This report covers the results of a pilot project in the implementation of: (a) the recommendations of the 2019 and 2020 Odessa trade facilitation seminars of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) to support the development of digital multimodal transport corridors to increase the harmonization and standardization of data exchange in international transport, trade and logistics to encourage electronic data exchange and thereby to reduce person-to-person contacts during the COVID-19 crisis and in the post-pandemic recovery, using relevant standards of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), a subsidiary body of the UNECE.

The aim is to foster the harmonization of electronic data sharing using global (UN/CEFACT) standards for transport, trade and logistics, and to prepare standards for e-documents based on the UN/CEFACT semantic standards and reference data models. The focus will be on the development of electronic document equivalents for the documents mentioned above, using UN/CEFACT tools in the countries developing a digital multimodal transport corridor.

The ability to trade globally, through a seamless logistic network, moving goods across international boundaries, integrating engineering and technology from different parts of the world has been a fundamental element of the globalized trading system. Raw commodities travelling from one part of the world to be converted into plastic or metal components only to be shipped again to be manufactured and then again for assembling and distribution is something which traders and consumers alike take for granted.

The smooth flow of international trade depends entirely on the transport chain: adequate and timely supplies to manufacturers and efficient capillary distribution chains are essential ingredients of any successful business model.

The Preferential Certificate of Origin Standard Package 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”.

This electronic document equivalent Standard Package consists of the following elements:

• UML Diagram
• XSD Schema
• Guideline Structure
• HTML

The River Bill of Lading Standard Package 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”.

This electronic document equivalent Standard Package consists of the following elements:

• UML Diagram
• XSD Schema
• Guideline Structure
• HTML

The Maritime Bill of Lading Standard Package 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”.

This electronic document equivalent Standard Package consists of the following elements:

• UML Diagram
• XSD Schema
• Guideline Structure
• HTML

The CIM/SMGS Wagon List Standard Package 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”.

This electronic document equivalent Standard Package consists of the following elements:

• UML Diagram
• XSD Schema
• Guideline Structure
• HTML