The “Enhancing AHKFTA Utilization via Harmonized and Sustainable Operations in the Digital Era” Project has been approved by the Department of Foreign Trade under the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee (AHKFTA JC). This project is implemented by the International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD) in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand. The ITD has been assigned as the implementing agency (IA) with coordination from the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC). The aim of this project is to enhance the effectiveness of AHKFTA utilization.
In this regards, International Institute for Trade and Development or ITD in cooperation with the Custom and Excise Department (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in China), Trade and Industry Department (The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in China), Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce (Thailand), ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), have scheduled activities for the initial phase. These activities include the Virtual Inception Workshop under the project “Enhancing AHKFTA Utilization through Harmonized and Sustainable Operations in the Digital Era” in an online meeting format via WebEx on March 25, 2024, at 14:00 to 16:00 hrs. (Bangkok Local Time).
The objective of workshop is to organize the meeting for starting activities in the first phase and welcoming all project participants from 10 ASEAN member states and Hong Kong, China, to explain the details of the project activities, including inviting participants to complete a survey questionnaire, presenting the project objectives, expected outcomes, as well as explaining the roles and responsibilities of all project participants. The goal is to facilitate information exchange among members of agencies overseeing import-export, agencies overseeing the issuance of certificates of origin, agencies overseeing import-export taxation, government officials, and relevant private sector stakeholders from ASEAN member states and the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, China, under the People’s Republic of China, in order to continue the further project activities.