Webinar on Enhancing APEC's capacity on facilitating the use of APEC business travel cards

 Webinar on Enhancing APEC's capacity on facilitating the use of APEC business travel cards

 – In two days September 14-15, 2021, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Indonesia organized a webinar "Enhancing APEC capacity on facilitating the use of APEC business travel cards" with the participation of more than 100 delegates from countries in the Asia-Pacific region. This is an activity within the framework of the project of the APEC Business Mobility Working Group (BMG).

Pictures of the webinar

The goal of the conference is to share knowledge, experiences and good examples through the use of APEC Business Travel Card - ABTC (APEC Business Travel Card) to support effective connection between people and businesses. people in the APEC connectivity plan for the period 2015-2025.

The workshop was organized into 5 sessions with the following topics: (1) Overview of the APEC business travel card (ABTC) and current trends; (2) Lessons learned from APEC member economies on improving the use of ABTCs including challenges, opportunities and best practices; (3) What businesses expect from ABTC cards; (4) Border reopening: Current developments and future impetus for ABTC tokens after COVID-19; (5) Next steps and recommendations.

At the first session, the workshop participants were introduced to an overview of the APEC business travel card and current trends. This session provided delegates with an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on cross-border travel, particularly on the movement of business people within the region. Experts and researchers shared about the current trend of using ABTC cards, the benefits of using ABTC cards, the application process and general criteria for those applying for ABTC cards.

In addition, the workshop participants also heard from experts who provided an assessment of the implementation of ABTC tokens in a number of economies and potential areas to improve the efficiency of the processes.

The second session introduced lessons learned from APEC member economies in improving the use of ABTCs, including challenges, opportunities and best practices. During this meeting, member economies, especially relevant government agencies, will share experiences in the implementation of ABTC tokens. Discussions covered aspects related to the ABTC registration process (requests, verification, and processing times), promotion strategy, technical and institutional challenges, and mechanics. assessment and review.

The session also included the exchange of information regarding domestic regulations in this area, including measures to overcome challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This session will provide a better understanding of the current regulatory framework for the implementation of ABTC tokens among member economies and identify gaps and best practices.

Some topics were shared about the experience of granting and managing travel cards of APEC businessmen of some countries such as Korea, China, Vietnam and Indonesia.