Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum 2014

24 – 25 September 2014, BITEC

Bangkok, Thailand

APTFF 2014APTFF 2014

Trade facilitation for inclusive developmentTrade facilitation for inclusive development

2424--25 September 201425 September 2014

National experience in stakeholder National experience in stakeholder engagement and interengagement and inter--agency coordinationagency coordination

ofof

National Trade and Transport Facilitation National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee, PakistanCommittee, Pakistan

Javaid Mansoor, Executive Secretary, NTTFC, PakistanJavaid Mansoor, Executive Secretary, NTTFC, Pakistan

National Trade and Transport Facilitation National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee (NTTFC)Committee (NTTFC)

nn NTTFC established in August 2001 NTTFC established in August 2001

nn A public/private sector joint venture A public/private sector joint venture

nn 38 members comprising of:38 members comprising of:

ØØ Federal ministries related to trade and transportFederal ministries related to trade and transport

ØØ Public sector organizationsPublic sector organizations

ØØ Various chambers of commerce and industry, trade associations Various chambers of commerce and industry, trade associations and terminal operators.and terminal operators.

nn Consensus based decision makingConsensus based decision making

nn Decision of recommendatory natureDecision of recommendatory nature

nn Coordination and technical support by NTTFC Secretariat for Coordination and technical support by NTTFC Secretariat for implementation by concerned ministry or organizationimplementation by concerned ministry or organization

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NTTFC organization structureNTTFC organization structure

Terms of reference of NTTFC Terms of reference of NTTFC

nn Review the regulations, procedures and systems pertaining to theReview the regulations, procedures and systems pertaining to theconduct of trade and transport that impact the cost and efficienconduct of trade and transport that impact the cost and efficiency cy of countryof country’’s international trade;s international trade;

nn Develop and promote the adoption of measures for simplification Develop and promote the adoption of measures for simplification and harmonization of trade and transport procedures to reduce and harmonization of trade and transport procedures to reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of international trade;the cost and improve the efficiency of international trade;

nn Act as national focal point for the collection and disseminationAct as national focal point for the collection and dissemination of of information on best practices in international facilitation;information on best practices in international facilitation;

nn Undertake coordination of efforts of concerned organizations in Undertake coordination of efforts of concerned organizations in the field of facilitation of international and transport;the field of facilitation of international and transport;

nn Promote adoption of standard trade and transport terminology Promote adoption of standard trade and transport terminology and international codes for trade and transport informationand international codes for trade and transport information..

Terms of reference of NTTFCTerms of reference of NTTFC (continued) (continued)

nn Pursue the simplification and alignment of trade and transport Pursue the simplification and alignment of trade and transport documents on the basis of the Untied Nations Layout Key, includidocuments on the basis of the Untied Nations Layout Key, including ng documents designed for use in computer and other automated documents designed for use in computer and other automated systems with the aim of adopting single window processing for alsystems with the aim of adopting single window processing for all l trade transactions;trade transactions;

nn Organize and present training seminars and workshops to improve Organize and present training seminars and workshops to improve the capacity of domestic industry in international trade and trathe capacity of domestic industry in international trade and transport nsport procedures and knowledge of international trading practices, procedures and knowledge of international trading practices, promote and supprt training and research by other national bodiepromote and supprt training and research by other national bodies s and stakeholders;and stakeholders;

nn Maintain interface with international and regional organizationsMaintain interface with international and regional organizations with with the objective of improving trade facilitation and efficiency;the objective of improving trade facilitation and efficiency;

nn Establishment of institutional framework of NTTFC and hiring staEstablishment of institutional framework of NTTFC and hiring staff/ ff/ experts for carrying out activities as per ToR of NTTFC and mattexperts for carrying out activities as per ToR of NTTFC and matters ers relating to their salary structure.relating to their salary structure.

Main tasks in handMain tasks in hand

nn Modernization of border control and Customs Modernization of border control and Customs proceduresprocedures

nn Improvement of trade and transport logisticsImprovement of trade and transport logistics

nn Modernization of transport legislationModernization of transport legislation

nn Accession to international conventionsAccession to international conventions

nn Bilateral and multiBilateral and multi--lateral transit trade and transport lateral transit trade and transport agreementsagreements

nn WTO Agreement on Trade FacilitationWTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation

Modernization of border control and Modernization of border control and Customs proceduresCustoms procedures

nn Web based One Custom (WeBOC) system for electronic submission Web based One Custom (WeBOC) system for electronic submission and clearance of Customs documents introduced and extended to and clearance of Customs documents introduced and extended to all Customs stations in Pakistan. all Customs stations in Pakistan.

(NTTFC Secretariat has supported Customs by initially introducin(NTTFC Secretariat has supported Customs by initially introducing UNLK based SAD and g UNLK based SAD and subsequently advocating the benefits of electronic system among subsequently advocating the benefits of electronic system among users in its users in its meetings)meetings)

nn Electronic linkages are being developed with stakeholders along Electronic linkages are being developed with stakeholders along with software systems to eliminate paper documents with aim to with software systems to eliminate paper documents with aim to move towards Single Window. move towards Single Window.

(Coordinated meetings with stakeholders for developing the linka(Coordinated meetings with stakeholders for developing the linkages)ges)

nn Requirements for improvement in operating systems, interRequirements for improvement in operating systems, inter--agency agency coordination and infrastructure at land border crossings are beicoordination and infrastructure at land border crossings are being ng examined to reduce the time and cost involved in movement of examined to reduce the time and cost involved in movement of goods across land borders. goods across land borders.

(Proposed and drafted Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill for esta(Proposed and drafted Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill for establishment of the Land blishment of the Land Port Authority on the pattern of those established in India and Port Authority on the pattern of those established in India and Bangladesh)Bangladesh)

Improvement of trade and transport Improvement of trade and transport logisticslogistics

nn Establishment of transit cargo tracking system Establishment of transit cargo tracking system (Arranged demonstration of transport tracking system practiced i(Arranged demonstration of transport tracking system practiced in Jordan to n Jordan to encourage adoption of tracking system in Pakistan)encourage adoption of tracking system in Pakistan)

nn Establishment of efficient cool chain system for agroEstablishment of efficient cool chain system for agro--based exports based exports of Pakistan of Pakistan (Carried out a study to demonstrate wastage of fruits due to lac(Carried out a study to demonstrate wastage of fruits due to lack of cold storage and k of cold storage and transport facilities)transport facilities)

nn Establishment of comprehensive traceability system for agricultuEstablishment of comprehensive traceability system for agricultural ral products products (Propagated Indian initiative in traceability of agro(Propagated Indian initiative in traceability of agro--based produce learnt in APTFF based produce learnt in APTFF 2011 to encourage adoption of traceability systems)2011 to encourage adoption of traceability systems)

nn Facilitate carriage of goods by trucks in ECO region under TransFacilitate carriage of goods by trucks in ECO region under Transit it Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA) (Coordination with stakeholders to meet requirements for impleme(Coordination with stakeholders to meet requirements for implementation of TTFA)ntation of TTFA)

nn Facilitate operation of Islamabad Facilitate operation of Islamabad –– Tehran Tehran –– Istanbul container train Istanbul container train under ECO TTFA under ECO TTFA (Pursued accession to COTIF by Pakistan and arranged meetings wi(Pursued accession to COTIF by Pakistan and arranged meetings with stakeholders th stakeholders for transport of cargo by train)for transport of cargo by train)

Modernization of transport legislationModernization of transport legislation

nn Bills proposed to replace outdated legislation:Bills proposed to replace outdated legislation:

ØØ Sea Carriage Shipping Documents BillSea Carriage Shipping Documents Bill

ØØ Carriage of Goods by Sea BillCarriage of Goods by Sea Bill

ØØ Carriage of Goods by Road BilCarriage of Goods by Road Bil

(Organized stakeholder meetings for finalizing agreed draft of t(Organized stakeholder meetings for finalizing agreed draft of the proposed he proposed Bills. Made presentations in National Assembly to explain salienBills. Made presentations in National Assembly to explain salient features t features of the Bills)of the Bills)

nn Proposed enactment of marine insurance law of Pakistan by Proposed enactment of marine insurance law of Pakistan by legislating Marine Insurance Bill legislating Marine Insurance Bill

(Same as above)(Same as above)

nn Proposed Logistics Service Providers Development and Proposed Logistics Service Providers Development and Regulatory Authority Bill for establishment of an Authority to Regulatory Authority Bill for establishment of an Authority to resolve issues between traders and logistics service providers resolve issues between traders and logistics service providers

(Organized stakeholder meetings for finalizing agreed draft of t(Organized stakeholder meetings for finalizing agreed draft of the proposed Bill.) he proposed Bill.)

Accession to international conventionsAccession to international conventions

International conventions under examination for International conventions under examination for accession:accession:nnCustoms Convention on the International Transport of Goods underCustoms Convention on the International Transport of Goods underCover of TIR Carnet (TIR Convention, 1975) Cover of TIR Carnet (TIR Convention, 1975)

nnCustoms Convention on Temporary Importation of Commercial Road Customs Convention on Temporary Importation of Commercial Road Vehicles, 1956 Vehicles, 1956

nnCustoms Convention on Containers, 1972Customs Convention on Containers, 1972

nnInternational Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier ControInternational Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Control l of Goods, 1982of Goods, 1982

nnHagueHague‐‐Visby Rules for Carriage of Goods by Sea Visby Rules for Carriage of Goods by Sea as amended by SDR Protocol, 1979

nnConvention on International Carriage of Goods by Road, 1978 Convention on International Carriage of Goods by Road, 1978 (CMR)(CMR)(Meetings are being held with concerned ministries to build up c(Meetings are being held with concerned ministries to build up consensus for acceding onsensus for acceding to these conventions)to these conventions)

Bilateral and multiBilateral and multi--lateral transit trade and lateral transit trade and transport agreementstransport agreements

Agreements under negotiations:n Agreement between Pakistan and Iran on International

Transport of Passengers and Goods by Road

n Bilateral Road Transport Agreement between Pakistan and Turkey

n Agreement between Pakistan and Uzbekistan on Cooperation in the Field of Transport and Transit of Goods

n Agreement on Transit Transport between the Governments of Pakistan and Turkmenistan

n 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 inter-ministerial meeting for building consensus to sign CAREC CBTA)

WTO agreement on trade facilitationWTO agreement on trade facilitation

nn NTTFC constituted Capital Based Working Group on Trade NTTFC constituted Capital Based Working Group on Trade Facilitation (CBWGTF) to study WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (CBWGTF) to study WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation proposals and recommend measures for Facilitation proposals and recommend measures for negotiations in WTOnegotiations in WTO

nn Consolidated Draft Negotiating Text of WTO TF Agreement Consolidated Draft Negotiating Text of WTO TF Agreement was examined by CBWGTF, country position finalized in was examined by CBWGTF, country position finalized in consultation with all stakeholders and communicated to consultation with all stakeholders and communicated to Pakistan Mission in Geneva for discussion in WTO negotiationsPakistan Mission in Geneva for discussion in WTO negotiations

nn Subsequent to Bali Ministerial decision of Agreement on Trade Subsequent to Bali Ministerial decision of Agreement on Trade Facilitation, Category A, B and C provisions of the agreement Facilitation, Category A, B and C provisions of the agreement are being worked out for communicating commitment of are being worked out for communicating commitment of Pakistan to WTOPakistan to WTO

Major challengesMajor challenges

nn Lack of political will and commitment to adopt trade Lack of political will and commitment to adopt trade facilitation measuresfacilitation measures

nn Lack of technical knowledge and financial resources Lack of technical knowledge and financial resources in concerned ministries and organizationsin concerned ministries and organizations

nn Frequent changes of officials in concerned ministries Frequent changes of officials in concerned ministries and organizationsand organizations

nn Annual elections of trade bodies resulting in new Annual elections of trade bodies resulting in new office bearers not acquainted with trade facilitation office bearers not acquainted with trade facilitation measures measures

nn Reluctance to change and adopt new measuresReluctance to change and adopt new measures

nn Maintenance of financial stability of NTTFC Maintenance of financial stability of NTTFC SecretariatSecretariat

nn Organizing regular effective meetings of NTTFCOrganizing regular effective meetings of NTTFC

Lessons learnt and success factorsLessons learnt and success factors

Essential requirements for success of NTTFC:Essential requirements for success of NTTFC:

nn Committed lead agencyCommitted lead agency

nn Institutional arrangement for functioning of Secretariat on Institutional arrangement for functioning of Secretariat on permanent basispermanent basis

nn Ownership and commitment of key stakeholderOwnership and commitment of key stakeholder

nn Correct identification of key issuesCorrect identification of key issues

nn Representation of concerned ministries and public & Representation of concerned ministries and public & private sector organizations in meetings at senior levelprivate sector organizations in meetings at senior level

nn Strong linkage with international trade facilitation Strong linkage with international trade facilitation institutionsinstitutions

nn Technical and financial support of international Technical and financial support of international organizationsorganizations

Plans for strengthening NTTFCPlans for strengthening NTTFC

nn Board of Directors comprising equal number of Directors Board of Directors comprising equal number of Directors from public and private sector constitutedfrom public and private sector constituted

nn Trade Economist /Analyst to be added to staffTrade Economist /Analyst to be added to staff

nn Budget for operation of NTTFC Secretariat till 2017Budget for operation of NTTFC Secretariat till 2017--18 18 approvedapproved

nn In light of WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation In light of WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation PakistanPakistan’’s National Trade & Transport Facilitation s National Trade & Transport Facilitation Strategy formulatedStrategy formulated

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

Javaid MansoorJavaid MansoorExecutive SecretaryExecutive Secretary

National Trade & Transport Facilitation CommitteeNational Trade & Transport Facilitation CommitteeKarachi, PakistanKarachi, Pakistan

Tel: +92Tel: +92--(0)21(0)21--3524 25693524 2569Direct Tel/Fax: +92Direct Tel/Fax: +92--(0)21(0)21--3524 25703524 2570

email: email: nttfc@cyber.net.pknttfc@cyber.net.pk; ; j.mansoor@nttfc.orgj.mansoor@nttfc.orgURL: URL: www.nttfc.orgwww.nttfc.org