The United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations, also known as UN/LOCODE, is a geographic coding system that uniquely identifies locations around the world for transport and economic activities. As a crucial component of the global trade and transport infrastructure, UN/LOCODE has recently expanded its applications to include areas such as maritime security, environmental conservation, and sustainable fisheries. This strategic diversification demonstrates UN/LOCODE’s commitment to addressing complex challenges and promoting standardization and interoperability in our interconnected world.
The UN/LOCODE Advisory Group recently met in Hamburg, Germany for its annual face-to-face gathering, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic. At this meeting, Ms. Maria Teresa Chavarri (USA) was appointed as Chair and Mr. Tiago Spengler (Brazil) as Vice-Chair for the 2024-2025 term. The group also established a new organigram, which includes a Maintenance Team to validate Data Maintenance Requests and a Strategy Team to address policy and strategy issues.
The group discussed various important topics, including improving data quality, implementing cybersecurity measures, and re-engineering the UN/LOCODE application. Significant progress was made in addressing legacy issues with UN/LOCODE assignments that do not align with the latest UNECE Recommendation No.16. The group also highlighted innovative developments, such as Geofencing initiatives, mandatory implementation of the Maritime Single Window, and the use of the UN/LOCODE with the GS1 Global Location Number. Additionally, a new UN/LOCODE directory publication on the UN/CEFACT JSON-LD Web Vocabulary and tools to improve data quality were presented. The group also agreed to explore a Git-based open-source solution for developing a new UN/LOCODE application through a proof-of-concept pilot in collaboration with the OICT at UN Headquarters.
Participants expressed a need for more frequent updates to the UN/LOCODE directory, which is currently updated biannually due to resource limitations. To address this, new fundraising initiatives are being explored to ensure the sustainable development of UN/LOCODE. This demand reflects the increasing importance of real-time data exchange in today’s rapidly changing global trade landscape.
The UNECE secretariat will work with key partners such as FAO, IMO, and UPU to implement and promote standards developed and maintained by the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), including UN/LOCODE and the United Nations Fisheries Language for Universal eXchange (UN/FLUX). These efforts will focus on advancing the utilization of standards for greater interoperability and harmonization of electronic business practices and information exchange, ultimately increasing the accuracy of trade processes.
For more information, please visit the 2024 Meeting – UN/LOCODE Advisory Group | UNECE webpage.