Photo/Shetuwang

Dec. 26 (NBD) -- The secretariat for the electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) was unveiled in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province on Wednesday.

Strongly advocated by Alibaba's Chairman Jack Ma in 2016, the eWTP aims at lowering trade barriers through technological empowerment and helping worldwide young people and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) bypass complex regulations and gain more benefits from global economic development.

An independent permanent institution for the eWTP, the secretariat, located close to Alibaba's headquarters, will take charge of the daily operations, international cooperation, training and exchange programs, achievement exhibitions and release of rules and patterns, expected to be put into service in October 2020. 

The world's first public service platform for the eWTP will also be launched in Hangzhou soon, which would be a digital "operating system" for SMEs engaging in the cross-border business. For example, export companies processing formalities for customs clearance at the eWTP pilot area in Hangzhou could enjoy more convenient one-stop services ranging from exchange settlement and tax reimbursement to logistics and financing services. 

To date, the eWTP has had six digital trade hubs, with two in China and the other four in Malaysia, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Belgium.  

Email: gaohan@nbd.com.cn