Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum September 2014, BITEC Bangkok, Thailand

Transcription

1 Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum September 2014, BITEC Bangkok, Thailand

2 APTFF 2014 Trade facilitation for inclusive development September 2014 National experience in stakeholder engagement and inter-agency coordination of National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee, Pakistan Javaid Mansoor, Executive Secretary, NTTFC, Pakistan

3 National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee (NTTFC) NTTFC established in August 2001 A public/private sector joint venture 38 members comprising of: Federal ministries related to trade and transport Public sector organizations Various chambers of commerce and industry, trade associations and terminal operators. Consensus based decision making Decision of recommendatory nature Coordination and technical support by NTTFC Secretariat for implementation by concerned ministry or organization

4 NTTFC organization structure 3

5 Terms of reference of NTTFC Review the regulations, procedures and systems pertaining to the conduct of trade and transport that impact the cost and efficiency cy of country s s international trade; Develop and promote the adoption of measures for simplification and harmonization of trade and transport procedures to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of international trade; Act as national focal point for the collection and dissemination of information on best practices in international facilitation; Undertake coordination of efforts of concerned organizations in the field of facilitation of international and transport; Promote adoption of standard trade and transport terminology and international codes for trade and transport information.

6 Terms of reference of NTTFC (continued) Pursue the simplification and alignment of trade and transport documents on the basis of the Untied Nations Layout Key, including ng documents designed for use in computer and other automated systems with the aim of adopting single window processing for all trade transactions; Organize and present training seminars and workshops to improve the capacity of domestic industry in international trade and transport procedures and knowledge of international trading practices, promote and supprt training and research by other national bodies and stakeholders; Maintain interface with international and regional organizations with the objective of improving trade facilitation and efficiency; Establishment of institutional framework of NTTFC and hiring staff/ experts for carrying out activities as per ToR of NTTFC and matters relating to their salary structure.

7 Main tasks in hand Modernization of border control and Customs procedures Improvement of trade and transport logistics Modernization of transport legislation Accession to international conventions Bilateral and multi-lateral lateral transit trade and transport agreements WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation

8 Modernization of border control and Customs procedures Web based One Custom (WeBOC) system for electronic submission and clearance of Customs documents introduced and extended to all Customs stations in Pakistan. (NTTFC Secretariat has supported Customs by initially introducing g UNLK based SAD and subsequently advocating the benefits of electronic system among users in its meetings) Electronic linkages are being developed with stakeholders along with software systems to eliminate paper documents with aim to move towards Single Window. (Coordinated meetings with stakeholders for developing the linkages) Requirements for improvement in operating systems, inter-agency coordination and infrastructure at land border crossings are being examined to reduce the time and cost involved in movement of goods across land borders. (Proposed and drafted Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill for establishment of the Land Port Authority on the pattern of those established in India and Bangladesh)

9 Improvement of trade and transport logistics Establishment of transit cargo tracking system (Arranged demonstration of transport tracking system practiced in Jordan to encourage adoption of tracking system in Pakistan) Establishment of efficient cool chain system for agro-based exports of Pakistan (Carried out a study to demonstrate wastage of fruits due to lack k of cold storage and transport facilities) Establishment of comprehensive traceability system for agricultural ral products (Propagated Indian initiative in traceability of agro-based produce learnt in APTFF 2011 to encourage adoption of traceability systems) Facilitate carriage of goods by trucks in ECO region under Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) (Coordination with stakeholders to meet requirements for implementation of TTFA) Facilitate operation of Islamabad Tehran Istanbul container train under ECO TTFA (Pursued accession to COTIF by Pakistan and arranged meetings with stakeholders for transport of cargo by train)

10 Modernization of transport legislation Bills proposed to replace outdated legislation: Sea Carriage Shipping Documents Bill Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill Carriage of Goods by Road Bil (Organized stakeholder meetings for finalizing agreed draft of the t proposed Bills. Made presentations in National Assembly to explain salient t features of the Bills) Proposed enactment of marine insurance law of Pakistan by legislating Marine Insurance Bill (Same as above) Proposed Logistics Service Providers Development and Regulatory Authority Bill for establishment of an Authority to resolve issues between traders and logistics service providers (Organized stakeholder meetings for finalizing agreed draft of the t proposed Bill.)

11 Accession to international conventions International conventions under examination for accession: Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnet (TIR Convention, 1975) Customs Convention on Temporary Importation of Commercial Road Vehicles, 1956 Customs Convention on Containers, 1972 International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Control of Goods, 1982 Hague Visby Rules for Carriage of Goods by Sea as amended by SDR Protocol, 1979 Convention on International Carriage of Goods by Road, 1978 (CMR) (Meetings are being held with concerned ministries to build up consensus c for acceding to these conventions)

12 Bilateral and multi-lateral lateral transit trade and transport agreements Agreements under negotiations: Agreement between Pakistan and Iran on International Transport of Passengers and Goods by Road Bilateral Road Transport Agreement between Pakistan and Turkey Agreement between Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the Field of Transport and Transit of Goods Agreement on Transit Transport between the Governments of Pakistan and Turkmenistan Agreement on the Cross-Border Transport of Persons, Vehicles and Goods within the Framework of Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) (Meetings with stakeholders and Ministry of Communications to finalize requirements for implementation of agreements with Iran, Turkey and Uzbekistan, and negotiate the agreement with Turkmenistan. Organized interministerial meeting for building consensus to sign CAREC CBTA)

13 WTO agreement on trade facilitation NTTFC constituted Capital Based Working Group on Trade Facilitation (CBWGTF) to study WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation proposals and recommend measures for negotiations in WTO Consolidated Draft Negotiating Text of WTO TF Agreement was examined by CBWGTF, country position finalized in consultation with all stakeholders and communicated to Pakistan Mission in Geneva for discussion in WTO negotiations Subsequent to Bali Ministerial decision of Agreement on Trade Facilitation, Category A, B and C provisions of the agreement are being worked out for communicating commitment of Pakistan to WTO

14 Major challenges Lack of political will and commitment to adopt trade facilitation measures Lack of technical knowledge and financial resources in concerned ministries and organizations Frequent changes of officials in concerned ministries and organizations Annual elections of trade bodies resulting in new office bearers not acquainted with trade facilitation measures Reluctance to change and adopt new measures Maintenance of financial stability of NTTFC Secretariat Organizing regular effective meetings of NTTFC

15 Lessons learnt and success factors Essential requirements for success of NTTFC: Committed lead agency Institutional arrangement for functioning of Secretariat on permanent basis Ownership and commitment of key stakeholder Correct identification of key issues Representation of concerned ministries and public & private sector organizations in meetings at senior level Strong linkage with international trade facilitation institutions Technical and financial support of international organizations

16 Plans for strengthening NTTFC Board of Directors comprising equal number of Directors from public and private sector constituted Trade Economist /Analyst to be added to staff Budget for operation of NTTFC Secretariat till approved In light of WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation Pakistan s s National Trade & Transport Facilitation Strategy formulated

17 THANK YOU Javaid Mansoor Executive Secretary National Trade & Transport Facilitation Committee Karachi, Pakistan Tel: +92-(0)21 (0) Direct Tel/Fax: +92-(0)21 (0) URL: