Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet (Initial) Report No: AC100 Section I - Basic Information Date Prepared/Updated: 06/03/2003 A. Basic Project Data (from PDS) I.A.1. Project Statistics Country: TUNISIA Project ID: P071115 Project: TN-Export Development II Task Team Leader: Hamid R. Alavi Authorized to Appraise Date: March 31, 2004 IBRD Amount ($m): 45.00 Bank Approval: August 10, 2004 IDA Amount ($m): Managing Unit: MNSIF Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan (SIL) Status: Lending Sector: Central government administration (20%); Micro- and SME finance (20%); General industry and trade sector (20%); Other domestic and international trade (20%); Agro-industry (20%) Theme: Export development and competitiveness (P); Small and medium enterprise support (S); Trade facilitation and market access (S) I.A.2. Project Objectives (From PDS): The focus of the project is to build upon and anchor more deeply the institutional reforms started under the first Export Development Project (EDP) with the intention of creating a conducive export environment and encouraging exports. The project's development objectives are to improve access to export markets, modernize trade-related services; enhance the efficiency and performance of customs operations, and make internal trade and distribution more efficient. By building on the achievements of the first EDP, the implementation of the Second Export project (EDP2) is expected to strengthen linkages between domestic and offshore sectors, enhance competitiveness of Tunisian exporters, and strengthen public-private interface to administer and promote internal and external trade. I.A.3. Project Description (From PDS): Component 1: Access to Markets Second Export Market Access Fund. This component would include a matching grant fund (the second Export Market Access Fund - EMAF2) inspired by the success of EMAF and consolidating/complementing EMAF assistance. While EMAF assisted individual enterprises to overcome barriers to sell in foreign markets, EMAF2 will target products and markets according to a 3-year plan and provide matching grants to association of producers, individual exporters especially women-owned enterprises, to establish a presence in key export markets, trading companies to channel exports originated from Tunisian SMEs into export markets, and export consultants on a demand-driven basis. EMAF2 will also provide matching grant to strengthen professional associations, as these associations, like export promotion agencies, could help diffuse market information across firms and within industries. E-commerce portals for commerce and tourism. This sub-component would finance the development of e-commerce to link SMEs and emerging exporters in the garments, shoes and services sectors (especially ICT and tourism) to their counterparts and potential business partners in Europe and North America on a pilot basis. The Internet can play a dominant role in establishing commercial links with foreign enterprises and in promoting Tunisian products and services. A new role would also be assigned to the
2 Chambers of Commerce and professional organizations to facilitate the market access for SMEs by managing and maintaining sectoral portals. In order to enable these organizations to accomplish their new task, it will be necessary to strengthen their organizational structure. This will be done by coordinating this component with activities envisaged under the second phase of the SME Exchange Program. This may also require a change in their legal status to allow professional associations to hire relevant skills and expertise to provide services to their members. This component would also build on the existing initiatives, including TradePoint, and Virtual Souk. Component 2: Trade-related services E-government pilots. The Project would finance the application of pilot e-government mechanisms to selected trade-related government services, in view of improving their efficiency, transparency and reach. A successful example of the e-government techniques to trade-related services has been Tunisie Trade Net that was created under the first Export Development Project (EDP). There are other trade-related services that could be good candidates for automation. A partial list of these services is shown in the table below. During project preparation, an enterprise survey would be conducted to solicit private sector views as to trade services presenting the heaviest burden on their day-to-day business activities. This information would then be mapped against the results of a survey of administration that would determine key trade-related services susceptible to e-government. The component would help introduce e-government to one or more of these services on a pilot basis. Table 3: Partial List of Government Services by Ministry Government Agency Ministry of Finance Customs Ministry of Industry Ministry of Transport and Communication Ministry of Commerce and Tourism Trade-related Services License for Customs Intermediates Import of goods for Commercial Use Custom Declaration Tax payment License for Off-shore Company (entrepôt franc) Import of goods for off-shore company Exempt of importing tools, instruments of an industrial, agricultural, commercial activity transfer Temporary Admission of tools for civil engineering Temporary Admission of goods for transformation Temporary Admission of goods for experiments, testing, exhibitions. Customs Identification Number. Reimbursement of import taxes when exporting Building of duty area Technical controls on imports Request for fixed line and mobile service (local and international) Request for data services Documents and procedures related to marine, air and land transport of goods Obtaining carte de commerçant Authorization for external trade Technical control certificates Component 3: Trade facilitation and logistics International experience has shown that lowering the traditional barriers to trade (tariff and non-tariff
3 barriers) is necessary but not a sufficient condition to increase integration with world markets and achieve competitiveness of exports. In fact, the more those traditional barriers are brought down, the more conspicuous become the importance of the procedural, logistic, and regulatory environment that impact on the costs and potential of trade. Experience of countries that have doubled per capita income in less than 10 years (Chile, China, Ireland, Malaysia) suggests that open and competitive markets, a strong investment climate and the mobility of people, ideas, firms, products and services across borders and within countries are key instruments for generating jobs and improving living standards (World Bank PSD Strategy 2002). In this context, this component will focus on upgrading logistics links to global markets as an important condition for promoting exports and attracting export-oriented FDI. Internal trade. The aim of this component would be to ensure that the inefficiencies in domestic distribution do not hamper export development, and to reduce transactions and regulatory compliance costs. A number of measures could be envisaged under this component (Annex 1.C). They focus on improving the internal distribution and supply chain facilities. The transport chain is nowadays considered as fully integrated within the production system, and as far as international trade is concerned, within the trading pattern itself. Facilitation of transport is therefore an issue, not only concerning the ports, but also inland logistics. Logistics options such as finance facilities aimed at attracting distribution and logistics services will be examined. External trade. The component has two main objectives: (a) to enhance the trade facilitation system (Tunisie TradeNet) that was established under EDP by expanding the set of services and information available through Tunisie TradeNet by including access to real-time container status information; and (b) to improve customs efficiency, by modernizing existing customs communications network which is unreliable and thus inadequate in making optimal use of the customs computer system that was modernized and developed under EDP. One important component of transport related information that is not available yet within Tunisie TradeNet is container status information. Replacement of the outdated computerized system at the main container terminal, at Radès, will provide access to real-time container database information, enable further replacement of manual transactions by electronic transactions and thereby allow transport professionals to provide more efficient service and timely flow of goods (import / export) for traders. International best practice, for example, in Singapore and at le Port du Havre provide this level of integration between computer systems of trade community and transport community. The Customs computer system, SINDA, will provide, when completed, powerful processing capabilities as well as a rich database of information and customs intelligence. SINDA, located in Tunis, is accessed remotely by Customs units that are located across the Tunisian territory. The poor quality of the present Customs communications networks is a major handicap for customs operations in general and negatively affects ability to administer and facilitate movement of goods. Alternatives to addressing this issue are relatively limited and will rather rest in terms of choice of technology solution. Components: EXPORT MARKET ACCESS Second Export Market Access Fund E-Commerce portals TRADE SERVICES E-Government pilots TRADE FACILITATION
4 Internal Trade External Trade I.A.4. Project Location: (Geographic location, information about the key environmental and social characteristics of the area and population likely to be affected, and proximity to any protected areas, or sites or critical natural habitats, or any other culturally or socially sensitive areas.) The project assists exporters and potential exporters throughout Tunisia. There is no expected negative impact on population, protected areas, natural habitats, or other culturally or socially sensitive areas. B. Check Environmental Classification: C (Not Required) Comments: C. Safeguard Policies Triggered (from PDS) (click on for a detailed desciption or click on the policy number for a brief description) Policy Triggered Environmental Assessment (OP 4.01, BP 4.01, GP 4.01) Yes No TBD Natural Habitats (OP 4.04, BP 4.04, GP 4.04) Yes No TBD Forestry (OP 4.36, GP 4.36) Yes No TBD Pest Management (OP 4.09) Yes No TBD Cultural Property (OPN 11.03) Yes No TBD Indigenous Peoples (OD 4.20) Yes No TBD Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) Yes No TBD Safety of Dams (OP 4.37, BP 4.37) Yes No TBD Projects in International Waters (OP 7.50, BP 7.50, GP 7.50) Yes No TBD Projects in Disputed Areas (OP 7.60, BP 7.60, GP 7.60)* Yes No TBD Section II - Key Safeguard Issues and Their Management D. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues. Please fill in all relevant questions. If information is not available, describe steps to be taken to obtain necessary data. II.D.1a. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts. None II.D.1b. Describe any potential cumulative impacts due to application of more than one safeguard policy or due to multiple project component. None II.D.1c Describe any potential long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area. None expected II.D.2. In light of 1, describe the proposed treatment of alternatives (if required) II.D.3. Describe arrangement for the borrower to address safeguard issues
5 II.D.4. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. E. Safeguards Classification (select in SAP). Category is determined by the highest impact in any policy. Or on basis of cumulative impacts from multiple safeguards. Whenever an individual safeguard policy is triggered the provisions of that policy apply. [ ] S1. Significant, cumulative and/or irreversible impacts; or significant technical and institutional risks in management of one or more safeguard areas [ ] S2. One or more safeguard policies are triggered, but effects are limited in their impact and are technically and institutionally manageable [X] S3. No safeguard issues [ ] SF. Financial intermediary projects, social development funds, community driven development or similar projects which require a safeguard framework or programmatic approach to address safeguard issues. F. Disclosure Requirements Environmental Assessment/Analysis/Management Plan: Expected Actual Date of distributing the Exec. Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors (For category A projects) Not Applicable Not Applicable Resettlement Action Plan/Framework: Expected Actual Indigenous Peoples Development Plan/Framework: Expected Actual Pest Management Plan: Expected Actual Dam Safety Management Plan: Expected Actual If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why.
6 Signed and submitted by Name Date Task Team Leader: Hamid R. Alavi 5/27/2003 Project Safeguards Specialists 1: Maria Sarraf/Person/World Bank 5/27/2003 Project Safeguards Specialists 2: Mohamed Arbi Ben-Achour/Person/World Bank 5/27/2003 Project Safeguards Specialists 3: Approved by: Name Date Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Sherif Kamel F. Arif 5/29/2003 Sector Manager Zoubida Allaoua 5/29/2003