Institutional Capacity Support for Electronic Advanced Data (EAD) Implementation kicked off

21.04.2022
Improving Small Package e-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME) project kicks off the implementation of its Workstream 1 to develop a fully operational Electronic Advanced Data (EAD) interface. 

On April 6th, 2022, Institutional Capacity Support for EAD Implementation of the SeT4SME project (Workstream 1) was kicked off by H.E. LCT. TEKRETH Kamrang, Secretary of State, Ministry of Commerce. The workshop brought together the project’s implementation team and its partners, including representatives of the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) Cambodia Post, Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Universal Postal Union (UPU). The group reviewed and discussed the workstream’s objectives, planned activities, and timelines. 

"Since Cambodia became a full membership to WTO in 2004 and ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement in 2016, we have regularly fulfilled our obligations and commitments under this framework. Therefore, today’s kickoff workshop will significantly build capacity of key players and also build a strong collaboration among us in trade facilitation. Hence, I again convey my appreciation to our partners, including the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation and Swisscontact, UNCTAD and UPU, for developing quality workshop content for delivering to key Cambodian agencies in trade facilitation."
H.E. LCT. TEKRETH Kamrang, Secretary of State of Ministry of Commerce

Under Workstream 1, the project works alongside the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) and Cambodia Post to digitalize paper-based customs clearing processes for small packages sent through the post. Doing so will open up new, cross-border e-commerce possibilities for Cambodian businesses micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The kickoff meeting was attended by Mr. THEN Samvisoth, Director General of Cambodia Post, who gave his remarks on the importance of this workstream.

"The role of the postal operator and postal services in our society is evolving, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Growth in e-commerce globally has led to a flourishing of small packages sent across borders, and Cambodia Post is all aware it needs to change to a more efficient way of handling the package processing and adopt the utilization of ICT if we want to succeed in a digital economy, which is already here."
Mr. THEN Samvisoth, Director General of Cambodia Post

In his remark, Dr. Sang Sinavith, Director of Customs International Cooperation Department, General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE), mentioned the anticipated contribution of EAD implementation to time and cost reduction for cross-border trade.

"The implementation of Electronic Advanced Data will play a great role in our efforts to reduce time and thus trade costs. Indeed, this project coincides with GDCE's Strategy for Customs Reform and Modernization and particularly the ICT strategy for 2020-2024, which includes the provision on enabling of effective and efficient Pre-Arrival Processing procedures as a critical element."
Dr. Sang Sinavith, Director of Customs International Cooperation Dept., GDCE

The project aims to develop a fully operational EAD by connecting the digital link of GDCE's ASYCUDA World to that of Cambodia Post's CDS. This would contribute to Cambodia's undertaking of digital trade facilitation to enhance the enabling environment for cross-border trade and progress its commitment under World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

"The Workstream 1 of this project will support the development and implementation of a fully operational EAD by interfacing the ASYCUDA of GDCE and Customs Declaration System of Cambodia Post, to progress Cambodia’s commitment under WTO Trade Facilitation, particularly under the provision of Pre-Arrival Processing applying to postal shipments. Guaranteeing EAD is critically important in expediting the customs clearance process of postal consignment and ensures regulatory compliance on EAD to avoid the potential ban of small package exports from Cambodia to the markets where EAD implementation is required, particularly in the European Union and the United States. It thus contributes facilitating the movement of Cambodia’s export consignment in small packages through the postal service."
Mr. Rajiv Pradhan, Country Director of Swisscontact Cambodia and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation's Coordinator for Cambodia

The kickoff meeting was physically attended by 30 participants representing the Ministry of Commerce, General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), Cambodia Post, the Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA), Swisscontact, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) team joining virtually from Switzerland.

“Improving Small Package E-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME)” is a two-year project (2021-2023) undertaken by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, a public-private partnership for trade-led growth, through its implementing partner, Swisscontact. The work is being done in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) with the collaboration of the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), Cambodia Post, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA).

Cambodia
Trade
Improving Small Package E-Trade for SMEs
Improving Small Package E-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME) is a two-year project (2021-2023) for the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. This project aims to support Cambodia in improving its trade performance and driving inclusive growth in the country by enhancing trade facilitation implementation with improved transparency in trade practices and reduced time and cost of cross-border e-trade.