APEC Virtual Workshop on Digital Government Measures to

Expedite a Post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery

Sponsored by the United States Department of Commerce

0800 – 1030 hrs (EST) | 2000 – 2230 hrs (Singapore / GMT+8)

15 September 2021

Objectives

This workshop, facilitated by the APEC Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG), aims to promote the
digitalization of licensing and permitting processes among APEC economies by providing actionable
recommendations to implement digital government best practices and identifying related training and
capacity-building efforts. Participants will share experiences through relevant case studies, identify key
policy and regulatory drivers to enable digitalization of public-facing services, and share insights regarding
the human capacity element and training required to implement new digital solutions. Recommendations
shared at the workshop will also be captured in a report that APEC economies interested in implementing
digital licensing and permitting processes may wish to use as a reference. While the current workshop is
focused on articulating best-in-class practices from a technical, implementation point of view, concepts
such as digital inclusion and rule of law cannot be divorced from this conversation and will feature
prominently in discussions. Follow-on activities are planned to examine these important concepts in
greater detail.

Participants

• Government officials from APEC member economies with portfolios related to:
o promoting digitalization of government services or digital services, writ large;
o the building and construction authority; and/or
o municipal and provincial government entities that deal with licensing and permitting for
infrastructure and digital transformation.
• Representatives from the private sector.
• Experts on digital government measures from international non-governmental organizations.

Background

Traditional, in-person-only, paper-based licensing and permitting procedures have long been recognized
as contributing to the slow pace and unnecessary delays in procuring approvals. As many economies have
experienced first-hand, COVID-19 and related movement restrictions have further exacerbated this issue.
Post-COVID-19, leveraging digital technologies in the provision of government services will not only spur
a sustainable economic rebound, but also enable resilience, transparency, efficiency and accountability
within the system. For instance, the World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 data shows that digital tools, such
as online communication, payment, and notification, auto-code check, auto-generated checklists,
integrated geographic information systems, and remote monitoring, can reduce the time taken to
complete a permitting process by 32% from 168 days to 1141. Such improvements are especially relevant

1
Doing Business Case Studies: From Paper to the Cloud – Improving Building Control through E-permitting
and tangible in investment-driven sectors, such as construction, which have outsized, positive second-
order economic impacts, including job creation and generating tax revenue.

. . . . .

Tentative Agenda

Time (EST) Program

0800 hrs – Opening Remarks and Scene-setting

0810 hrs
Mark Williams, Practice Manager, Global Knowledge and Expertise, Digital
Development Global Practice, World Bank, will speak on the merits of digitalization of
government services, particularly licensing and permitting processes, as we prepare for
a post-COVID-19 business setting and touch on key characteristics for an enabling
environment.

0810 hrs – Perspectives on the Ground

0830 hrs
Licensing and permitting processes are a particularly significant challenge for businesses
operating across borders, which have to contend with differing and frequently-changing
government regulations and requirements. Inherent inadequacies within a paper-based,
in-person system are exacerbated with the onset of COVID-19 and resultant movement
restriction orders. This session will see practitioners share their views on licensing and
permitting, and discuss digital tools and best practices that have improved workflow.
They will also highlight examples where digital tools have been effectively employed to
streamline licensing and permitting processes.

Panelists: Walmart Inc.

TBD

Moderator: Maryse Robert

Director, Department of Economic Development
Organization of American States

0830 hrs – Presentation of Case Study: Digital Window for Investment, Yucatan, Mexico
0845 hrs
In January 2021, the OECD and the Government of the State of Yucatan officially
launched the first Digital Window for Investment in Mexico. The initiative aims to simplify
all formalities for end-to-end licenses and permits to establish corporate investment,
including those necessary for buying/selling of land; to enable construction and the build-
out of premises; and those necessary to start business operations. According to the
OECD, the Digital Window has reduced requirements for permits and licensing by more
than 55% and the average response time to 85%. The presentation will discuss the
OECD’s definition of true digital licensing, the initiative’s significance, and its key
features.
 Presenter: Manuel Flores Romero
Coordinator
Programme on Regulatory Policy for Latin America
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

0845 hrs – Presentation of Case Study: Chile’s SUPER Platform

0900 hrs
Chile established a digital platform, SUPER, in 2019, which acts as a single window for all
permit applications. Through the platform, applicants are able to track progress, receive
notifications of changes in the status of their applications and get in touch with relevant
government institutions. SUPER is still in the process of consolidation, and currently
offers the services of 18 institutions. Plans are in place to integrate the Municipal Works
Directorate’s online construction permitting system with the SUPER platform. Given
SUPER’s still-evolving nature, the presentation is well-suited to discuss the impetus for
the initiative, practical challenges in implementation and the importance of creating a
conducive regulator environment to promote the adoption of the platform.

Presenter: Jorge Tapia Rodriguez, Executive Secretary &

María Gracia Mir, SUPER Platform Project I/C
Sustainable Projects Management Office
Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism, Chile

0900 hrs – Working Sessions

1000 hrs
The working sessions will focus on technical design and best-in-class practices in
licensing and permitting processes in an integrated and holistic manner, digital inclusion
and rule of law taken as immutable principles underlying discussions. Participants will be
split into two breakout groups to consider: (a) what it means to achieve a “truly digital”
licensing and permitting process; (b) common threads in positive case examples; and (c)
factors influencing success, ultimately aimed at informing the development of actionable
recommendations that APEC economies can use as a reference when implementing
digital licensing and permitting domestically. Participants may wish to deliberate the
following aspects:

(i) Digital systems design

• Defining “true” digital licensing (e.g. all information available online; end-to-
end digital; cost & capacity)

(ii) Alignment of incentives among all relevant actors

• Creating an enabling regulatory environment
• Incentivizing use of digital government services for both investors and policy
implementers
• Certification and other models

(iii) Integration across geographies and within government (e.g. federal vs.
municipal/provincial)
1000 hrs – Round-up
1015 hrs
The moderators of the Working Session will share with the Workshop key points and
preoccupations that were raised, focusing on: (a) a possible APEC definition of “true”
digital licensing; (b) best practices in positive case examples; and (c) factors influencing
implementation.

1015 hrs – Next Steps

1030 hrs
The workshop organizers, C&M International, will update participants on the process of
development of the APEC recommendations and discuss potential ways in which APEC
activities may promote capacity-building for further implementation of digital licensing
and permitting.

END