Senior officials responsible for trade facilitation and customs from the SASEC countries were joined by representatives from the Maldives and Sri Lanka for a 3-day SASEC trade facilitation workshop and the inception meeting of the SASEC Customs Subgroup. Proceedings and discussion focused on Findings and next steps in the ADB-UNESCAP Business Process Analysis study; Issues and challenges of trade facilitation in SASEC countries and development of SASEC regional trade facilitation road map; Information and experience sharing on customs standards; international best practice on customs administration; a national single electronic window; SASEC Customs Subgroup terms of reference and Action Plan 2013 - 2015.

Conference Agenda:

• 25 March - Business Process Analysis Finalization
• 26 March - Exchange of Experiences on Nonphysical and Non-tariff Barriers to Trade
• 27 March - Information Sharing on Customs and Standards
• 28 March - Inception of the Customs Subgroup (closed meeting)