Overview[]
The Asia Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (AFACT) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that is open to participation from the representatives of member countries and experts from private sectors within the Asia-Pacific region.
The forerunner of AFACT was ASEB (Asia EDIFACT Board) established in 1990 in response to disseminate EDIFACT (Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport) policies and activities in the Asia-Pacific region. After eight years’ contribution to facilitate international transaction within the region, through the simplification and harmonization of procedures and information flows, the need for re-engineering was raised in the 16th ASEB meeting to conform to the rapidly changing trend of EDI and EC, and to respond to the successful restructure of UN/CEFACT. As a result of re-engineering, ASEB ceased to exist in 1998. In 1999, AFACT officially commenced.
AFACT aims to promote the commitment and development of trade facilitation, electronic business policies and activities in the Asia Pacific region, mainly focusing on those promoted by UN/CEFACT (United Nations Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business), to guide, stimulate, improve and promote the ability of business, trade and administrative organizations from members, as well as to exchange products and relevant services effectively within AFACT community.