The 20th Plenary session of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) took place in Geneva from 10 to 11 April, alongside the 23rd UN/CEFACT Forum attended by 150 experts from over 30 countries and International Organizations.
Following the WTO Bali Agreement on Trade Facilitation in December 2013, and as preparations are made for its formal implementation, the goal of facilitating international trade has been globally acknowledged and is at the heart of increasing efforts to provide more effective and efficient services for governments, the private sector and citizens.
Recognition was given to the great value of UN/CEFACT’s long-standing role in providing globally relevant trade facilitation recommendations and standards and renewed attention was given to supporting the WTO Bali Agreement.
A new management team under the leadership of the existing UN/CEFACT Chair, Mr. Stuart Feder, was elected and now includes the following Vice Chairs from government: Mr. Raffaele Fantetti (Italy), Ms. Estelle Igwe (Nigeria), Mr. Tahseen Khan (India), Mr. Harm Jan van Burg (the Netherlands) and Vice Chairs from the private sector (who were nominated by governments): Mr. Anders Grangård (Sweden) and Mr. Lance Thompson (the United States). They were elected for a period of three years.
The next UN/CEFACT Forum will take place in New Delhi, India, in October 2014.