: (i) the Consultants' technical report of the ongoing RETA 6328 for Support to Trade Facilitation and Capacity Building in the GMS; and (ii) key recent developments and the role of trade facilitation activities/initiatives in the GMS Program.

Based on the Consultants' technical report, focusing on gaps analysis, the TFWG-5 identified a number of priority programs that should be addressed under the implementation of the SFA-TFI. Programs identified include: (i) Feasibility study for establishing a subregional mechanism for information sharing among GMS countries, in the areas of customs, quarantine, and business mobility, possibly through ICT investment as a long-term objective; (ii) Capacity building programs in the area of risk assessment and management, for customs, inspection and quarantine and business mobility; and (iii) Preparation of national logistics action plans that focus on domestic, regional and global trade facilitation, development of national logistics service providers, inclusive of capacity building needs assessment and possible programs.

For more details, please view entire proceedings [ PDF: 201kb | 18 pages ].

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Special TFWG-Action Plan for Trade and Investment Facilitation (Manila, Philippines, 25-26 April 2005)

The Special Meeting of the Trade Facilitation Working Group (TWFG) was held at ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines on 25-26 April 2005. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Robert Boumphrey, Director of the Governance, Finance and Trade Division of ADB’s Mekong Department. Seventeen officials from the commerce, trade, customs, immigration and quarantine agencies of the six GMS countries as well as ADB staff participated in the Meeting.

The objective of the meeting was to discuss and reach consensus on the key elements, guiding principles, strategic objectives and principal actions of the proposed Strategic Framework for Action on Trade Facilitation and Investment (SFA-TFI) in the GMS.

For more details, please view entire proceedings.

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Fourth Meeting of the Trade Facilitation Working Group (TFWG-4) (Kunming, PRC, 11-12 November 2004)

The Fourth Meeting of the Trade Facilitation Working Group (TFWG-4) was held on 11-12 November 2004 in Kunming, Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of China.

The Meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Sun Yuanjiang, Director, Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, People’s Republic of China; and Mr. Robert Boumphrey Director, and Ms. Lingling Ding, Trade Economist, Governance, Finance and Trade Division, Mekong Department (MKGF), alternating for ADB.

The principal objective of the TFWG-4 meeting was to discuss concrete initiatives in trade facilitation taking into account the four areas agreed upon at the third TFWG meeting, namely:

• improving modern border management systems (customs facilitation, transit and transport regimes, multimodal transport operations, etc.)
• developing supportive structures for GMS exporters
• developing market information networks to facilitate trade linkages
• development of e.commerce systems.

The Meeting also discussed the action plan on trade and investment facilitation referred to in the Joint Summit Declaration of the GMS Leaders at the first GMS Summit held in Phnom Penh in November 2002. Representatives from development partner organizations were invited to share information on their current and planned initiatives in trade facilitation in the GMS.

GMS senior officials responsible for trade and customs attended the Meeting. Representatives from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Japan Overseas Development Corporation (JODC), the World Bank, and the Yunnan Chamber of Commerce also attended. ADB staff and consultants also participated in the Meeting.

For more details, please view entire proceedings.

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