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Competency Framework
The Competencies That Will Drive Trade Resilience and Integrity
The Centre for Trade Excellence has developed this Competency Framework to guide and enhance the capabilities of the ASEAN workforce, aligning with regional and international best practices in trade compliance, governance, and risk management.
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Our framework aims to support the Centre’s mission to advance strategic trade management and compliance, equipping professionals with the necessary skills, knowledge, and leadership to address the rapidly evolving trade landscape.
The competency framework also aspires to serve as a global benchmark for trade competencies, aligning closely with standards such as WTO agreements, ISO compliance frameworks, and UNSCR resolutions.
The competency framework draws from global and regional frameworks, including those from ASEAN, APEC, and international governance bodies, to create a comprehensive set of competencies. By providing a structured pathway for skills development, it supports the Centre’s initiatives to certify training providers and accredit programs and promote excellence in trade-related professions.
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“We have to invest in human potential through life — start early, get education right, and continue developing skills while people are still at work.”
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, World Economic Forum 2025
The Competency Framework will focus on the following SIX competency areas listed below:
1. Strategic Trade Controls & International Security
Description: The competency framework encompasses a deep understanding of global and regional regulatory frameworks governing strategic trade, compliance with export controls, sanctions, non-proliferation treaties, and international trade laws.
Competencies
Competencies
- Knowledge of International Law: Expertise in UNSCR 1540, WTO agreements, ATIGA, and APEC trade policies.
- Export Controls & Sanctions Compliance: Implements and manages national and regional export control laws and sanctions regimes.
- Non-Proliferation Expertise: Familiarity with non-proliferation mechanisms including trade based money laundering
- International Trade Agreements: Proficiency in the intricacies of free trade agreements, and regional trade pacts.
2. Risk Management & Compliance
Description: The competency framework emphasizes the ability to assess, mitigate, and manage trade-related risks while ensuring compliance with governance, ethical standards, and anti-corruption initiatives.
Competencies
Competencies
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Conducts risk assessments and develops strategies to reduce non-compliance incidents and supporting business continuity practices.
- Internal Controls: Establishes internal compliance controls aligned with global best practices.
- Regulatory Reporting & Auditing: Designs audit and reporting structures to ensure transparency and accountability in trade operations.
- Crisis Management: Manages compliance crises, including internal investigations, breaches in trade regulations and sanctions violations.
- Anti-Corruption & Ethical Governance: Enforces anti-corruption programs and adhering to frameworks like the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.
3. Cybersecurity & Business Integrity
Description: The competency framework ensures the security and integrity of trade-related data, aligning with global standards that safeguard digital fidelity and trust.
Competencies
Competencies
- Data Protection Compliance: Safeguards sensitive data in compliance with GDPR and ASEAN Data Privacy Framework.
- Cybersecurity Risk Management: Implements measures to protect trade networks, aligned with ISO/IEC 27001 standards.
- Digital Trade: Understands the regulatory aspects of digital trade and cross-border e-commerce.
- Emerging Technology Impacts: Awareness of risks and opportunities presented by technologies like quantum computing, AI, and blockchain.
4. Leadership Development & Governance
Description: The competency framework recognizes the critical importance of leadership in building capacity for compliance, risk management and strategic trade governance across the organization and the broader region.
Competencies
Competencies
- Leadership in Compliance Education: Leads educational initiatives promoting a compliance culture.
- Change Management: Implements governance frameworks effectively.
- Mentorship and Development: Mentors junior staff and regional counterparts to build expertise in trade compliance.
- Advocacy for Best Practices: Advocates for trade and compliance best practices across global and regional domains.
5. Sustainable Trade
Description: The competency framework promotes sustainable practices and governance models in trade, leveraging innovative tools and frameworks to enhance compliance, transparency and long-term resilience.
Competencies
Competencies
- Sustainable Business Practices: Integrates environmental, social, and governance principles into trade compliance and risk management.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Applies data analytics to evaluate trade risks, monitors ESG compliance, and supports sustainable trade strategies.
- RegTech Adoption: Implements RegTech solutions to enhance compliance consistent with global sustainability goals.
6. Stakeholder Engagement and & Negotiation
Description: The competency framework focuses on building and strengthening relationships with all relevant stakeholders including international organizations, regulatory agencies, trade bodies, and the private sector to drive strategic trade initiatives.
Competencies
Competencies
- Multi-Stakeholder Coordination: Facilitates discussions and negotiations with government, industry players, and international bodies.
- Diplomacy & Negotiation Skills: Navigates sensitive and high-stakes negotiations in trade agreements and sanctions.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Fosters strategic partnerships, ensuring shared responsibility for compliance and trade integrity.
- Cross-Cultural Communication: Engages effectively across cultures, understanding regional governance structures such as APAC, EU and ASEAN.
1. Strategic Trade Controls & International Security
Description: The competency framework encompasses a deep understanding of global and regional regulatory frameworks governing strategic trade, compliance with export controls, sanctions, non-proliferation treaties, and international trade laws.
Competencies
Competencies
- Knowledge of International Law: Expertise in UNSCR 1540, WTO agreements, ATIGA, and APEC trade policies.
- Export Controls & Sanctions Compliance: Implements and manages national and regional export control laws and sanctions regimes.
- Non-Proliferation Expertise: Familiarity with non-proliferation mechanisms including trade based money laundering
- International Trade Agreements: Proficiency in the intricacies of free trade agreements, and regional trade pacts.
2. Risk Management & Compliance
Description: The competency framework emphasizes the ability to assess, mitigate, and manage trade-related risks while ensuring compliance with governance, ethical standards, and anti-corruption initiatives.
Competencies
Competencies
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Conducts risk assessments and develops strategies to reduce non-compliance incidents and supporting business continuity practices.
- Internal Controls: Establishes internal compliance controls aligned with global best practices.
- Regulatory Reporting & Auditing: Designs audit and reporting structures to ensure transparency and accountability in trade operations.
- Crisis Management: Manages compliance crises, including internal investigations, breaches in trade regulations and sanctions violations.
- Anti-Corruption & Ethical Governance: Enforces anti-corruption programs and adhering to frameworks like the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.
3. Cybersecurity & Business Integrity
Description: The competency framework ensures the security and integrity of trade-related data, aligning with global standards that safeguard digital fidelity and trust.
Competencies
Competencies
- Data Protection Compliance: Safeguards sensitive data in compliance with GDPR and ASEAN Data Privacy Framework.
- Cybersecurity Risk Management: Implements measures to protect trade networks, aligned with ISO/IEC 27001 standards.
- Digital Trade: Understands the regulatory aspects of digital trade and cross-border e-commerce.
- Emerging Technology Impacts: Awareness of risks and opportunities presented by technologies like quantum computing, AI, and blockchain.
4. Leadership Development & Governance
Description: The competency framework recognizes the critical importance of leadership in building capacity for compliance, risk management and strategic trade governance across the organization and the broader region.
Competencies
Competencies
- Leadership in Compliance Education: Leads educational initiatives promoting a compliance culture.
- Change Management: Implements governance frameworks effectively.
- Mentorship and Development: Mentors junior staff and regional counterparts to build expertise in trade compliance.
- Advocacy for Best Practices: Advocates for trade and compliance best practices across global and regional domains.
5. Sustainable Trade
Description: The competency framework promotes sustainable practices and governance models in trade, leveraging innovative tools and frameworks to enhance compliance, transparency and long-term resilience.
Competencies
Competencies
- Sustainable Business Practices: Integrates environmental, social, and governance principles into trade compliance and risk management.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Applies data analytics to evaluate trade risks, monitors ESG compliance, and supports sustainable trade strategies.
- RegTech Adoption: Implements RegTech solutions to enhance compliance consistent with global sustainability goals.
6. Stakeholder Engagement and & Negotiation
Description: The competency framework focuses on building and strengthening relationships with all relevant stakeholders including international organizations, regulatory agencies, trade bodies, and the private sector to drive strategic trade initiatives.
Competencies
Competencies
- Multi-Stakeholder Coordination: Facilitates discussions and negotiations with government, industry players, and international bodies.
- Diplomacy & Negotiation Skills: Navigates sensitive and high-stakes negotiations in trade agreements and sanctions.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Fosters strategic partnerships, ensuring shared responsibility for compliance and trade integrity.
- Cross-Cultural Communication: Engages effectively across cultures, understanding regional governance structures such as APAC, EU and ASEAN.
Competency Areas
Level 1 - Basic
Level 2 - Advanced
Level 3 - Expert
Strategic Trade Controls & International Security
Understands foundational trade laws and regulations.
Applies regulatory knowledge to specific trade scenarios.
Advises on complex regulatory frameworks and treaties.
Risk Management
& Compliance
& Compliance
Identifies basic risks and applies standard mitigation measures.
Develops tailored risk mitigation strategies for operations.
Designs and oversees enterprise-wide risk governance.
Cybersecurity &
Data Integrity
Data Integrity
Understands data protection basics and security protocols.
Implements cybersecurity measures and monitors compliance.
Leads cybersecurity strategy and integrates global standards.
Leadership Development
& Governance
& Governance
Supports compliance education initiatives.
Leads small teams and implements compliance programs.
Mentors regional leaders and advocates for compliance best practices.
Sustainable Trade
Understands foundational sustainability principles, and trade regulations, and ESG requirements.
Applies advanced tools like data analytics and blockchain to support sustainable trade practices and monitor ESG compliance.
Innovates and leads in adopting governance models and technologies that integrate sustainability organization wide
Stakeholder Engagement
& Negotiation
& Negotiation
Builds initial relationships with stakeholders.
Coordinates multi-stakeholder discussions effectively.
Drives international negotiations and partnerships.
Competency Areas
Strategic Trade Controls & International Security
Level 1 - Basic
Understands foundational trade laws and regulations.
Level 2 - Advanced
Applies regulatory knowledge to specific trade scenarios.
Level 3 - Expert
Advises on complex regulatory frameworks and treaties.
Risk Management
& Compliance
& Compliance
Level 1 - Basic
Identifies basic risks and applies standard mitigation measures.
Level 2 - Advanced
Develops tailored risk mitigation strategies for operations.
Level 3 - Expert
Designs and oversees enterprise-wide risk governance.
Cybersecurity &
Data Integrity
Data Integrity
Level 1 - Basic
Understands data protection basics and security protocols.
Level 2 - Advanced
Implements cybersecurity measures and monitors compliance.
Level 3 - Expert
Leads cybersecurity strategy and integrates global standards.
Leadership Development
& Governance
& Governance
Level 1 - Basic
Supports compliance education initiatives.
Level 2 - Advanced
Leads small teams and implements compliance programs.
Level 3 - Expert
Mentors regional leaders and advocates for compliance best practices.
Sustainable Trade
Level 1 - Basic
Understands foundational sustainability principles, and trade regulations, and ESG requirements.
Level 2 - Advanced
Applies advanced tools like data analytics and blockchain to support sustainable trade practices and monitor ESG compliance.
Level 3 - Expert
Innovates and leads in adopting governance models and technologies that integrate sustainability organization wide
Stakeholder Engagement
& Negotiation
& Negotiation
Level 1 - Basic
Builds initial relationships with stakeholders.
Level 2 - Advanced
Coordinates multi-stakeholder discussions effectively.
Level 3 - Expert
Drives international negotiations and partnerships.
Conclusion
The competencies outlined in this framework enable the Centre for Trade Excellence to continue its leadership in promoting strategic trade compliance, risk management, good governance and corporate integrity. By fostering these competencies across the organization, the Centre ensures organizational readiness to tackle challenges and seize opportunities in the dynamic global trade environment.
The framework will be reviewed and updated annually to reflect emerging trends, technological advancements, and evolving global standards, ensuring its continued relevance and effectiveness.
Edition 1.0 | April 2025
This Competency Framework reflects the Centre’s current view of the capabilities essential for resilient, responsible, and future-ready trade leadership. It is a living framework and will continue to evolve in response to new global standards, emerging risks, and stakeholder insights.
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The framework will be reviewed and updated annually to reflect emerging trends, technological advancements, and evolving global standards, ensuring its continued relevance and effectiveness.
Edition 1.0 | April 2025
This Competency Framework reflects the Centre’s current view of the capabilities essential for resilient, responsible, and future-ready trade leadership. It is a living framework and will continue to evolve in response to new global standards, emerging risks, and stakeholder insights.
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JOHN SMITH
Co-Founder of Webflow
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JOHN SMITH
Co-Founder of Webflow
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JOHN SMITH
Co-Founder of Webflow
