Project

A. General Information

1. Title

TradeTrust China-Tanzania eBL Exchange (Trade Digitalisation Pilot for Foreign Engineering Contracting Projects)

2. Status of the project
Pilot
3. Implementation period of the project/service:
From
Feb-2025
To
--
4. Website
https://www.tradetrust.io/
5. Geographical coverage
Bilateral
Participating countries: China, United Republic of Tanzania
6. Participating agencies/entities of the project/service:
a. Development stage
Lead agencies/entities
- Beijing Two-Zone Office (Office of the Leading Group for the Work of the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone and the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector)
- Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)
Other participating agencies/entities
- AEOTrade (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.
- Beijing TradeTech Alliance
b. Operational stage
Lead agencies/entities (op)
- China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC)
Other participating agencies/entities (op)
- AEOTrade
7. Main stakeholders/beneficiaries of the project
Traders (big enterprises)
Transport
Customs
Foreign engineering contracting companies, shipping lines, logistics providers
8. Business process category of the project
Forwarding and cargo handling
Transport
Regulatory/official control
Trade documentation digitalization, title transfer

B. Lessons Learned

9. Summary description of the project/service
Brief Summary

China's first end-to-end interoperable trade digitalization pilot for foreign engineering contracting projects, using TradeTrust and AEOTradeChain blockchain frameworks for electronic Bills of Lading (eBLs) issuance, circulation, and verification between China and Tanzania.

a. Objective(s)

To digitize the entire process of trade in Chinese foreign engineering contracting projects, enabling online circulation and real-time tracking of electronic documents, facilitating cross-chain interoperability between AEOTradeChain and TradeTrust, and enabling secure data sharing between digital trade systems from China and Singapore.

b. Business need for the project (background)

International engineering trade digitization faced challenges including non-transparent supply chain information, inefficiency, high costs, and complex trade processes. Paper-based documentation created delays and additional costs from couriers, while cross-border data sharing between different countries and regions remained problematic.

c. Business process covered*

Electronic Bill of Lading issuance, circulation, verification, title transfer, customs clearance documentation, and cross-border document exchange for foreign engineering contracting shipments (Customs code 3422).

d. Overall architecture and functionalities*

The system uses "AEOTradeChain + TradeTrust" integration with blockchain technology for issuing, circulating, and verifying eBLs. AEOTradeChain (developed by Beijing TradeTech Alliance with ChainMaker technology) connects with the TradeTrust-enabled eBL system (AEOTradeOS) based on Astron crypto-less public blockchain. The architecture implements cross-chain interoperability, "on-chain certification + dual-code verification" system for 28 types of trade documents, and automated data flows through business system integration.

e. Relevant document/figure
--
10. Documents and data exchanged via the project

Electronic Bills of Lading (eBLs), 28 types of trade documents with blockchain certification

11. Data models/databases, proprietary solutions, hybrid approaches

Hybrid approach combining AEOTradeChain (ChainMaker blockchain) with TradeTrust framework. Uses Astron crypto-less public blockchain, UNCITRAL MLETR-compliant standards, and cross-chain interoperability protocols.

12. Main challenges faced during the project

Non-transparent supply chain information, inefficiency, high costs, complex trade processes, multi-party collaboration issues, and cross-border data sharing between different countries and regions.

13. Lessons learned from the project

Decentralized interoperability technology can effectively address challenges in international engineering trade digitization, enabling businesses in the sector to successfully transit to digital trade through cross-chain integration and standardized blockchain certification systems.

14. Main benefit(s) of the project
Transaction Cost savings*
Transaction Time savings
Simplified process
14A. Elaborations/detailed description on benefits gained
--
15. Technical/financial/capacity building/other assistance

Joint support from Beijing Two-Zone Office and Singapore's IMDA. Technical implementation by AEOTrade using the TradeTrust framework and AEOTradeChain blockchain infrastructure.

16. Future plan for expansion of the project

The Beijing Two-Zone Office and IMDA will continue to expand the application of trade digitalization, supporting further development of digital and intelligent international trade.

17. Other information or relevant references on the project

This pilot represents China's first end-to-end interoperable trade digitalization pilot for foreign engineering contracting projects. The shipment involved engineering materials from Tianjin Port (China) to Dar es Salaam Port (Tanzania) for a foreign engineering project executed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

18. Relevant document regarding the project
--

C. Relevant Standards

19. Name(s) of any international, national legal instrument underpinning the project
- UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR)
- Singapore Electronic Transactions Act (ETA) 2021 Amendment (adopting MLETR)
20. Electronic message standard
20A. Electronic message standard supporting the project
TradeTrust framework standards, W3C Verifiable Credentials, blockchain-based electronic transferable records:
20B. Type of standard for electronic message applied for the project
International standard
Technical recommendations from international body(ies)
21. Technical communication standard
21A. Technical communication standard supporting the project
HTTP, Blockchain protocols (Ethereum, Polygon, XDC compatible), API-based communication
21B. Type of technical communication standard applied for the project
International standard
22. Security-related standards*
22A. Security-related standard supporting the project
Digital signatures
Blockchain-based cryptographic verification, on-chain certification, decentralized identifiers (DID), NFT-based ownership transfer
22B. Type of security-related standard applied for the project
International standard
23. Other Technical Information
23A. Interface developed for data exchange with an internal system
Integration between AEOTradeChain (ChainMaker blockchain) and TradeTrust-enabled AEOTradeOS system. Business systems were integrated to automate data flows.
23B. Other technical implementation information
Uses Astron crypto-less public blockchain, cross-chain interoperability between AEOTradeChain and TradeTrust, "on-chain certification + dual-code verification" system for 28 types of trade documents. TradeTrust connects to Ethereum, Polygon, and XDC blockchain networks using non-fungible tokens for secure ETR ownership transfers.