Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has unveiled the Obama administrations National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Department of Homeland Security is committed to facilitating legitimate trade and travel, while preventing terrorists from exploiting supply chains, protecting transportation systems from attacks and disruptions, and increasing the resilience of global supply chains.

We must continue to strengthen global supply chains to ensure that they operate effectively in time of crisis; recover quickly from disruptions; and facilitate international trade and travel, said Secretary Napolitano. As a part of this effort, we look forward to working closely with our international partners in the public and private sector to build a more resilient global supply chain.

The National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security outlines clear goals to promote the efficient and secure movement of goods and foster a resilient supply chain system. It also provides guidance for the US Government and crucial domestic, international, public and private stakeholders who share a common interest in the security and resiliency of the global supply chain.

The international community made significant progress on this front through Project Global Shieldnow Programme Global Shield launched by DHS with the World Customs Organization, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and Interpol. Programme Global Shield is an initiative to protect the supply chain by preventing the theft or illegal diversion of precursor chemicals that can be used to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Since November 2010, 89 participating nations and international organisations have been sharing information about the export of 14 precursor chemicals used in IEDs. As of January 2012, Programme Global Shield has accounted for seizures of chemical precursors totalling over 62 tonnes and 31 arrests related to the illicit diversion of these chemicals.