ebXML

The United Nations body for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) and the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) have joined forces to initiate a worldwide project to standardize XML business specifications. Electronic Business XML or ebXML, initiative is technical framework to enable XML to be utilized in a consistent manner for the exchange of all electronic business data worldwide. Industry groups currently working on XML specifications have been invited to participate.  A primary objective of ebXML is to lower the barrier of entry to electronic business in order to facilitate trade, particularly with respect to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and developing nations.

ebXML aims to provide a globally developed, open XML-based standard built on UN/CEFACT electronic business experience to create a single global electronic marketplace.  Part of their goal is to extend current EC/EDI investment to enable trade among both existing and new business partners irrespective of size.  ebXML intends to develop their own technical specifications, collaborating with other initiatives and standards development organizations and building on the experience of today's EDI specifications.