Ms. Maes Alconcel is an independent international trade expert, with 18 years of experience on advancing international trade and sustainable development initiatives through expanding market access, leveraging trade facilitation tools and free trade agreements, and addressing trade policy issues facing businesses in the Asia-Pacific/ASEAN region. She has been constantly invited as a speaker and/or moderator to various international trade/business events to share her insights on cross-border trade and investments issues facing businesses, and how governments can facilitate participation of SMEs in international trade through FTAs. She also conducts workshops/training/coaching to businesses on leveraging FTAs, including tariff savings, complying with rules of origin (ROO), regulatory requirements and customs procedures, and trade facilitation tools.