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Improving Small Package e-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME) project launched

Cambodia
Trade
10.02.2022
The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, through implementing partner Swisscontact and in partnership with Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce (MoC), embarks on the “Improving Small Package e-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME)” Project.

On February 8th, 2022, the Improving Small Package e-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME) project was launched by H.E. PAN Sorasak, Minister, Ministry of Commerce. The launching event was co-organized by the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, Ministry of Commerce and Swisscontact.

"The project will contribute to the implementation of the Cambodia Trade Integration Strategy (CTIS) 2019-2023 which lays down the needs to diversify and to leverage opportunities in new growth sectors, especially emerging digital economy and cross-border e-commerce. This project comes at a time when cross-border e-trade and development are needed like never before, particularly at a time where the on-going COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the uptrend shift towards e-commerce. The Ministry of Commerce very much look forward to implementing our joint activities with the Alliance and Swisscontact and other partners and expect great progress in this regard from the project."
H.E Pan Sorasak, Minister, Ministry of Commerce 

The SeT4SME project will digitalize paper-based customs clearing processes for small packages sent through the post and address the ‘Missing Digital Link’ to deliver e-commerce boost for small businesses in Cambodia that will speed shipments and open export markets through two workstreams: i) Institutional Capacity Support for Electronic Advanced Data (EAD) Implementation that will enable the system that sends customs and security information before the arrival of a package to the destination country, and ii) e-Trade Portal Development and Promotion aiming to strengthen Cambodia’s cross-border e-Trade environment for SMEs.  

"Through several discussions with all the stakeholders, and strong support and guidance from the leadership of H.E Minister H.E. PAN Sorasak, with the endorsement of His Excellency Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Ministry of Economy and Finance, our joint efforts have paid off. We have delivered yet another important milestone today, which is the official Launch of The SeT4SME Project."
H.E. LCT. Tekreth Kamrang, Secretary of State, Ministry of Commerce

The launch was also attended by Mr. Philippe Isler, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. In his opening remarks, he expressed his thoughts on the importance of the project for MSMEs. 

"I am particularly pleased to be here for the launch of this project, which is the first of its kind for the Alliance. It is our first project that is directly focusing on e-commerce. It is also the Alliance’s first project in Cambodia, and we are looking forward to actively collaborate with you and pave the way hopefully to jointly develop further opportunities in the future. It is particularly gratifying that this project is directly aimed at making it easier for small business to sell their good across the border. Today more than even countries need to be sure, they confront and cut out the red tape that deters e-commerce."
Mr. Philippe Isler, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation
"I do believe that the project will produce the good outcome for contributing to speeding up the development and operation of pre-arrival processing in Cambodia. The completed project will reduce time and costs for express shipments."
Mr. Pha Eng Veng, Deputy Director General, General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia

The project aims to reduce the average time in customs clearance processing for Cambodia's outbound and inbound small packages sent through the post as well as the reduction of average time and cost for export documentary compliance by SMEs and women owned businesses (WOBs) exporters. Through the EAD interface, international packages from Cambodia to EAD required countries will be fully compliant as well as increase in international packages sent / received via post by SMEs and WOBs. The e-trade portal aims to increase small packages exports for SMEs and WOBs. Furthermore, the project will also contribute to reduced manual data entry of customs and security information for customs and postal officials.

"This initiative will boost the exports of MSME’s in general in particular women led MSMEs. So with this joint effort with all partners, we hope to seamlessly have small package exports from Cambodia, helping the MSME’s in one end and on the other side, working on regulatory framework and international compliance issues, particularly on the Electronic Advanced data."
Mr. Rajiv Pradhan, Country Director Swisscontact Cambodia and Global Alliance Coordinator Cambodia
"Cambodia Post is delighted that Cambodia benefits from this project, in terms of facilitating of the movement of cross-border postal shipments. This will ultimately lead to better engagement of Cambodian SMEs in the global e-trade to grow their businesses. Cambodia Post sees our partnership under this project as the very first steppingstone that will open further opportunities for Cambodia Post and the Ministry of Commerce, Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, and Swisscontact to expand our cooperation activities in the future, particularly in enhancing postal capacity and helping Cambodia business seize the global e-commerce opportunities better."
Mr. Then Samvisoth, Director General of Cambodia Post.
"CWEA is sincerely very appreciative of the support from the Global Alliance for e-Trade Facilitation through Swisscontact in Cambodia. It is with great honor to get support for a “cross-border e-commerce and e-logistics service" platform as a result of the Alliance’s gender sensitive approach that will offer an enabling environment for small players to do business like other countries are doing. We are excited for our MSMEs to take full advantage of an improved customs and related processes of postal shipments for small package exports. So, if other countries can do it, why don’t we?."
LCT Okhna Keo Mom, President, Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA)

The event was attended by 91 participants representing Ministry of Commerce, General Department of Customs and Excise, Cambodia Post, Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association and other ministries, private sector and development partners.

Improving Small Package E-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME), is a two-year project (2021-2022) of Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (the Alliance), implemented by Swisscontact in partnership with Ministry of Commerce (MoC), and with the collaboration of the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), Cambodia Post, The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA).

Learn more about the SeT4SME project.

SET4SME EVENT MEDIA REPORTS

 

2021 - 2023
Cambodia
Trade
Improving Small Package E-Trade for SMEs
Improving Small Package E-Trade for SMEs (SeT4SME) is a two-year project (2021-2023) for the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. This project aims to support Cambodia in improving its trade performance and driving inclusive growth in the country by enhancing trade facilitation implementation with improved transparency in trade practices and reduced time and cost of cross-border e-trade.
Learn more