A. General Information
Asia-Pacific Model E-port Network (APMEN)
B. Lessons Learned
The overarching objective of APMEN is to promote supply chain connectivity and trade facilitation in the Asia-Pacific region. In compliance with international and domestic laws related to data security, APMEN endeavors to establish an information sharing network and cooperation platform with public and private stakeholders to achieve the following objectives:
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Making contributions to Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan Phase II (SCFAP II), where relevant.
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Making contributions to the APEC Connectivity Blueprint under the pillar of institutional connectivity.
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Making contributions to Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) implementation where relevant.
APEC has recognized the key importance of supply chain connectivity and trade facilitation in achieving free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific. In 2010, APEC Leaders committed to “address impediments to moving goods and services through Asia-Pacific supply-chains …with a view to achieving an APEC-wide target of a ten percent improvement in supply-chain performance by 2015”. The 24th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) adopted Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan (SCFAP) II 2017-2020 with the goal “to reduce trade costs across supply chains and to improve supply chain reliability in supporting the competitiveness of business in the Asia-Pacific region.” APEC Connectivity Blueprint 2015-2025 focuses on the physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity. The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which was concluded in 2013 and entered into force in February 2017, also highlighted trade facilitation as a key issue for global trade.
Nowadays with the introduction and application of new technology developments opportunities have been created for improving regional supply chain connectivity. One potential solution to promote connectivity and improve business environment is E-port. The 2014 Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) noted that successful E-port framework could be one of the effective underlying solutions for helping APEC economies implement their Single Window programs. An E-port provides: 1) effective infrastructural ICT solution to enable the realization of modernizing manual paper-based trade to “digitalized” paperless trade; 2) integrated trade facilitation measures, such as “one-stop shop” services; and 3) mechanism to enable Public Private Partnership (PPP) for intra-agency, inter-agency and inter-economy coordination on cross-border supply chain management.
The focused areas of APMEN are as follows:
- Conduct information sharing on model E-Ports, including public-private dialogues and workshops to raise understanding of E-ports.
- Carry out case studies on how economies are using ICT infrastructure for trade facilitation and supply chain performance improvement.
- Carry out research to identify potential actions to improve supply chain interconnectivity and interoperability, including challenges, such as supply chain data exchange tools and standards, data visibility and mutual recognition of regulations.
- Conduct targeted capacity building activities and technical assistance. Private sectors, relevant international institutions and other interested stakeholders will be encouraged to contribute to this process based on non-member-participation procedures.
- Explore pilot projects in specific areas of model E-Ports.
- Put APMEN Implementation Measures for SCFAP II into practice and conduct solutions to the chokepoint 1, 2 and 4 of SCFAP II.
- Collaborate with other APEC fora such as APEC Secretariat, PSU, SCCP, TPTWG, ABAC, PECC, and other stakeholders as relevant.
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Sea Freight Logistics information such as export events(container receipt, customs status, load containers to vessel, vessel depart) and import events(vessel arrival, unload containers from vessel, customs status, container departs the port)
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Air Freight Logistics information such as airway bill
APMEN welcomes Ports or E-ports from APEC Economies to join, including but not limited to:
- Public Sector: units or sectors in charge of international trade in APEC economies; units or sectors in charge of Single Window System or E-Port in APEC economies.
- Private Sector: management companies on E-Port; Port operation companies; cargo hubs operation companies, service providers for Single Window System or E-Ports.
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List of APMEN Members:
Currently APMEN has 19 members from 11 APEC economies.
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Improve CT infrastructure and expand services capacity for each economy
through information sharing, cooperation and capacity building.
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Engage local governments of cargo hubs to participate in APEC and to gain
knowledge and explore cooperation opportunities through APEC’s platform.
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Develop “one‐stop‐shop” ICT service capacity at operational level through
3rd party ICT infrastructural platform to fulfil needs of all public and
private sector stakeholders.
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Catalyze improvement of supply chain efficiency and integration of
regional supply‐chain through realizing data visibility for all stakeholders.
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Extend value added ICT service to enterprise: such as cross-border Supply Chain Management solutions and inquiry tools of Free Trade Agreement Preferential Tariffs.