Enhancing the Global Dialogue on Customs Capacity Building World Customs Organization – Republic of South Africa Conference Johannesburg, South Africa 4 April 2007 Gerard McLinden International Trade Department World Bank

About the World Bank  One of the world’s largest providers of financial support and technical advice for developing countries  Bank + International organization (UN system)  In projects in countries - $ 22.3 billion  IBRD > $875 – Low interest loans years (5)  IDA < $875 – Interest free credits years (10)  Bank financing - Country implementation  Demand driven

Why the Bank is interested in Customs Reform  Strong link between trade and economic growth  Progress made in trade liberalization … but Customs and other border-related regulatory formalities increasingly seen as a more significant barrier than tariff rates  Customs has other productive development objectives and can act as the driver of reform  Investment in Customs and border reform and modernization delivers value for money and sound development results

Customs activities and projects  Customs typically included in all trade-related diagnostics  Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies  Trade and Transport Facilitation Audits  Regional integration studies  Support and Advocacy  WTO TF negotiations  GFP TT  Close cooperation and partnership with WCO and IMF  Financing for Customs reform and modernization

Customs Projects RegionCurrentPipelineTotal AFR EAP ECA LAC MENA14.1 SAR Total

Customs – Emerging Trends  Customs reform as key element of wider trade facilitation projects (national and regional)  Better cooperation and partnership with donors  Focus on performance measurement  Focus on sustainability  Longer implementation timeframes  IT as a facilitator – comprehensive approach  Private/Public partnership  Sustainable financing models

How to engage with the Bank  Obtain high level political support and commitment for your vision and modernization plan (MoF)  Contact the local Bank office  Work with Bank, IMF and donor missions  Use WCO diagnostics, WTO TF agenda, and regional integration as catalysts to engage policy makers  Seek inclusion of Customs in the Country Assistance or Country Partnership Strategy

Key Messages  No need to convince us or other partners in the development community that Customs is important  Need to convince your own policy makers to put Customs reform at the top of the development agenda  Money not the problem  Development assistance is demand driven – so create the demand

For further information:  Gerard McLinden (English)   Enrique Fanta (Spanish)   Jean Francois Arvis (French)  gfptt.org gfptt.org worldbank.org (Customs Policy and Administration) worldbank.org (Customs Policy and Administration)