The Canadian Advisory Committee to the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business

(CAC/UN/CEFACT)

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AGENDA

What is UN/CEFACT UN/CEFACT Focus UN/CEFACT Mission UN/CEFACT Partnerships Background on UN/CEFACT UN/CEFACT Structure UN/CEFACT Forums CAC/UN/CEFACT

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What is UN/CEFACT

United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)

Member Body - International Trade Canada CAC/UN/CEFACT

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UN/CEFACT Focus of Work

The worldwide facilitation of international transactions, through the simplification and harmonization of procedures and information flows

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UN/CEFACT Mission

Improve the ability of business, from all international economies, to exchange products and services effectively

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How does UN/CEFACT fulfill its mission?

Reviewing international processes, procedures and transactions

Removing constraints Developing methods to facilitate processes,

procedures and transactions, including the use of information technologies (ebXML, EDIFACT)

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How does UN/CEFACT fulfill its mission?

Promoting both the use of these methods, and associated best practices

Coordinating its work with other international organizations

Co-operating with other interested parties, including international, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations

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Partnerships with International Organizations include:

World Trade Organization (WTO) World Customs Organization (WCO) Organization for Economic Co-operation and

Development (OECD) United Nations Commission on International

Trade Law (UNCITRAL) United Nations Conference on Trade and

Development (UNCTAD)

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Electronic Business Standards Specific Partnerships

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Organization for the Advancement of Structured

Information Standards (OASIS) Selected non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

in the context of the ISO/IEC/ITU/UNECE Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

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Background

Trade facilitation recommendations and electronic business standards are vital factors in the development of world trade

Therefore central to the work of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

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Background

UNECE established UN/CEFACT to focus on these recommendations and the development of these standards

While UN/CEFACT is hosted by UNECE, it is a global organization, with participants from around the world

UN/CEFACT also has an international network of business partners (ISO, IEC, ITU, OASIS)

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UN/CEFACT Forum

Five permanent working groups

Applied Technologies Group (ATG) Information Content Management Group (ICG) Legal Group (LG) Techniques and Methodologies Group (TMG) International Trade and Business Processes

Group (TMB)

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UN/CEFACT Forum In Canada

Canada will be hosting the next Forum meeting in March 2006 (Vancouver)

For meeting information please contact me at:

hparsons@scc.ca

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The CAC/UN/CEFACT

International Trade Canada is Canada's member body to UN/CEFACT

The Standards Council of Canada coordinates Canadian participation in UN/CEFACT on behalf of International Trade Canada

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Members of CAC/UN/CEFACT

Have the opportunity to contribute to the development of Canadian positions on agenda items for UN/CEFACT Plenaries and Forums

Share/obtain information on UN/CEFACT activity with colleagues

Opportunity to network with technical experts from other countries and obtain current information on international projects

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Importance of CAC/UN/CEFACT

Provides the opportunity to have influence over UN/CEFACT projects that will improve access to markets for Canadian goods and services

Gives Canadians a competitive advantage in international trade and

e-commerce

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CAC/UNCEFACT

Uses a web-based system called

Sitescape Forum to communicate and

collaborate Meets prior to the Plenary and Forums

to discuss Canadian positions on

agenda items and share information

(typically 2-3 times per year) Canadians must be accredited by ITCAN

before they can attend Forum or Plenary meetings

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Participation on CAC/UN/CEFACT

If you are interested in participating on the CAC/UN/CEFACT, or for further information, please email me at:

hparsons@scc.ca

Questions?