Bangladesh Presentation on Trade Facilitation at South Asia Regional Forum on Trade Facilitation May,

Part One Experience Regarding Drafting of National TF Implementation Plan with the Support from UNCTAD 2

Reasons for Bangladesh participation in the TF Project Increased importance of TF Need for Reduction of Trade Costs Emergence of global supply chain and need for TF Evolution of TF/Revised KYOTO Convention SAFE Framework of Standards Need for assessing current status of measures under TF negotiations Need for developing an implementation plan 3

Process of Preparation of Project Role of Ministry of Commerce: Acting as the focal Ministry for the project Identifying the Tasks in consultation with UNCTAD Arranging a meeting of National Trade Facilitation Working Group to discuss about the project during the 1 st UNCTAD Mission Facilitating the whole process of the project Facilitating selection of National Adviser Facilitating the work of National Adviser appointed by UNCTAD for the purpose Organizing UNCTAD Missions Organizing Validation Workshop 4

Process of Preparation of Project Tasks: Update, complete &/or expand TF Needs Assessment carried out in 2007 with the assistance from the WTO Consult stakeholders in the process Identify those proposed measures that- (a) are not complied, and (b) are partially complied with the proposed measures in the draft of TF Agreement Prepare a National Action Plan for these measures Prepare implementation plans for each of these measures 5

Process of Preparation of Project Basis of Tasks: Basis is the WTO Draft Consolidated Negotiating Text on Trade Facilitation The 12 th revision of the draft of TF negotiations (WTO document TN/TF/ W/165/Rev.12) 39 measures are identified based on the issues covered in 14 Articles under draft TFA. Current status has been assessed on all those 39 measures. 6

Process of Preparation of Project Role of National TF Working Group: A meeting of NTWG endorsed the project Key NTWG members participated in the interviewing process Contributed in the preparation of National Implementation Plan Involved the organizations represented in the NTWG in the work of the project 7

Process of Preparation of Project Activities by National Adviser: Conducting desk review/research Conducting individual interviews of selected officials from both government and private sector TF stakeholders Singling out measures which are already complied Establish a list of steps needed for compliance with all measures that are not complied at all/partially complied Assisting in organizing UNCTAD Missions 8

Process of Preparation of Project Activities by National Adviser: Preparation of the draft implementation plan of measures not complied/partially complied Mapping out the implementation status of trade facilitation commitments, and Estimate the actions and resource implications required for full compliance Finalization of report after Validation conference 9

Final Result and Conclusions Comparison of compliance: Bangladesh is very close to compliance : 15 Measures Bangladesh not complied: 3 Measures Bangladesh partially complied: 20 Measures Not applicable for Bangladesh: 1 Measure However, the report is now under examination by a Core Group 10

Final Result and Conclusions Major where Bangladesh is close to compliance: Opportunity to Comment on New and Amended Rules Right of Appeal Penalty disciplines Uniform Forms and Documentation Requirements Relating to Clearance Pre-arrival processing National Committee on Trade Facilitation 11

Final Result and Conclusions Major areas of partial-compliance: Information Available through Internet Consultations Provision of advance ruling Risk management Post-clearance audit Expedited Shipments Reduction/Limitation of Formalities and Documentation Requirements Freedom of Transit 12

Final Result and Conclusions Areas of complete non-compliance: Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times Authorized Operators Single Window 13

Part Two National Experience Regarding the Acquisition of Funds for TF Reforms 14

Current Volume of Received Assistance for TF Projects Bangladesh has no mechanism to track flow of Aid for Trade (AfT) into the country Data can only be gathered from OECD-DAC Aid activities database (CRS) Total disbursement of AfT under TF category was US $.524 million during Actual flow of funds could be much higher 15

Main Donors World Bank, including International Finance Corporation Asian Development Bank UK Department For International Development European Union USAID (Not yet involved, but has plans) As bilateral donors are engaged through multilateral donors or systems, it is difficult to locate them 16

Main Challenges Faced during Acquisition of Funds Donors insist on timely implementation of projects Time overrun due to delayed project approval often leads to withdrawal of funds Existing indicators are not sufficient in measuring results Donors, in most cases, do not align with recipient priorities and instead impose their own priorities. 17

Best Practices regarding Relationship with Donors: Donors need to align their strategies along with host country priorities Broad-based results framework is required Donor need to be flexible in the case of time overrun More mutual consultations required between Implementing Agencies and donors, perhaps through Local Consultative Group. 18

Thank You 19