While there is no single definition that adequately describes digital trade, there is a growing understanding of its importance across the world – as well as the role that standards play in supporting and facilitating it. This has been the focus of the ASEAN-Australia Digital Trade Standards Initiative, now in its third year of implementation, together with the National Standards Bodies (NSBs) and stakeholders of all ten ASEAN Member States.

In partnership with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University, and Access Partnership, this initiative aims to expand bilateral connections between ASEAN and Australia. Through this initiative Standards Australia is focused on increasing participants’ awareness, understanding and implementation of standards that support digital trade by delivering a series of workshops in the region.

“Given how pivotal digital trade is for the growth of our markets, it is important to invest in developing international standards that support digital trade and their implementation in our region. Working with ASEAN to ensure their active participation in this field is a key priority for the International Engagement team at Standards Australia,” remarked Head of International, Karen Batt.

Collectively, the four workshops throughout 2021 will provide guidance on topics such as building the profile of NSBs under the context of digital trade, how participants can help shape and develop digital trade standards, how to organise effective digital trade standards mirror committees, and how to distribute and promote standards pertaining to digital trade.

The first workshop in March 2021 was a Senior Management Masterclass highlighting the role of all executives and senior staff in driving engagement on digital trade. The second workshop was delivered this month and attended by a broader audience outside of the NSB. It dove deeper into technical areas of digital trade and how experts can get more involved. Workshops 3 and 4 will be delivered later in September and December.

The initiative has benefited from excellent guest speakers across Australia and ASEAN alike. If you are a contributor in Australia and would like to get involved in future workshops, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Contact details and more information on the initiative can be found on our ASEAN-Australia Digital Trade page.