SITPRO Gordon Cragge Director - Trade Facilitation & Promotion

SITPRO

Simplifying International Trade

SITPRO

The Aligned Series of Export Documents for International Trade The SITPRO Experience SITPRO

Simplifying International Trade

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The UK trade facilitation organisation Established since 1970 Sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry Supported by British business & industry Board directorship drawn from all the sectors of the international trade and the payment and finance functions

SITPRO

The Problem - too many documents Exp Exp Exp Exp Imp Exp Imp International Trade Transaction Chain Exp Imp Imp Imp SITPRO

Simplifying International Trade

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The Solution

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Simplify the process Adopt international trade facilitation tolls and techniques Standardise information & data Align documentation SITPRO

Simplifying International Trade

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So – A Trip to the Opera for AIDA (With acknowledgment to G Verdi) SITPRO

Simplifying International Trade

SITPRO A = Awareness

UN Recommendation No 1 - UN Layout Key for International Trade Documents Improve trade efficiency Enhance competitiveness Increase profitability Reduce costs and administrative burden SITPRO

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SITPRO I = Information

Consultation with the users of trade documents – exporters, ports, freight forwarders and other service providers Programme of visits to observe commercial practice and official procedures Committee formed of Trade, Government and Printers SITPRO

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SITPRO D = Decision

Decided to simplify, standardise and aligned shipping documentation Standard Shipping designed to the UNLK providing a single, simple set of data for processing goods through the ports Licensing regime established to ensure credibility and integrity SITPRO

Simplifying International Trade

SITPRO A = ACTION

Simpler Export Documents launched in 1965 but reproduction method not specified In 1976 Systematic Export Documentation issued based on the Master Document Technical specification supplied for document reproduction by: - Spirit Duplicator - Copier - alternative Copier techniques SITPRO

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The Aligned Series of Export Documents SAME details are found in the SAME place on all documents System maintained and promoted by SITPRO SITPRO

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Aligned Documents - the Past SED updated and enhanced in 1979 with the inclusion of the Overlay system TOP FORM made its first appearance in 1987 with three systems: - single-typing simple export sets - photocopier systems using the Master Document with Overlays - laser printed forms using computer systems SITPRO

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Aligned Documents – the Present TOP FORM 2 – over 70 documents aligned to the UNLK with UK requirements Reproduction of documents offered by:

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Printers of pre printed forms Software products for computer systems Web service providers Incorporated into the ElecTra Toolkit for both p-docs and e-docs Foundation of UNeDocsUK SITPRO

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Aligned Documents in Practice Export Sets Overlay Computer SITPRO

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Benefits for UK Traders - easy to use, producing error free documents - accurate and timely information - international standard understood by all parties in the trade transaction - better compliance with commercial practice and official procedures - reduced delays at the port - 50% reduction in export admin costs SITPRO

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Value of Licensing Regime credibility and integrity of the system experience and expertise in document standards network for obtaining feedback from exporters ‘multipliers’ for promoting aligned documents SITPRO

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Finally – some observations Introduction of aligned documents requires political will and government commitment Recognition that implementing standard documents is not a 100m dash but a marathon UK Customs accepted the SSN as the export declaration SITPRO

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Finally, finally Over 30 years ago SITPRO introduced the UK Aligned Series of Export Documents – a Single Window for Port Information Systems Now the task is to expand the Single Window to cover all trade related information and where possible make it electronic SITPRO

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Thank you for being a wonderful audience Any Questions?

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Simplifying International Trade