Paper media and pdf files are widely used for collaboration among companies in Japanese trading operations, and it may take a lot of time and cost to manually reenter the work in the system and check or modify erroneous inputs. Also, since the process of information transmission and sharing is not advanced, it is difficult for exporters to quickly grasp the state of cargo in trade procedures involving multiple business operators. Thus, NEDO will support development of a trade information collaboration infrastructure system (an application programming interface API that utilizes block chain technology between shippers and forwarders, customs clearance, land transportation and terminal operators in the framework of NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System). Major participants are NTT DATA Corporation and Nomura Research Institute.

NEDO news release, August 23, 2018