UNeDocs for local exporters by next year

Published by The Star

DAGANG Net Technologies Sdn Bhd (DNT), an e-commerce service provider, is set to implement the United Nations electronic Trade Documents (UNeDocs) for local exporters to effectively participate in global trade by next year.  

UNeDocs is the new global standard for digital trade documents adopted by the United Nations body called Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (CEFACT).  

It is based on the concept of a data model known as the “UNeDocs Master” from which any document used within the international purchase-and-supply chain can be derived.  

UNeDocs provides an out-of-the-box option for undertaking International Trade Single Window projects that are aligned to international standards.  

Since UNeDocs data model is a superset of data elements used within the international purchase and supply chain, it can be easily tailored to meet virtually all user requirements and yet remains globally aligned.  

This makes it possible, with just a basic knowledge of standards, to create regional or national versions. 

DNT chief executive officer Saifol Bahri Shamlan said the task of completing the documentation required in cross-border trade had long been an arduous and costly exercise.  

“However, the digital alignment with such an international standard can now allow us to produce a common and consistent standard across the region thus reducing the traditional impedances to trade efficiency.  

“As such, we anticipate higher intra-regional trade resulting in gains for our Malaysian businesses, consumers and the economy as well,” he said. 

In addition, he said UNeDocs could also assist local SMEs to be international trading entities.  

“By using a standard PC and Internet, Malaysian SMEs will be able to work with UNeDocs and participate in paperless trading via an interoperable single-entry window thus increasing their capabilities to globalise their operations faster at lower costs and in a secure environment.  

“We urge all SMEs not to be fringe players in global trade but to embrace paperless trading as this could lead to access to new markets, as shipments will be processed and delivered faster, and trade administration costs decreases,” he said.  

”UNeDocs needs to be built into the work practices of banks, insurers, logistics providers, air or port authorities and all parties involved in international trade,” he said. 

He also reiterated that trade will move to countries where complementarities are high and trade facilitation gains through e-commerce technology are maximised as such failure to adopt international standards and practices will not decrease the time-to-market and will lower the competitive edge of an economy. 

“Since 1989, Dagang Net has played an important role in facilitating Malaysian companies' capabilities to conduct cross- border trade.  

“We are now moving forward to further streamline our paperless trade facilitation services to allow the trading community to be linked to a single window to government trade related agencies,” he said.  

As for DNT's web-based permit application system, ePermit, it is set to go online at all 23 permit-issuing agencies (PIAs) by September this year. 

ePermit, a web-based permit application system developed by Dagang Net, enables importers, exporters and forwarding agents to apply for import and export permits from PIAs and obtain the approvals via the Internet.  

Approved permits will then be transmitted to the Customs via the Sistem Maklumat Kastam (SMK) electronically for validation and cross-reference purposes against Customs declarations. 

The system would reduce manual permit application time from three to just one day.  

ePermit is designed to be the one-stop single gateway or “single window” that links 23 PIAs, the Royal Malaysian Customs, importers, exporters and forwarding agents to facilitate a more effective and responsive import-export declarations and permit issuance system for the import and export of goods in and out of Malaysia. 

The Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) is the first agency under the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities to officially go online last week with ePermit for the export of dried cocoa beans.  

The agency started implementing the system late last year and conducted the two month pilot run early this year.  

Saifol Bahri said: “A government-wide approach to champion and mandate ePermit's usage has been agreed and all PIAs are required to relay permits electronically to the Royal Malaysian Customs' Sistem Maklumat Kastam (SMK) system by Sept 1 this year,” he said at the official launch of ePermit for MCB last week.