The 2019 IPPC National Reporting Obligations Workshop for the Near East and North Africa

IPPC ePhyto Project group members, host and funders. © IPPC Secretariat

17 September 2019, New Delhi. The IPPC ePhyto Project received a trade facilitation innovation award at the UNESCAP Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum held from 17-18 September 2019 in New Delhi, India. The theme of the forum was "Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation for Regional Prosperity". The IPPC received the award for the piloting and implementation of the Generic ePhyto National System (GeNS) in Samoa and Sri Lanka.

The award was received by Mr Craig Fedchock, the ePhyto Project Leader of the IPPC Secretariat – and also in attendance were Mr Venkatram Venkateswaran, the ePhyto Project Manager, UNICC, and Mr Peter Neimanis, the Chair of the IPPC ePhyto Steering Group. The award recipients acknowledged the support of the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), which provided initial project funding. Mr Melvin Spreij, STDF Secretary, represented the STDF Secretariat, the initial funder of the effort.

The Forum was attended by delegates from 35 countries and formally opened by Mr Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, who noted that key areas of development are technologies that support export growth and regional integration. These are also key deliverables of the GeNS and objectives of the IPPC ePhyto Project.

The innovation award recognized the years of work, by the IPPC Secretariat and the IPPC ePhyto Steering Group, in delivering the ePhyto Project provides tools and opportunities to realize UN Sustainable Development Goals and there exists strong interest in the Asia-Pacific for country participation and implementation.

For more information about the IPPC ePhyto Project and how your national plant protection organization can participate, visit https://www.ephytoexchange.org/

Mr Craig Fedchock, IPPC Secretariat, receives the award. © IPPC Secretariat