(Hong Kong, 24 August 2004) The Pan-Asian E-Commerce Alliance, known as PAA, held the 16th Steering Committee meeting in Macau from 18th August to 19th August 2004. Established in July 2000, it is the first regional e-Commerce alliance in Asia that promotes and provides secure and reliable IT infrastructure to facilitate efficient global trade and logistics. Current PAA Members comprise Tradelink of Hong Kong, Trade-Van of Chinese Taipei, CrimsonLogic of Singapore, KTNET of Korea, CIECC of China, TEDI Club of Japan, Dagang Net of Malaysia and TEDMEV of Macau. CAT Telecom Public Co. Ltd. of Thailand was accepted by PAA as a formal member in this meeting.

Speaking on behalf of the Alliance after the meeting, Dr. Chen, Jenn Nan, Chairman of the PAA and Trade-Van's CEO said, "We are extremely pleased with the significant progress we have made in these two days. And at this meeting we unanimously endorsed the application of CAT for PAA membership."

Mr. Sompol Chanprasert, senior executive vice president of CAT said, "CAT, representing Thailand, is looking forward to enhancing the e-Commerce business, particularly secure cross border transactions with the international trading community in cooperation with the PAA members."

Chairman of TEDMEV, Mr. Lo Loi Weng expressed his warm welcome to all the PAA members and showed his full support to PAA regional cooperation. 'I am sure that in the PAA initiatives in secure cross border electronic transaction services, the impetus to paperless trade and to provide door-to-door cargo tracking, will bring a significant benefit to the business growth in the Asian region.' Said Mr. Lo.

The PAA reported progress in various projects. Among them, a cross border customs declaration service model had been launched and the service was extended to freight forwarders. These users benefit from the reuse and data sharing among the trading community to facilitate their respective customs' declarations using the PAA secure cross border transaction service.

As an associate member of AFACT, the Asia Pacific chapter of the UN/CEFACT, which is the UN/EDIFACT standard setting body, PAA is invited to make a presentation on the AFACT annual meeting held in September 2004. PAA will further promote APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) initiatives in paperless trading.

The 17th Steering Committee Meeting is scheduled to be held in Taiwan in November 2004.