APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures meets in HCM City
The second meeting of the Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on August 19 on the sidelines of the third APEC Officials Meeting (SOM 3).
The second meeting of the Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on August 19 (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The second meeting of the Sub-Committee onCustoms Procedures (SCCP) kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on August 19 on thesidelines of the third ꧂APEC Officials Meeting (SOM 3).
The SCCP set the 2017 target of facilitating trade and ensuring supplychain security as concretised in the SCCP Collective Action Plan and thesub-committee’s work programme 2017. Therefore, the three-day event will continue working on frameworks connectingsupply chains, single-windowmechanism, authorisedeconomic operator (AEO), cross-border e-commerce, partnership between customsand businesses, and information technology and risk management. The first meeting of the sub-committee took place in Nha Trang city in Vietnam’s central coastal province of Khanh Hoa fromFebruary 21-23.
Delegates looked into thepriorities of the Asia-Pacific region such as promoting sustainable, creativeand inclusive growth; enhancing regional economic connectivity; improving thecompetitiveness and creativity of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs); strengthening food security and sustainableagriculture to adapt to climate change.
The meeting focused on implementing the WTO Trade FacilitationAgreement and the single-window mechanism, IT application and risk managementin customs management, the management of cross-border implementation ofintellectual property rights, and the enhancement of cross-border e-commerce.
Vietnam suggested the APEC economies connect thesingle-window mechanism, increase sharing information about and experience infighting smuggling and trade fraud, thereby helping customs agencies facilitatetrade and ensure trade security in regional supply chains.
ꦉThese are also major targets of the Collective Action Plan,which the SCCP submitted to the APEC Secretariat for approval in 2016.-VNA
Around 2,600 delegates from 21 APEC member economies have arrived in Ho Chi Minh City for the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 3), which begins on August 18.
The tenth meeting of the APEC Port Services Network (APSN) Council under the Transportation Working Group (APTWG) was held in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18.
The impact of government policy instruments on promoting new energy vehicles was the main topic of the APEC 2017 Automotive Dialogue Workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18.
The APEC Network of Anti-Corruption Authorities and Law Enforcement Agencies (ACT-NET) held a workshop on intensifying cooperation in revoking corruption assets among law enforcement agencies on August 18 in Ho Chi Minh City.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
The new halal cooperation arrangement will streamline halal certification and product assurance processes, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the Indonesian market.