United Nations standards support the digital transformation of information sharing in supply chains in Central Asia
Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan participating in the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) have a growing common interest in facilitating trade and transport facilitation and strengthening digital connectivity along trade corridors between Europe and East Asia. The development of digital communication between SPECA countries requires innovative solutions using international standards and best practices.
The development in this area is based on many years of trade facilitation work in Azerbaijan, Central Asia and the wider UNECE region, in particular on simplification of procedures, "single window", port community systems, implementation of trade agreements and digitization of multimodal transport data and document exchange.
Representatives of SPECA member countries gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan on 31 October 2022 for the International High-Level Conference on Digital Transformation of Information Exchange in Supply Chains Using UN Standards to discuss progress. The participants, in particular, considered the need to strengthen the digitalization of data exchange of the supply chain along trade routes using different modes of transport between Europe and East Asia, through the Caspian Sea and Central Asia.
UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova, who opened the conference with Mr. Rashad Nabi oglu Nabiyev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, noted that the standardized digitization of information exchange along digital corridors in the region improves the quality, speed and transparency of information. exchange. "Fragmented digitization of individual elements of the supply chain does not make sense. This is where UNECE and UNCEFACT can provide standards as international public goods. It is important that the procedures for digitizing trade and transport documents are aligned with a common reference," she said.
Minister Nabiyev noted that the current geopolitical situation has increased the strategic importance of Azerbaijan, which has led to a sharp increase in the volume of transit cargo through the country. Digitization of the Middle Corridor is an important area where significant progress can be made. The question now is “how can we apply international standards and best practices to improve digital connectivity along transport routes that cross SPECA countries?” he said.
The seamless flow of information using the UN/CEFACT standards for digital data exchange is already facilitating trade and transport in the European Union, especially in areas covered by the upcoming Single Window and Electronic Freight Information (eFTI) Regulations, and the Conference embraced the concept of this innovative approach to SPECA countries.
Speakers shared information on progress in the implementation of a new set of standards based on the UN/CEFACT data reference models, which aim at a standardized digital transformation of data and document exchange in multimodal supply chains. The conference marked the launch of a new UN Development Account project to implement this set of standards and started discussions on supporting relevant initiatives and pilot projects in the region. The President of Azerbaijan recently emphasized the growing importance of the "Middle Corridor" between East and West, which spans Azerbaijan and Central Asia across the Caspian Sea.
The results of this conference, organized by UNECE and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, will be used to prepare for Azerbaijan's chairmanship of SPECA in 2023 and the 25th anniversary SPECA Economic Forum and SPECA Governing Council session in 2023.
Conclusions and recommendations for next steps covered the contribution of UN standards and the role of international organizations and the private sector in these efforts.