Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
In the OIC Member States
37
Korea’s National e-Trade Committee was formed in order to facilitate the development of an
advanced electronic trade facilitation system (i.e. an electronic single window linking all relevant
government agencies, service providers, and users and allowing them in order to exchange required
information, clearances, and payments online).
2.3.1.5. Sources of funding
Budget is assigned by government.
2.3.1.6. Achievements
It has been acknowledged that “NIPA’s principal achievement appears to be its response to changing
environments: Constantly changing current trend of ICT fusion and convergence as well as the new
market creation require more focused strategy for the development of ICT industry. The information
on ICT supports the public sector so that the demand for customizing the governmental policy-
making information and for improving business performance in the commercial sector could be met.
Korea’s National e-Trade Committee appears to have been successful in elaborating upon an e-trade
network and in contributing towards the establishment of the Korea Paperless Trade Center and the
Korea e-Trade Facilitation Center in 2005. The e-Trade Facilitation Center comprises six working
groups dealing with platform, law, finance, logistics, marketing, and global cooperation”.54
2.3.2. Singapore
2.3.2.1. Membership and Institutional Structure
International Enterprise (IE) Singapore’s appears to be the most relevant government agency for
trade facilitation purposes. Singapore’s trade facilitation advisory committee (i.e. IE) comprises the
following entities which appear to represent both private and public interests:55
 Trade Development Board or the International Enterprise Singapore
 Customs and Excise Department
 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
 Singapore Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry
 Singapore Air Cargo Agents Association
 Singapore freight forwarders Association
 Singapore National Shipping Association
 Singapore Network Services
2.3.2.2. Responsibilities
Within IE responsibilities is to develop structures for trade facilitation at the sub-regional and
national level in order to ensure their effectiveness. IE Singapore has a Trade Facilitation Scheme
(TFS) that aims to inter alia assist with trade financing for Singapore-based companies in emerging
markets.56 Thus, International Enterprise Singapore appears to play a critical role for trade
5 onsulted 13-07-15 14:45
55 View Figure 5.3, UNCTAD, Trade Facilitation Handbook for the Greater Mekong Subregion, 2002, Members of Singapore trade
facilitation advisory committee, p. 40.