Pakistan is become the 18th member of the Pan-Asian E-Commerce Alliance (PAA). Three of Asia’s foremost providers of services to facilitate international trade—Crimson Logic (Singapore), TRADE-VAN Information Services Co. (Taiwan), and Trade link Electronic Commerce Limited—formed the PAA in 2000 as a nonprofit organization (Hong Kong SAR). The purpose of the PAA is to enhance international trade and logistics by creating a safe and reputable online marketplace in Asia. Almost 350 government agencies, corporations, and NGOs from 17 Asian economies are PAA members.
The PAA offers its members a variety of benefits, such as:
- A safe and trustworthy network for international commerce and supply chain management.
- Instruction on the most efficient methods of conducting business online
- Help in creating a solid foundation for electronic commerce.
- Possibilities for interacting with other PAA members.
When it comes to promoting e-commerce across Asia, the PAA is in the forefront. The efforts of the group are facilitating decreased trade costs, increased productivity, and new employment opportunities in the area.
Advantages for Pakistani Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs and MSMEs)
PSW’s CEO, Syed Aftab Haider, released a statement expressing his company’s enthusiasm for the membership and its potential to participate in worldwide B2B and B2G data sharing programs. PSW’s goal is to become a national and international center of excellence, therefore being a member of this organization makes sense and will allow PSW to pick up tips on best practices from across the world.
Alliances of this type are anticipated to be extremely beneficial to Pakistan’s micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) operating on a global scale. The global e-commerce industry is expected to exceed $6.3 trillion this year; gaining easier access to it may be aided by streamlining procedures, increasing transparency, and creating predictability. PSW’s mission is to help Pakistani firms profit from international commerce by reducing clearance bottlenecks and ensuring the highest levels of safety and security.
Trade Window, a renowned customs and trade service provider in New Zealand, hosted the 67th meeting of the PAA’s Steering Committee, where Pakistan’s membership was announced. Pakistan Single Window is one of 17 single window operators from across the world to join the PAA. The forum has frequent meetings with regional and global groups for discussion and consultation, including the World Customs Organization, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
The goal of the Pakistan Customs-led project known as “Pakistan Single Window” is to streamline the country’s cross-border trade procedures and cut down on associated costs and delays through the use of digital technology. Institutional efforts are focused on delivering a unified electronic platform for the submission of standardized information and documentation by all parties involved in international trade and transport through a single entry point, satisfying all import, export, and transit regulatory requirements.
