InterCommerce successfully hosts 70th PAA Meeting in Manila, Cross Border Digital Trade seminar
Manila, Philippines - InterCommerce Network Services successfully hosted the 70th Pan Asian e-Commerce Alliance (PAA) Steering Committee and Working Group Meetings at Shangri-La Makati, Manila from November 11-13, 2024.
The PAA consists of 20 members representing international trade platforms involved in import/export formalities and their digitalization, as National Single Window operators and service providers authorized by Customs and trade regulatory agencies.
The meetings discussed the alliance’s digital, cross border trade platform as well as members' initiatives on trade facilitation in their respective economies. InterCommerce president and CEO Francis Lopez, also the PAA Steering Committee Meeting Chairman, welcomed participants. New PAA Chair Committee for the term 2025-2026 was also elected in the 70th PAA Steering Committee meeting. Tan Sri Dato' Sri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir Jamalullail, Executive Chairman of DagangNet was appointed the Chair; while Ibrahima Diagne, CEO of Gainde 2000, Francis Lopez, CEO of InterCommerce, and AJ Smith, CEO of TradeWindow were appointed the Deputy Chairs.
In addition to the meeting, the PAA conducted a seminar on “Enabling Cross Border Paperless Trade” on November 12, keynoted by Cheska Enriquez, Division Chief, Regional Relations and Arrangements Division, Bureau of International Trade Relations, Department of Trade and Industry, who represented acting Trade Secretary Christina Roque. Enriquez highlighted the transformative potential of paperless trade for Philippine exports.
Another keynote speaker, Yann Duval, UN ESCAP Trade Policy and Facilitation Chief, discussed updates on the Framework Agreement on Paperless Trade Facilitation, a treaty to which the Philippines is the first ASEAN country to have acceded.
Mike Yap, Vice President-Head of Group Business Development of CrimsonLogic, presented the PAA Digital Trade Platform while Somphong Assawaboonmee, Vice President of Data Inter Change Business Department at National Telecom Public Company Limited Thailand, showcased the B2B ePhyto Exchange between Thailand and the Philippines.
The transformative role of the Multimodal Cargo Community Platform in increasing trade efficiency was discussed by Vineet Malhotra, Co-Founder and Director, Kale Logistics Solutions, India.
Kaye Cheri, International Development Manager of Conex in France, emphasized the urgency of compliance to the EU Import Control System 2.
Adolfo Kang of Korea Trade Network and Project Manager of the FTA Origin Management System expressed optimism for the increased utilization of free trade agreements. He noted the launch of the FTA Information Portal scheduled during the Philippine Exporters Week in December 2024, as well as implementation of the FTA Origin Management System in mid-2025 for self-evaluation of products qualified under the different FTAs. The system will facilitate issuance of the Bureau of Customs Export Coordination Division (BOC ECD) Product Evaluation Report and the Certificate of Origin and granting of preferential treatment on Philippine Exports.
A panel discussion followed on the challenges and opportunities in digital trade as well as broader advancements in trade facilitation. It was participated in by Finance Assistant Secretary Angelica Sarmiento; BOC ECD Chief Atty. Jenny Diokno; National Plant Quarantine Service Division Chief Henrick Exconde; Super Green President and Monde Nissin official CJ Garcia; and East-West Seed Co’s Lindsey Viola.
About InterCommerce Network Services, Inc.
As the Philippines’ leading trade service provider, InterCommerce Network Services, Inc. has been instrumental in automating trade processes in trade regulatory government agencies, and recently with the development of the BOC ASEAN Customs Declaration Document and e-CO (electronic certificate of origin) portals as well as the BOC-BPI ePhyto Portal, and the exchange of document with ASEAN member states through the ASEAN Single Window. With its commitment to streamlining trade for exporters, importers, and logistics providers, InterCommerce empowers the Philippine trade sector with efficient, technology-driven solutions. By hosting this year's PAA conference, InterCommerce reinforced its dedication to advancing digital trade facilitation and supporting the development of a competitive, export-oriented economy.
About PAA
The PAA consists of twenty members representing international trade platforms involved in import/export formalities and their digitalization, as National Single Window operators and Service Providers authorized by customs and trade regulatory agencies in China, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Senegal, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It brings together the key players in international trade from each country; in Asia, they serve 350,000 government and private organizations, almost all of the commercial companies active in the territory. Together, they process several hundred million customs declarations annually. Their discussions and work aim to promote and provide secure, reliable and value-added IT infrastructure for efficient global, cross border trade and logistics.
For more information about InterCommerce and the PAA’s digital trade initiatives, please visit paa.net.