Launch of the Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Report

This report unveils the findings of the 2023 United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, focusing on the progress made in trade facilitation across the 11 countries from the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC).

The report highlights that significant trade cost reductions could be achieved through the implementation of paperless and cross-border paperless trade measures, surpassing the impact of conventional trade facilitation measures. In this regard, the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific offers opportunities for CAREC countries to support them in promoting their own initiatives and solutions and receive support for the advancement of their national Single Windows leading to greater interoperability across borders.

This report is part of a global survey effort on the implementation of trade facilitation and paperless trade measures, undertaken jointly by the five United Nations Regional Commissions for Africa (ECA), Europe (ECE), Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and West Asia (ESCWA) as well as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The report was jointly prepared by ESCAP and the CAREC Institute and will be launched as part of the CAREC’s 4th Annual Research Conference. Further information on the Conference is available at: https://www.carecinstitute.org/?post_type=event&p=5035

The report will be made available online on the launch date along with other reports and the results of the UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation at http://www.untfsurvey.org