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Frank Cirimele Joins US Technical Advisor Group to Develop Programs for Improved Worldwide Cooperation in Trade

To foster the growth of international trade and related services, Frank Cirimele, director of products and services at freight bill payment provider Cass Information Systems, has joined the U.S. Technical Advisor Group as part of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT).

UN/CEFACT is a subsidiary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). It works to develop programs for improved worldwide cooperation in trade matters.

Cass, a provider of freight audit and payment services works extensively with freight carriers and shippers to create efficiencies in electronic invoicing for cross-border movements of goods. The company serves a diverse group of shippers across multiple industries, such as automotive, chemical, consumer packaged goods, food, heavy equipment, OEM, paper and retail industries.

Before working with other UN/CEFACT groups in the past, Cirimele also served as a private sector expert on the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration's Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Committee on Electronic Commerce.

"The lack of international standards for electronic invoicing is among our greatest challenges," said in a statement, Cirimele. "We believe that the UN/CEFACT working groups can positively influence and guide the development and dissemination of data exchange standards, thus reducing global trade friction and making it easier for global trade to grow. The Single Window Interoperability project, being defined under Recommendation 36, is a prime example of the type of work being done in this area by UN/CEFACT."

The UN/CEFACT group comprises of executives and officials from both the public and private sectors from more than 40 countries. This group offers recommendations for the simplification and harmonization of processes, procedures and information flows that would foster growth in international trade and related services.

Edited by Rachel Ramsey