CAREC Pilot Project on Electronic Exchange and Mutual Recognition of Conformity Certificates: Introductory Session
On 21 April 2026, ADB, with the participation of UNESCAP and Korea Trade Network (KTNET) experts, convened an introductory session for the CAREC Pilot Project on Electronic Exchange and Mutual Recognition of Conformity Certificates. The pilot aims to develop a prototype for the electronic exchange of conformity certificates to reduce processing time in selected products traded among member countries.
The participants welcomed the pilot project’s role in fostering mutual trust and strengthening regional cooperation leveraging digital solutions for trade. KTNET discussed the pilot’s methodology, implementation arrangements, and questionnaire designed to assess the current business processes and institutional readiness of the participating countries. Representatives from customs, standards and conformity agencies from Azerbaijan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are participating in the pilot project. The pilot is among the priority initiatives under the CAREC Partnership for Trade, Climate and Innovation signed in Baku in November 2024, for which an MOU was signed by ADB, KTNET and CAREC participating countries at the 24th CAREC Ministerial Conference in November 2025. The pilot aligns with the UN Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific. The kick-off workshop for the pilot project is planned in Seoul in June 2026.
Key Documents
The pilot is implemented under TA 10730: Implementing the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030 (Phase 2): Accelerating Digital Trade (Subproject 3), with support from the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund.