:UNNExT

Launched by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in cooperation with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in 2009, early work of the Community focused on building capacity of developing countries on fundamental issues associated with single window{{Cite web|title = ADB–ESCAP Capacity Building Workshop on Single-Window Implementation|url = http://www.carecprogram.org/index.php?page=capacity-building-workshop-single-window-implementation }} and paperless trade{{Cite web|title = The Progress of Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific: Enabling International Supply Chain Integration |url = https://aric.adb.org/pdf/workingpaper/WP137_Ha_Lim_Paperless_Trade.pdf }} system development,{{Cite web|title = UNNExT|url = http://www.unece.org/trade/unnext.html }} such as business process analysis of trade procedures,{{Cite web|title = Business Process Analysis Guide to Simplify Trade Procedures|url = http://www.gfptt.org/node/2003 }} data harmonization,{{Cite web|title = WCO Data Model, Single Window Data Harmonization|url = https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/facilitation/activities-and-programmes/single-window/~/media/E2C03EE328FC4793AF529AEE01EDAD98.ashx }} and legal framework development.

Initially referred to as the UN Network of Experts for Paperless Trade in Asia-Pacific “Transport” was added to the full name of the network in 2014 in recognition of the importance of transit facilitation{{Cite web|title = Transit Facilitation for Regional Economic Integration and Competitiveness|url = https://www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/research/activities-and%20programmes/~/media/30EA73887EED41E1A3E774175C7FE097.ashx}} and transport-related procedures for the many landlocked developing countries members of ESCAP, particularly those in Central Asia.{{Cite web|title = Cross-border Facilitation and Transit for Landlocked Developing Countries|url = https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/pub_2399-1_ch10.pdf }} Taking into account the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises and agriculture for the sustainable and inclusive development of the region,{{Cite web|title = The Agriculture's Role For Sustainable and Inclusive Development |url = http://mts.asu.lt/mtsrbid/article/viewFile/880/897

}} recent work of the Network has increasingly focused on these two sectors since 2012.

With the growing interest and investment of Governments in the development of national single window and related paperless trade systems, addressing the issue of system interoperability and the need to enable electronic exchange and legal recognition of data and documents across borders has become more pressing.{{Cite web|title = Essential Legal Elements for the Implementation of a National Single Window|url = http://unnext.unescap.org/pub/tipub2636-part2.pdf }} A UNNExT Advisory Group{{Cite web|title = UNNExT Advisory Group on Cross-border Paperless Trade Facilitation|url = https://unnext.unescap.org/content/advisory-group-cross-border-paperless-trade-facilitation }} dedicated to this issue was set up in 2013 and provided significant support in the development of the “Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific”,{{Cite web|title = Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific|url = http://www.unescap.org/resources/framework-agreement-facilitation-cross-border-paperless-trade-asia-and-pacific }} a new United Nations treaty open for signature to 53 ESCAP member states starting 1 October 2016.

The continuous demand for capacity building on paperless trade and trade facilitation has led the network to develop online training and certification programmes, with a first e-learning series on "Business Process Analysis for Trade Facilitation" launched in 2015.{{Cite web|title = E-Learning Series on Business Process Analysis for Trade Facilitation|url = http://www.unescap.org/our-work/trade-investment-innovation/trade-facilitation/bpa-course}}

As emphasized in the UNNExT-supported 7th Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum held in Wuhan, China in 2015,{{Cite web|title = UPCOMING: Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum (APTFF) 2015, Wuhan, China, 20-21 October 2015 |url = http://www.gfptt.org/node/7510 }} there are strong linkages between paperless trade and e-commerce and future work of the network is expected to address procedural bottlenecks to cross-border e-commerce.{{Cite web|title = Cross-border Ecommerce |url = http://www.crossborder-ecommerce.com/| website=Crossborder-Ecommerce.com | access-date=}}

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Category:Paper