As the event concludes, all seminar participants take a commemorative photo
The Feasibility Study Evaluation Seminar for the Establishment of the ASEAN-ROK Regional Certificate of Origin (CO) Exchange Platform was held from September 24 to 27, in Seoul.
The seminar was attended by key figures, including Mr. Yoon-sung Jung, Vice President, and Mr. Seung-hyun Cha, Manager of CUPIA (Customs UNI-PASS International Agency); Mr. Nitas Polachai, Senior Officer for Trade Facilitation at the ASEAN Secretariat; Ms. Jang Bo-ram, Specialist Officer from the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Ms. Choi Ian, Deputy Director of the FTA Implementation Division at Korea Customs Service. 10 Managers and officials from the CO management agencies of six ASEAN member countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, participated in person, while representatives from the remaining four member countries joined virtually.
CUPIA’s Feasibility Study on Establishment of ASEAN-ROK Regional e-CO Exchange Platform
Client: ASEAN ROK Cooperation Fund
Main Contractor: CUPIA
Project Duration: Approximately 8 months, starting from 2024
Scope: The project involves preparing a Feasibility Study report. This includes analyzing the current status of certificate of origin exchanges in Korea and 10 Asian countries, proposing a future model for an exchange platform, and developing a detailed action plan.
Key Discussions
The seminar began with a presentation on the draft feasibility study report, followed by discussions on possible integration options between Korea’s CO exchange system and the ASEAN Single Window (ASW). Participants reviewed four proposed integration models and gathered feedback from ASEAN member states to discuss further development strategies.
Additionally, the seminar featured in-depth discussions on future model implementation plans, budget procurement strategies, the need to revise the ASEAN-ROK FTA, and methods to enhance cooperation among ASEAN member countries. Participants agreed that the findings of the study would serve as a solid foundation for the future establishment of the platform and provide a stepping stone for deeper cooperation.
Future Plans and Follow-up Initiatives
The seminar also explored potential follow-up initiatives to strengthen ASEAN-ROK cooperation. As an immediate step, a pilot project targeting 2-3 ASEAN countries will be implemented, utilizing the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Fund. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the simplified project evaluation process for the Cooperation Fund now allows for approval within 9 to 12 months, with a maximum of 1 million USD available per project.
Furthermore, efforts will be made to secure additional funding through consultations with Korean development agencies and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support platform establishment. The Philippines and Laos, in particular, have expressed strong interest in developing their own single window systems. Leveraging this momentum, CUPIA’s marketing team plans to closely analyze the local environment and provide tailored support.
Seung-Hyun CHA, the project manager of the Feasibility Study project from CUPIA, is presenting the contents of the report