UNCTAD, IATA extend partnership to facilitate global trade

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and UNCTAD announced that they have extended their partnership. The move comes in an effort to facilitate international trade, particularly e-commerce.
Both parties aim to enrich their history of collaboration with each other to accomplish various shared goals. This includes the successful integration of air cargo messaging standards (Cargo-XML) into UNCTAD’s automated customs management system, ASYCUDAWorld. The integration is expected to enable a more efficient processing of air cargo shipments for the 100 countries choosing to deploy the latest version of ASYCUDAWorld.
“Through this extended partnership, we look forward to leveraging the leadership of UNCTAD and IATA in their respective fields to boost e-commerce in developing countries through improved exchanges of trade data,” said Shamika N. Sirimanne UNCTAD’s Technology and Logistics Director.
The next stage of the collaboration is expected to include adding a risk assessment for mail shipments and facilitating access to the IATA enhanced partner identification and connectivity. This will enable ASYCUDAWorld to manage e-commerce shipments more efficiently.
Once completed, ASYCUDAWorld will allow customs authorities to communicate advanced cargo/mail information requirements across the digitized supply chain including airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers and third-party messaging service providers.
“Global standards enable accurate information and effective risk-assessments. This in turn promotes stronger compliance and will contribute to a safe supply chain, which should give the authorities the confidence to modernize processes,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security.
The collaboration will also include the potential exchange of additional operational electronic information such as air cargo rules, flight schedules and others that can assist customs officials in their risk assessments.