Data mapping between selected business documents used in multimodal data and document exchange and regulatory information systems, such as Single Window and Customs systems
During this consultancy project, the Consultant analyzed the data requirements in a sample transport document aligned to the UN/CEFACT Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model (MMT RDM), the European Union Customs Data Model (EUCDM) and the WCO Data Model. The objective was to produce data mapping between these instruments, with a view to propose practical solution for using in regulatory information systems (such as regulatory Single Window, Customs systems) the information in the package of standards for the digitalization of multimodal transport data and document exchange.
UNTTC Training course on UN/CEFACT Standards
The UNTTC Training course on UN/CEFACT Standards was developed as part of the United Nations response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic under the United Nations multiagency project “Transport and Trade Connectivity in the Age of Pandemics: UN solutions for contactless, seamless and collaborative transport and trade”.
BUILDING CAPACITY TO MANAGE RISKS AND ENHANCE RESILIENCE A Guidebook for Ports
The guidebook presents a step-by-step approach to resilience building in the maritime supply chain. It sets out risk identification, assessment and management tools and techniques, and describes a resilience-building process for ports.
The guidebook emphasizes lessons learned and good practices and highlights relevant measures that can be implemented to prepare, respond and recover from disruptions.
Resilient Maritime Logistics Website
The Resilient Maritime Logistics website (https://resilientmaritimelogistics.unctad.org) hosts a guidebook for ports aiming at Building Capacity to Manage Risks and Enhance Resilience. It features risk identification, assessment, and management tools and approaches, case studies, good practices and a step-by-step resilience-building process for ports and other relevant maritime supply chain actors. The guidance focuses on three types of resilience-building actions and measures, namely:
- Before a disruption materializes.
- During a disruption.
- After a disruption.
A course structured around six modules and focusing on Port and Maritime Supply Chain Resilience accompanies the guidance on this website. The training will help to better understand the importance of well-functioning maritime supply chains and ports for highly interdependent world economies and the need to build their resilience in the face of heightened, uncertainty and disruptions.
The Resilient Maritime Logistics website and related content and material aim to help stakeholders across the maritime supply chain to better manage risks, prepare in the face of disruptions, ensure effective response measures and enable rapid recovery. Targeted stakeholders include (i) governmental planning and regulatory agencies; (ii) port authorities; (iii) port operators and port management companies; (iv) terminal operators; (v) infrastructure managers; (vi) freight forwarders; (vii) customs authorities; (viii) carriers and shipping companies; (ix) shippers and cargo owners; and (x) inland carriers and inland logistics operators (e.g. dry ports, inland container depots, warehouses, logistics and distribution centres). Collaboration between each of these stakeholders is critical for maritime supply chain agility and resilience-building.
UNCTAD course on ports and maritime supply chain resilience
UNCTAD's course on Ports and Maritime Supply Chain Resilience aims to help improve understanding of the key issues at the interface of maritime transport and resilience-building. With disruptions to transport and logistics occurring more frequently, it is crucial to build the capacity to anticipate, prepare, respond, and recover from risks and events disrupting the maritime supply chain.
The training will allow participants to:
- Gain a general overview of the maritime supply chain and improve awareness of its strategic role in trade and development.
- Understand the risks and disruptions facing the maritime supply chain, and their potential implications.
- Become familiar with risk management and resilience concepts and learn what actions are required to better prepare and anticipate disruptions, manage risks, respond to disruptive events, and recover.
- Develop the capacity to plan for emergency responses and to integrate risk management into relevant processes and plans.
- Learn from others and their experiences and get acquainted with existing tools and instruments that can help manage risks and build resilience.
UNCTAD Policy Brief No. 93, Emerging strategies for ports during the pandemic
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on humankind and on global commerce. Ports and port communities have experienced major changes to normal operating environments.
The strategies used by ports to remain open and continue to facilitate sustainable economic development throughout the pandemic may provide useful lessons for policymakers, particularly in relation to the protocols and innovative measures that have been employed to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the movement of imports and exports as well as ships’ crew and essential port workers.
Key points:
- Ports are essential facilitators of world trade
- Public health advice is crucial in mitigating the impact of pandemics
- Government policy and regulation is required to support port operations during pandemics
COVID-19 and Maritime Trasport: Navigating the Crisis and Lessons Learned
UNCTAD's report "Covid-19 and maritime transport: Navigating the crisis and lessons learned" describes how the COVID-19 pandemic shocked the global maritime transport system and some of the key effects on the sector. It highlights challenges arising from the disruption across ports and hinterland connections and examines response and mitigation measures implemented by various stakeholders. It sets out the key lessons that can inform and guide preparedness and resilience-building efforts in transport and logistics.
How to develop real world electronic document equivalents using UN/CEFACT standards and reference data models
The digitalization of the supply chain is the dominant trend in international trade and transport at present and the main tool for facilitating trade procedures. Due to the essence of the supply chain as a process of interaction between many parties within many jurisdictions, ensuring interoperability plays a key role both in the supply chain and in the digitalization processes. In this regard, the development, maintenance and adoption of standards at the international level play an extremely important role. This explains the continued focus on standardization in trade and transport facilitation by UN institutions: notably, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT).
(EN&RU) Guide to the Implementation of Art. 1 para. 3 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement: Trade Facilitation Enquiry Points
The World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) entered into force on 22 February 2017. The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) defines trade facilitation as “the simplification, harmonization and standardization of the procedures and associated information flows required to move goods and provide related services from seller to buyer such as payments”1. Trade facilitation can help simplify, standardize, harmonize, and modernize international cross-border trade, thereby increasing trade volumes and making international trade faster and cheaper, as well as more accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and landlocked developing countries. Trade and trade facilitation have the potential to contribute to resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery after the pandemic.
According to Art.1 of the TFA, WTO members shall promptly publish information related to international trade to enable WTO members (and all interested parties, accordingly) to acquaint each other with their trade rules and ensure transparent and predictable conditions of international trade. WTO members are also encouraged to make available further trade-related information on the Internet and to establish or maintain enquiry points. In compliance with TFA Art. 1.3 these enquiry points should provide the necessary information.
How to develop real world electronic document equivalents using UN/CEFACT standards and reference data models
The digitalization of the supply chain is the dominant trend in international trade and transport at present and the main tool for facilitating trade procedures. Due to the essence of the supply chain as a process of interaction between many parties within many jurisdictions, ensuring interoperability plays a key role both in the supply chain and in the digitalization processes. In this regard, the development, maintenance and adoption of standards at the international level play an extremely important role. This explains the continued focus on standardization in trade and transport facilitation by UN institutions: notably, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT).