The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and GCEL executed a landmark MOU, on August 4, 2014, solidifying Australia’s leadership in empowering the Digital Economy through GCEL’s HumaWealth Program. ACCI CEO Kate Carnell and GCEL Co-Chairman Captain Samuel Salloum signed the Agreement at Australia’s Parliament House. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, the Asia Logistics Council Advisory Board Chairman and ASEAN Secretary-General from 2008 to 2012, and the former Thailand Foreign Minister witnessed the MOU signing along with other international officials.
The MOU followed the official launch of the Australia Trade Efficiency Assessment with government and private sector experts, who will perform a diagnostic evaluation of Australia’s trade practices against what technology makes possible today. The assessment will provide recommendations of how the use of digital tools will reduce Australia’s trade costs, increase trade, and create jobs. Furthermore, the Digital Economy will contribute towards achieving the goals of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as well as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Ms. Carnell stated that the ACCI was pleased to join GCEL’s global public -private sector-led initiative to reduce international trade costs, leading to enormous economic growth and job creation. The 18-month HumaWealth Program will empower the Digital Economy by delivering a new era of integrated e-commerce, e-finance, e-insurance, e-logistics, and e-grants to achieve greater levels of trade efficiency.