Representatives of the country members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum are continuing their meeting days in Ha Noi in the first APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM I).
They discussed four topics on February 22-23: facilitating trade activities related to customs procedures, promoting electronic commerce, supporting multilateral trade and market access, and building standards to facilitate international trade.
Mr. Duong Van Tam, a representive of the customs-related group, said the 21 APEC members would use common forms for customs procedures via e-transactions to reduce paperwork.
He said among APEC members, developing economies standing at a lower level like Viet Nam will work out their roadmaps to modernize e-commerce procedures in a bid to narrow down gaps with developed economies. He said Viet Nam is currently applying online customs declaration for only two cities of Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh, and plans to expand this service to eight other big cities by 2010.
Mr. Walter Goode, head of the market access group, said the APEC members have agreed to finish a series of sets of standards for free trade by 2008. Experts will recommend economic development patterns for APEC leaders' reference in working out economic development policies.
