Conference on Simplification of Procedures and Best Practices for E-commerce concludes (with photos)
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This marks the first time for Hong Kong Customs to organise a large-scale A/P regional conference focusing on e-commerce, bringing together more than 200 representatives from the WCO, A/P Customs administrations, ASEAN members, and international and local industries. This Conference was also supported by the Economic and Technical Co-operation Work Programme under the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement.
The event commenced with a ceremony officiated by the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat; and the Head of Trade Facilitation Division of ASEAN Secretariat, Mr Cuong Ba Tran.
Speaking at the commencement ceremony, Dr Chan highlighted that e-commerce is rapidly expanding across the globe, and Hong Kong is at the forefront to connect with global markets, in particular with ASEAN and other close partners in the A/P region. Noting that it is imperative for policymakers to closely collaborate with stakeholders to create a conducive environment for the healthy growth of e-commerce, he said that the Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into a cross-boundary e-commerce logistics and distribution centre, focusing on enhancing the efficiency of cross-boundary goods distribution and improving infrastructure connectivity, thereby strengthening Hong Kong's competitiveness to position Hong Kong as a leading hub for e-commerce.
Mr Chan, serving as the WCO Vice-Chairperson for the A/P Region, said in his welcoming remarks that the purpose of the Conference is to strengthen partnerships within the e-commerce ecosystem and to explore and promote the future developments of e-commerce in the A/P region. He emphasised that simplifying Customs clearance procedures and expediting cargo flow are crucial to enhancing trade facilitation and improving the efficiency of customs operations. At the same time, maintaining a balance between trade efficiency and law enforcement effectiveness is essential to safeguarding the security and stability of cross-boundary trade.
The Conference covered a series of presentations and panel discussions addressing the challenges and opportunities present in e-commerce. Optimal results were yielded as the participants shared experiences and best practices to foster sustainable economic growth regionally and beyond. During today's closing, a Joint Statement reaffirming the commitment to strengthening mutual collaboration between Customs administrations and e-commerce stakeholders to foster the growth and development of e-commerce across the A/P region was also issued.
Ends/Thursday, April 17, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:52
Issued at HKT 18:52
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