Somnuk Keretho, PhD Director, Institute for IT Innovation..........

Kasetsart University, Bangkok

Module 3: Streamlining and automating

procedures for agrifood trade (cont) Case study: The Thai Experience

Regional Training of Trainer Workshop Trade Facilitation & Paperless Systems for Agrifood Products

organized by UNESCAP

15-17 December 2014 United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok

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Agenda

1.  Trade Logistics Improvement 2.  Trade Facilitation: Process Reform

(Process Simplification & Process Automation) 3.  Continuous Improvement Cycle 4.  A Case Study on CITES Certification Process,

its Information Systems, and Connectivity with National Single Window

5.  Conclusion/Recommendations

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1. Trade Logistics Improvement: 3 flows

Seller (Exporter)

Buyer (Importer) Physical Goods

Payment

Information/Documents

Customs Dept Dept of Agriculture

Ship Agents Transport-Operators Terminal-Operators Carriers

Banks

Information/Documents (upto 300 document types*)

Freight Forwarders

Cargo Insurance Companies

Traders Exporters

Importers Traders

Economic Operators Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Chamber of Commerce

Our Improvement Opportunities

Trade Facilitation

Improvement -

Efficiency in procedures &

document handlings

Other regulatory govs

Customs Borkers Dept of Fisheries

36 regulatory agencies, 10 business sectors*, e.g. importers, exporters, banks, F/F, Customs Brokers, Insurance companies, Terminal Operators, Sea Carriers, Airlines, Trucks, etc.

* Refering to “Thailand Case”

Airlines Trucks Port Authority

Dept of Livestocks

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2. Trade Facilitation/Information Technology: Process Reform

Trade Facilitation, and IT or Single Window Development

is about

•  Business Process Analysis (Understanding the “as-is” process,

its bottlenecks/its root causes)

•  Business Process Redesign (Designing the better “to-be” process)

•  Implementing and Adopting the Change

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3. Continuous Improvement Cycle

1. Assessment (Understanding

the as-is process, e.g. strength, weaknesses,

Improvement opportunities)

2. Improvement Plan (analyzing and prioritizing

the improvement measures, e.g. proposing

“to-be” process)

3. Implementation of the new “to-be” process

4. Change Adoption of the new

environment

Adopting and

Institutionalizing this CI cycle at

the Organization level

and the National Level

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Regulatory agencies relate to Agri-Business

Several government agencies with a lot of complicated/cumbersome procedures and document transactions related to export/import agri-business.

§ Dept of Livestock Development, MOAC

§ Dept of Fisheries, MOAC

§ Dept of Agriculture, MOAC § Food and Drug Authority, MOH

§ Dept of Disease Control, MOH § Dept of Medical Science, MOH

§ Chamber of Commerce

§ Royal Customs Department, MOF § Dept of Business Development, MOC

§ etc.

•  General business registration •  Specific business registration and Quota •  Onsite Health Inspection •  Import/Export Permits •  Import/Export Certification •  Fumigation and Reports •  Health Certification •  Sanitary Certification •  Phyto-sanitary Certification •  CITES Certifiaction •  At-border Inspection •  Tracking •  Reports etc.

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4. A Case Study – CITES related process

§ CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. –  Several complicated & costly procedures and document handlings are

needed for applying and issuing import, export and transit-related permits, etc.

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– CITES – Analyzing As-Is Processes & their Bottlenecks*

1.  Registration process of flora plantations, associated lists of flora and their quota/capacities (Appication Form-pp15, and Registered/Output Form-pp16)

2.  Amendment process for flora plantations, flora lists and quotation (addition, deletion, new flora, other changes etc.) (Forms pp 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)

3.  CITES Import Permits to Thailand (Form pp 13 + Certificate of Origin + CITES Export Permits + (Phytosanitary Cert in some cases) from the origin country, and requesting for CITES Import Permits

4.  CITES Export Permits from Thailand (Form pp 16, pp 13 + CITES Import Permits from the destination country), and requesting for CITES Export Permits

5.  CITES Transit Process at the border (Form pp 13 + CITES Import Permits at the destination, and transit clearance process at the border)

A Case Example

* This is a case for Dept of Agriculture, MOAC.

- Manual operations - Paper-based transactions - Costly and take several days for 2-3 physical visits to complete each transaction - Difficulty in data cross checking & validation (possible paper fraud, and error prone)

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- CITES - Faster/Cheaper/More Compliant To-be Process

1.  Importers/Exporters can submit their application forms online without physical visits to the government office.

2.  Importers/Exporters can check status of their applications online.

3.  Government officers can issue the CITES Permits online.

4.  Those CITES Permits issuing at the DOA main office can be sent electronically to the DOA border office, and also to match with the corresponding Customs Declaration for faster/more compliant border clearance (through National Single Window).

5.  Those different application forms, and CITES import/export/transit-related Permits could be in electronic forms, or printed forms as requested.

6.  Data cross checking between the DOA main office, the DOA border office, and Customs to reduce fraud, and improve accuracy.

7.  Amendations (Add/Update/Delete) are easily handled electronically.

-  Electronic transactions instead of manual

-  Electronic documents instead of paper documents -  Faster/less cost: 2-3 physical visits were reduced to 1 physical visit, or none for each transaction -  Better compliance with data cross checking

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To-be CITES Import Permits

Electronic Process

DOA Border Control Applicant Information System

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An Example of Information System

Architecture for a Department of Agriculture

Applicants External Private Labs

DOA Branches

DOA Border Control

DOA Main Office

DOA Data Center

Gov Network

Internet

National Single Window

Customs Dept

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Conclusion/Recommendation: #1 Institutional Arrangement

1. Assessment (Understanding

the as-is process, e.g. strength, weaknesses,

Improvement opportunities)

2. Improvement Plan (analyzing and prioritizing

the improvement measures, e.g. proposing

“to-be” process)

3. Implementation of the new “to-be” process

4. Change Adoption of the new

environment

Capacity Building/Assisting MOA in institutionalizing

this Process Reform

CI Cycle

CI = Continuous Improvement Cycle

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Conclusion/Recommendation: #2 Conducting BPA Projects

Assisting MOA (DOA, DOF, DLD, …) to conduct

§ Analysis of the As-Is Business Process & their bottlenecks related to import/export/transit agriculture-related goods

§ Proposing better To-Be Business Process by 1.  Make those procedures & document requirements transparent and easy for

stakeholders to access to

2.  Merge some procedures, and/or documents(forms)

3.  Eliminate redundant procedures and unnecessary documentary requirements

4.  Automate procedures and promote the sharing of trade and transport data among relevant stakeholders

5.  Modify related laws and regulations to facilitate the operation of the newly designed business processes

6.  Reform the regulatory-related organizational structures, etc….

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Conclusion/Recommendation: #3 Implementing BP Improvement Projects

Assisting MOA (DOA, DOF, DLD, …) to develop process improvement plans and implement those plans

§ Developing improvement recommendations/stakeholder consultation, refinement and agreement/and the connectivity/alignment with the National Single Window project implementation plan.

§ Implementing those new to-be process with both new manual simplified process and electronic information systems, e.g. simplified non-redundant procedures, electronic application forms, workflow automation, and issuance of electronic permits/certificates, and electronic informatio exchange with paperless Customs system (through National Single Window).

Somnuk Keretho, PhD Director, Institute for IT Innovation..........

Kasetsart University, Bangkok

Regional Training of Trainer Workshop Trade Facilitation & Paperless Systems for Agrifood Products

organized by UNESCAP

15-17 December 2014 United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok

Q & A Thank You