From 7–18 July 2025, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) hosted the professional development course “Digitisation of Supply Chains and Logistics for Enhanced Trade Effectiveness”
From 7–18 July 2025, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) hosted the professional development course “Digitisation of Supply Chains and Logistics for Enhanced Trade Effectiveness,” delivered by the Research Centre for Integrated Transport Innovation (rCITI) as part of the South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC)1 initiative. SARIC is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The training program brought together 20 senior Customs and government officials, policymakers, and logistics professionals from six South Asian countries—India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, as well as one World Bank representative.
Over two intensive weeks, participants explored the potential of digital technologies to transform trade facilitation and logistics. Technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, as well as global frameworks like the Trade Single Window and port community systems, were key areas of focus. The training combined expert-led seminars, technical lectures, interactive group activities, live demonstrations, and field visits to Australian logistics infrastructure.
Highlights included two panel discussions, one featuring Australian industry leaders in Sydney and another in Canberra, accompanied by a diplomatic briefing and networking luncheon. These discussions enabled a vibrant exchange of regional and technical perspectives, particularly on the legal, institutional, and technological dimensions of trade digitalisation.
Australia’s mature public-private partnership models in infrastructure projects and well-developed guidelines and offer models that South Asian countries could emulate. Ms Nusrat Babi, a course participant from the World Bank, noted that while the Bank advocates for the landlord port model, this training underscored the critical importance of conducting thorough due diligence when structuring PPP contracts, especially in areas related to KPI, data sharing and digital systems integration.
The live demonstrations of fully electric container handling operations in Moorebank intermodal terminals and the deployments of electric trucks by Team Global Express reinforced the importance of sustainability in logistics and supply chain operations. In parallel, Anna Green, the Chief Operations and Sustainability Officer at Toll Group debriefed the trainees on their investments in both electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, reflecting a dual-pronged approach to sustainable freight transport. These first-hand experiences empowered the course participants to envision similar sustainable innovations in their home countries.
One of the most valuable takeaways from the course was the understanding that achieving integrated customs and end-to-end trade digitalisation requires more than just technology. It also depends on the development of robust legal frameworks, complete supply chain digitalisation, strong support from both political institutions and the private sector, and well-coordinated efforts between national and international agencies.
Australia’s Simplified Trade System (STS), Go Global Toolkit–a resource specifically designed to support exporters–and the Digital Trade Accelerator Program (DTAP) could be adopted to enable interoperability of ICT systems and adoption of verifiable credentials and data standards. Participants learnt about the regulatory reforms underway in Australia, including the ABF’s Regulatory Sandbox, and the Streamlined Cargo Intervention Model (SCIM), and the Simplified Targeting and Enhanced Processing system (STEP).
These advancements have been made possible through regular, structured collaboration between government and industry, facilitated by entities such as the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF). This committee brings together key government departments and agencies, such as DFAT, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), and the Australian Border Force (ABF), along with working groups on trade technology and trade facilitation, including efforts around the Single Window and Trusted Trader programs.
Encouragingly, South Asia has made notable progress in digital trade facilitation. India, Nepal and Pakistan have fully operational national single window systems, and Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are now transitioning to a full-fledged National Trade Single Window. Bhutan is in the planning phase, with efforts underway to establish a national trade window as part of a broader World Bank–supported trade facilitation initiative. Pakistan is also expanding its reach through a National Port Community System (PortVerse), which integrates seaports, dry ports, and border crossings, connecting over 70 departments to streamline cargo operations to further enhance trade efficiency. True trade facilitation, however, requires an end-to-end digital ecosystem that supports visibility, interoperability, and coordination across all segments of the supply chain—not just at the border. Without such holistic integration, the region risks leaving significant efficiency gains unrealised.
As rightly pointed out by one of the Keynote speakers, Andrew Hudson, “Australia has approached digital trade cautiously, ensuring that innovation does not compromise essential protections, such as biosecurity, border security, data privacy, and consumer rights. This balanced approach offers valuable lessons for countries seeking to modernise their trade systems without weakening regulatory oversight”, Andrew said.
While the WTO’s vision of a Single Window remains foundational, many experts believe it must evolve to meet the demands of modern trade. During the course, guest speaker Bryan Clark (ACITI) noted that today’s fast-paced, interconnected world calls for solutions that are more flexible and interoperable. One such emerging concept is the Digital Trade Certificate, or “Trade Passport”, which represents a secure, verifiable, and real-time credential that can facilitate cross-border trade, automate compliance, and minimise fraud.
Unlike traditional Single Trade Window systems, which typically require large-scale national system overhauls, digital trade certificates could be adopted incrementally. Governments and businesses could implement them step by step, embedding smart contracts and artificial intelligence to streamline compliance, automate duties, or flag risks in real time. These certificates could serve as a universal trust layer, while Single Windows act as local verification nodes, Dr Elli Irannezhad said.
Over time, a certificate-based system could replace fragmented documentation processes with standardised, trusted data exchange networks. By using distributed ledger technologies, countries could ensure tamper-proof records of origin, tariffs, and compliance, offering a new level of transparency and security in trade. However, participants also acknowledged that such systems are not yet viable in every country. Many developing nations still face gaps in digital infrastructure, capacity, and governance.
Even in Australia, blockchain-based systems are still emerging. Some government agencies have shown reluctance to decentralise authority, preferring traditional systems of control. This issue is likely to be even more pronounced in many South Asian countries, where centralised governance and institutional silos could present barriers to blockchain adoption. In this context, while blockchain and digital trade certificates represent exciting long-term possibilities, WTO-style Single Windows—modernised with improved interoperability and digital upgrades—remain the most practical and scalable infrastructure for developing countries, Dr Irannezhad said.
A hybrid approach is needed to bridge the gap between current systems and future-ready solutions. In the short term, governments must focus on strengthening partnerships with technology providers, developing API-driven systems that enhance interoperability, and adopting global standards such as GS1 to harmonise Internet of Things data for physical freight movements. The need for standards is especially evident in countries that lack local implementations. For example, Nepal currently does not have a fully established GS1 member organisation, and key agencies have recognised this gap.
South Asian countries could also benefit from establishing trade-focused governance bodies similar to Australia’s Simplified Trade System initiative, which brings together 32 border processing agencies and 145 ICT systems to align priorities. This level of collaboration is only possible with strong political will and a commitment to improving trade and logistics performance. While private industries often lead in adopting new technologies, it is ultimately the responsibility of governments to drive regulatory reform, harmonise standards, and align with international frameworks such as the WCO Data Model.
In the long term, a global digital trade certificate standard, anchored in frameworks like the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR), could replace fragmented documentation with trusted data networks. A 3-year regulatory framework roadmap (run by ABF, DAFF and Austrade) will enable legal e-bills of lading, electronic transferrable records such as Trader Identity, regulatory redesign and Customs legislative reform. Certificates could embed AI-driven compliance checks or smart contracts, automating duties and flagging issues in real time, and result in an improved risk assessment, border intervention processes and export information services. Implementing MLETR could boost Australian GDP by 0.15% by 2033, said Mr Ramesh Murthy, the Acting Head of STS at Austrade.
The development of digital trade certificates as a global standard, anchored in these frameworks and initiatives such as the ASEAN Single Window, could provide an interoperable solution that complements national STWs and builds a more connected trade ecosystem. This certificate system would offer flexibility, allowing countries to implement it incrementally and integrate it with legacy customs systems, provided standardisation challenges are addressed.
The SARIC training course delivered by UNSW successfully brought together policymakers, customs authorities, and logistics experts to explore the real-world challenges and opportunities of digital trade. More importantly, it created a space for cross-border collaboration, peer learning, and knowledge exchange.
As South Asian countries continue their journey toward modernised trade systems, the lessons from Australia, and the innovative ideas shared throughout this course, can help guide the way forward. Whether through upgrading Single Trade Windows or gradually adopting digital trade certificates, the future of trade will depend on the ability of governments and industry to work together, adopt global standards, and build inclusive, secure, and digitally connected supply chains.