The Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA), a UN treaty deposited with the Secretary General of the United Nations in New York, aims at accelerating the implementation of digital trade facilitation measures for trade and development. Designed as an inclusive instrument accessible to countries at all levels of development to develop their capacity to engage in cross-border paperless trade, the final treaty text was adopted by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in May 2016.
As of February 2024, 13 countries in the region including Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, and Tuvalu have acceded to CPTA. Many other countries in the region are taking actions towards accession to the treaty.
The workshop is geared to support the non-parties of CPTA to accelerate their accessions to the treaty. It will facilitate experience sharing among non-parties in their respective endeavors to accede to CPTA.
The workshop is part of the Paperless Trade Week 2024 to be held at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand from 3 to 7 June 2024. Paperless Trade Week 2024 will feature the third session of the Standing Committee of the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA) and the third session of Paperless Trade Council of CPTA, as well as a series of capacity building side events organized by the secretariat of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and its partners.