The UNTPDC-RMIT Cooperation

The United Nations Trade Point Development Centre, UNTPDC , is now operational in Melbourne (after 2 years in Bangkok) and is hosted by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology RMIT. UNTPDC is cooperating with RMIT to establish the "Asia Pacific Trade Point Development Centre APTPDC Lab" and conceptualize the Lab operations for further expansion to other regions in the world.

The research project is hosted by the Faculty of Engineering and cooperates with the Graduate Schools of Engineering, CITRI (through the Department of Communications and the Department of Computer Systems Engineering), the Graduate School of Business and the School of Business Studies TAFE.

The research work covers , technical feasibility, cost effective designs, "information highway" requirements and the modus operandis, to support the establishment of electronic information processing, information infrastructuring and electronic commerce technologies to improve trade efficiency throughout the world. RMIT is the leading technological university in Australia, and has strong linkages with Institutions and development activities in the Asia and Pacific Regions. TPDC-Labs are joint-research projects of the United Nations Trade Point Development Centre UNTPDC with regional academic and research centres, with the objective to expand the Global Trade Point Network at regional level and to adapt the Trade Point Model to regional requirements.

The Main of Objectives of the UNTPDC-RMIT Research Project:

1. To further improve expand the Global Trade Point Network to satisfy the requirements of the Global Information Highway .

The Trade Point Programme started in February 1992 at UNCTAD VIII in Cartagena de Indias, with the objective of establishing 16 pilot Trade Points, and its first phase culminated in the United Nations International Symposium on Trade Efficiency. In Columbus, more than 2000 decision-makers from both the public and private sectors including Prime Ministers, vice-Prime Ministers and some eighty Ministers from 136 countries adopted the Ministerial Declaration on Trade Efficiency, which officially launched the Global Trade Point Network (GTPN), a first worldwide illustration of the positive role which the Global Information Highways can play in the field of trade and development.

The GTPN relies on the most advanced available technologies for networking and multimedia communication. One its most widely used features is its 'Web site', on the Internet. Thanks to the Trade Points, all connected countries and enterprises can now exchange 'ETOs' (Electronic Trading Opportunities), as well as other types of information regarding existing trade regulations, banking practices and market intelligence.

As the number of connected Trade Points increases, the Global Trade Point Network will rapidly emerge as one of the main worldwide network for trade-related information flows. It will become increasingly difficult for any major trading partner to stay out of it, and the subsequent increase in traffic will allow substantive reductions in the cost of collecting, formatting, transmitting and processing such information. This will allow both a continued increase in the number of Trade Point beneficiaries (especially SMEs) and a strengthening of the technological advance characterizing the GTPN approach (through reinvestment in research and development).

The first phase of the programme was fully achieved, since as of 15 May 1995, 84 Trade Points had been or were being established in 55 countries, while another 41 official requests had been submitted to UNCTAD. The second phase, and in particular the interconnection of the Trade Points, has started with the launching of the GTPN at the Columbus Symposium and will be carried out with the support of the Trade Point Development Centre and with the TPDC Labs (TPDC Labs).

The primary objective of a TPDC Lab is to assist Trade Points worldwide to get connected to the Global Trade Point Network, particularly through the Internet. TPDC cooperates with regional or sub-regional TPDC Lab providing decentralized access to the GTPN for Trade Points in their region.

The Present and Future developments at the UNTPDC

The United Nations Trade Point Development Centre was initially located in Bangkok (Thailand) and established in cooperation with the Asia Institute of Technology. At present, the UNTPDC moved to Melbourne in coperation with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

The UNTPDC is presently developing initiatives that will enhance the world of tomorrow. Is already working to design a post-Internet world in wich a micro-enterprise in a rural area of a less developed country can easily trade and correpond with a company in a major city-hub or browse through an oveseas global library of trade documents and directories by instantaneous communications.

The leap from vision to reality has ben exponential at the UNTPDC, not gradual. The most sweeping changes in commmunications, standards, security, networking and transactional mechanism over the past three decades have been compressed into the short space of the past few years.

In only 2 years of existence the UNTPDC has achieved a large number of development projects and breakthrough technologies such as:

- The Electronic Trading Opportunity (ETO) System

- The Intelligent Agent for Trade Efficiency

- The ETO-Link (In cooperation with General Electric Information Services)

- The development of the WWW Server for the Global Trade Point Network

- Establishment of Interactive Multimedia Technologies for Training

The expansion of the UNTPDC radio of action using TPDC Labs

Given the rapid multiplication of Trade Points worldwide and the tremendous amount of data and services generated by them, the UNTPDC should no longer centralize data and services for the Global Trade Point Network. Presently over 70 Trade Points are incubated at the UNTPDC Server in Geneva, Switzerland.

It is important dring this second phase of implementation of the GTPN that Trade Points have "sub-regional" or at least "regional" entry points to the GTPN. That makes it necessary to set up TPDC Labs in Asia, Pacific, Africa and Latin America.

At this stage, after the Asia Pacific Lab in Melbourne, Australia, the following sites are being considered for the establishment of a TPDC Labs: Brazil, China, India, Kenya and the United States. The central node of the system would continue to be in Geneva, since all TPDC Labs Internet servers will be connected via the UTPDC environment at the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC). Each Trade Point will be free to select its own way to connect to the GTPN as long as it maintains full compatibility with the UNTPDC-UNICC Internet Server. Developing countries (and sometimes other countries without packet switching data network - PSDN) can be connected via Internet,X25 services, VAN's and/or SITA.

Solutions developed by the TPDC Labs must abide by the basic principles on which the GTPN is funded, namely openness (i.e. the solutions and systems will be interconnectible and interoperable, which implies a strict respect of universal norms and standards, in particular those promoted by the United Nations, such as UN-EDIFACT), non-exclusivity (i.e., the equipment and services supplied to the GTPN must be delivered on a non-exclusivity basis, leaving the Trade Points permanent freedom to select the best quality/price ratio), and universality (i.e., the solutions developed will be of use to all types of Trade Points in all types of environments with the purpose of 'excluding exclusion). The latter requires, inter alia, additional efforts in favour of least developed countries, as well as SMEs.

Proposal to establish TPDC Labs in 4 regions and interconnected them via the UNTPDC servers.

Currently only few Trade Points are fully connected (WWW, FTP, email) and receiving information from the Global Trade Point Network. Generally, they are connected via E-mail using a composite mixture of services provided by General Electric, AT&T and Internet. Thus, those with Internet access can benefit from the Internet resource developed by the Trade Point Development Centre (TPDC) Gopher and the multimedia (WWW) server recently established on the Internet by the TPDC. Trade Points outside developed countries are not yet in position to benefit from the Information Databases created by the TPDC and to broadcast this information at national level, and the difficulty is even greater when it comes to providing Gopher and WWW services to their members at national level.

This project will contribute to the connection of Trade Points in developing countries to the Trade Information databases available on the Internet, especially the trade information services developed by the TPDC: Electronic Trading Opportunities (ETO), the Global Trade Point Database (accessible via an Internet Gopher) and Electronic Product Catalogues (via WWW, also on the Internet). Such a connection will be provided to Trade Points through the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) in Geneva, which is the Internet provider for the United Nations organizations based in Geneva. At the national level, access will be established via local Internet nodes, national Packet Data Networks (PDNs) and/or using the SITA-UNICC connection agreement allowing Internet connection from any SITA node. The final objective of this project is to fill the current gap between existing international networks (e.g. Internet) and many Trade Points. That is what this project designates as "last mile connection", and it is only when this connection exists that a Trade Point becomes a true tool for competition in electronic commerce. To achieve this, this project will aim at: (a) Connecting existing Trade Points through the Internet to the trade and investment databases that are presently available at the TPDC in Gopher and WWW formats. (b) Developing Internet WWW-Gopher Trade Information labs in selected areas. These labs will help Trade Points in establishing Internet servers in areas which currently have no access to the Global Trade Point Network, e.g. the least developed countries. Once this "last mile connection" exists an effort will have to be made to establish an "ultimate link" between the interconnected Trade Points and their final users. The promotion of Trade Points among small and medium-sized enterprises will require a substantial amount of resources.

With this aim in view, SPTE has already submitted projects to several donors. Both efforts (last mile connection and ultimate link)will therefore be carried out in parrallel during the second phase (1995-97) of the programme.

Current Initiatives and Highlights for the UNTPDC-RMIT Join research project

UNTPDC-RMIT main cooperation ares of research and development:

1. To develop a curriculum for an Advance Degree of Trade Efficiency, creating an Interative Multimedia Course to allow students to follow the courses virtually.

2. To develop the Trade Point Engine Web Server, to allow Trade Points to access the GTPN

3. Intelligent Agent technologies for EDI messages allowing Global Tracking and Delivery of Trade Opportunities, Product Catalogues, Trade Information, Trade Documentation. A prototype is now available for ETO IAgent.

4. To research and develop the new generation "ETO" with a secure environment and global reach. The Secure Electronic Trading System, using smart card technology.

5. Interactive Web with Multimedia CD\ROM interoperability.

6. Electronic Directories (using X500 ) allowing Global Visual Multimedia to browse databases, video libraries. Finding the right destination at the GTPN will be made easier by smart screen-based electronic directories that will link the user to Trade Point databases via Intelligent Assistants and Agents located within the network.

TRADE POINT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE CONCEPTUAL AND OPERATIONAL DESIGN

The UNTPDC-RMIT Reserach project will work towards the objective to establish a conceptual and operational blueprint for the optimal Trade Point Development Centre Lab. This research work will have the following objectives:

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES, OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE UNTPDC-RMIT PROJECT

The UNTPDC-RMIT Research Centre will cooperate with the Special Programme on Trade Efficiency of UNCTAD in Geneva, Switzerland in the following areas of implementation of the Global Trade Point Network.

Immediate objective 1: Connection of existing Trade Points to the Internet and to databases available at the UNTPDC-RMIT Trade Point Development Centre in Gopher and WorldWide Web (WWW) formats.

Output 1.1: A gateway connection to the GTPN

Activity 1.1.1 Assess Internet accessibility in relevant countries.

Activity 1.1.2 Provide technical assistance, including necessary software, for the connection of existing Trade Points to the Internet nodes. Activity

1.1.3 Assess trade services which are available through electronic networks and create Gopher and WWW links for them. Activity

1.1.4 Compile data on national trade-related information sources, classify it using harmonized system and ISO codes and upload it into the Internet TPDC databases and multimedia data storage systems.

Activity 1.1.5 Design a data processing system based on EDIFACT standards.

Activity 1.1.6 Develop software tools necessary to the optimal use of the information processed in activities 1.3 and 1.4;

Output 1.2: Communications software for the Global Trade Point Network

Activity 1.2.1 Identify specific Trade Point needs in telecommunications software, particularly for connection with end users, service providers, GTPN

Activity 1.2.2 Develop and install customized software solutions for Trade Points telecommunications, including the development and implementation of solutions for unconnected regions (e.g. sub-saharan Africa).

Activity 1.2.3 Develop/adapt the required node software to control the telecommunication flows at the Trade Point related to services provided by/through the Trade Points

Immediate Objective 2: Establish 3 regional Trade Point Development Centre Internet Labs (Africa, Asia/Pacific and Latin America)

Output 2.1 Operative definition of regional TPDC Internet labs.

Activity 2.1.1 Evaluate possible locations for each region in terms of accessibility both to Internet and to Trade Points in the region.

Activity 2.1.2 Define TPDC Internet lab interaction with local and regional Trade Points.

Activity 2.1.3 Functional install TPDC Internet Lab, including staff recruitment

Output 2.2: Definition of hardware/software and of network topology for each regional TPDC Internet Lab; system integration.

Activity 2.2.1 Define hardware configuration for the TPDC lab.

Activity 2.2.2 Install hardware and software; test and integrate systems.

Activity 2.2.3 Prepare system documentation

Output 2.3: Trained TPDC Internet Lab staff.

Activity 2.3.1 Prepare training material

Activity 2.3.1 On-the-job training for technical staff

Activity 2.3.2 Organize and conduct at least one seminar per region on Internet issues

Activity 2.2.3 Organize and conduct study visits by TPDC Internet labs staff to UNCTAD's Melbourne TPDC

REQUIRED RESEARCH STAFF FOR IMPLEMENTATION (INPUTS)

Project personnel

1. TPDC Internet Labs Experts 72 m/m

Two experts will work full-time, providing technical backstopping and monitoring the establishment of TPDC Internet labs and the development and implementation of software solutions. They will have strong skills in the field of information technologies, with an emphasis on networking and telecommunications, and wide experience in management of technical assistance projects in the field of trade and trade-related services.

2. Internet Gopher/WorldWide Web consultants 4 m/m

The consultants will work part-time in the development of Gopher/WWW format links to the TPDC Internet lab of trade-related services as described in activity 1.1.2.

3. Telecommunications software consultants

4 m/m They will work in the software development activities described in 1.1.5, 1.2.1, 1.2.2 and 1.2.3.

4. National programmers 18 m/m

To participate in all software development activities described in 1.1.3, 1.1.5, 1.1.6, 1.2.1, 1.2.2, and 1.2.3

5. Multimedia data processing staff

54 m/m To participate in activity 1.1.4

Travel This item covers the cost of travel and per diem of TPDC Internet Labs Experts, consultants, TPDC Internet labs staff and UNCTAD staff for the implementation of project activities, including training.

Equipment This item covers the acquisition of software development tools and the purchase of 3 mini-based Internet servers for the regional TPDC Internet labs.

Communications This item will cover the initial subscription fees necessary to obtain access to Internet providers as well as the initial telecommunications costs (including E-mail)

Administrative Support Administrative support will be required for the execution of project activities and general project coordination.

Group Training This item covers the cost of travel and per diem of HRD consultants, local trainers and UNCTAD staff to Sahel countries to carry out training activities. It also includes the honoraria, travel and per diem of lecturers who may be invited to contribute to training events.