The Asia Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and E-Business (AFACT) is a regional Non-Governmental organisation working in collaboration with the United Nation Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) since last 14 years in Asia Pacific region for stimulating and promoting E-Commerce, E-Business, and Trade & Transport Facilitation.
AFACT is a non-profit, a non-political and a completely voluntary-base organisation that consists of the representatives of members and experts from private and public sectors within the Asia-Pacific region.
Pakistan became member of AFACT at 18th AFACT in September 2000 in Taipei. Pakistan bid for hosting AFACT event and was allotted 2003 slot.
SOUTH ASIA REGION: Countries in South Asia and Middle East can reap benefit from AFACT experience of establishing electronic linkages among customs, ports and trade communities, to improve international trade and services relationship with rest of the world.
It would reduce the cost of trade and transportation resulting in faster turn around time to complete trade cycle resulting in increased profitability and business. EU is using similar model, under UN/ECE.
E-Business 2004 event in Pakistan would build capacity for stakeholders to facilitate international e-trade and e-services.
Investment would be attracted to set up Application Service Providers to provide e-services to citizens, industry, businesses, financial sector and Government.
AFACT would provide a platform for these countries to discuss and exchange business and technology related issues.
TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY IN E-BUSINESS AND TRADE FACILITATION: AFACT -2003 event would facilitate low cost knowledge transfer from East Asian countries like Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong to developing countries in Asian, in trade and transportation facilitation, E-Business, E-Commerce, E-Banking and E-Government sectors.
Participants would be immensely benefited from Joint Working Group meetings at AFACT by sharing experience of more than 100 international experts from 16 AFACT members, as well as from UN/CEFACT, UNCTAD and other related bodies.
This event would be catalyst for capacity building for traders, professionals and Government officials to bring them at par with other member countries in the region to use e-Business concepts and products to improve their profitability, efficiency and competitiveness.
INVESTMENT IN E-BUSINESS:
It is estimated that E-Business 2004 would provide opportunity for investment in Telecom, Data communication, ATM network, E-Banking solutions, Payment Gateways, Security, E-Business solutions and B2B exchanges.
Investment in payment networks and application service providers is expected, as the environment is now ready to accept these solutions.
IMPACT ON ECONOMY: E-Business 2004 hosting will have positive impact on the economy of Pakistan, as WTO implication would start in 2005.
E-Business and Trade Facilitation projects would increase efficiency of businesses, reduce paper-based processes and increase transparency to lower cost of transaction and make them more competitive globally.
The cost saving impact has been estimated between 5-15% of the cost, depending upon the Industry and complexities involved (World Bank Report).
International trade and services sector in Pakistan would be major beneficiary of E-Business projects implementation (International trade & services share is over 30% in GDP of Pakistan).
The E-Business and E-Payment projects have been successfully implemented in AFACT member countries during last decade and have became backbone of their economic activity to provide e-Transactions for business, financial, services and manufacturing sectors.
Pakistan has been rated lowest in (no. 60) in E-Business and ICT readiness ranking in largest economies of the world, in a survey released by Economist Business Intelligence Unit in May 2003, as well as Pakistan is rated lowest (no. 60) in the list of countries suitable for business, released by EIU.
E-Business 2004 would help in improving E-Business Readiness ranking of Pakistan.
BENEFITS: Over 100 foreign delegates and 600 local delegates would attend E-Business 2004. This is unique opportunity to gain following benefits by of hosting 21st AFACT and EDICOM in Pakistan:
1. Improve ICT image of Pakistan in Asia Pacific countries, opportunity for over 100 delegates to visit Pakistan
2. Renowned speakers and experts would disseminate their experience and knowledge among local professionals
3. Bring all stakeholders from CBR, SBP, ports, shipping and airlines, banks, ICT companies and Govt. officials in Pakistan to one platform to learn and share their views with international delegates on 13 working groups
4. Promote E-Business, E-Banking, E-Commerce and E-Govt. and provide base to establish Application Service Provider services in Pakistan in collaboration of service providers in the Asia Pacific region
5. Provide excellent opportunity to collaborate with East Asian countries on E-Commerce and E-Government as they are ahead of Pakistan in E-Business Readiness.
6. Project Pakistan as moderate country ready to accept new development in Information and Telecommunication technologies.
The event would build image of Pakistan that has collateral of intellectuals and has potential to become major player on global IT map.