The WCO-UPU workshop on EAD guidelines was held with approximately 40 officials and experts joining physically at the Cambodia Post Office and online. The workshop aimed to raise awareness of facilitate the discussion on the collaboration in the implementation of the Electronic Advanced Data (EAD) including the WCO-UPU MoU guidelines between GDCE and Cambodia Post, and featured the presentation by the UPU expert on WCO-UPU Post-Customs EAD Guideline, Cambodia EAD flows and status; presentation by the WCO expert on WCO-UPU Guideline for developing a Memorandum of Understanding between Customs and Post at national level; presentation by UNCTAD expert highlighting the EAD component of the SeT4SME which aims to interface Cambodia Post's CDS and GDCE's ASYCUDA, and round table discussion with brainstormed next steps
For Postal operator, the workshop served as an opportunity for staff to familiarize themselves with the customs components of the postal supply chain, as well as various WCO standards, instruments, and tools. For Customs administrations, it allowed staff in charge of postal customs clearance to gain a better understanding of the international mail exchange processes within the postal system.
The facilitation support for its organization was part of the Set4SME project's Workstream 1, which aims to provide institutional capacity support for the implementation of Electronic Advanced Data (EAD). This workshop is one of the planned capacity-building initiatives to support GDCE and Cambodia Post in establishing and implementing the exchange of electronic data of the postal shipments in view of enhancing trade facilitation for the increasing number of legitimate postal consignments, driven by cross-border e-commerce.
The WCO - UPU guidelines on the exchange of electronic advance data (EAD) between designated UPU postal operators and customs administrations are designed to offer information and resources to help postal operators and Customs administrations work together to establish EAD exchange. Additionally, they provide guidance on garnering support within their respective organizations for the adoption of this development project.
Improving Small Package E-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME), is a two-year project (2021-2023) of Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (the Alliance), implemented by Swisscontact in partnership with Ministry of Commerce (MoC), and with the collaboration of the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), Cambodia Post, The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Universal Postal Union (UPU) and Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA).