New digital trading platform to be made part of national agenda

Rachada Dhnadirek, deputy government spokesperson, said the Cabinet has approved the setting up of a National Digital Trade Platform and has assigned the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) to work with related agencies and the Joint Standing Committee of Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) to achieve this.
The JSCCIB comprises of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade, Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Bankers Association.
Rachada added that the prime minister has also called on all sectors to make the development of the digital platform part of the national agenda and link it with the Asean Single Window to create an online trading system with Asean countries.
Owing to the different levels of digital development in the public and private sectors, and an inefficient connection system, the new National Digital Trade Platform (NDTP) will bring the central system linking the international digital trade data up to the same standards as every other country.
The NDTP will also become a central platform connecting with the National Single Window System (NSW), which will provide online import-export data related to customs, export agents, freight forwarders, shipping and airline companies, and will also be linked with 36 government agencies that issue licences and certification.
NDTP will also improve the trading system and hasten the service process for private companies, thereby reducing the time and cost spent on completing transactions. The new system will also enhance transparency and give small and medium-sized enterprises better opportunities to trade internationally and have easier access to funds.
In the first phase, the new system will focus on four types of documents such as purchase order, invoicing, shipping instructions and sea waybills to shorten the process of exporting goods.