TTFSE Program   Regional Investment Program US$120 million, WB $78 million   8 countries/one project in each implementation started in 2001 for first six   Goals: (a) Reduce : (i) processing time for legitimate traders/transporters, (ii) ‘facilitation’ payments, and (iii) corruption related to international transport and trade; (b) in parallel improve effectiveness of controls and of anti-smuggling efforts.   Components: TA for border agency modernization (Customs), IT equipment and TA (Single Elect. Window), border crossing improvements, training to service providers, website on all applicable rules/procedures of border agencies   What made it possible? *Committed countries: -European integration prospects -Strong donor support (SECI,Stability Pact, Netherlands, Austria, France) -Peer pressure -High cost of not acting (transport cost/credibility as trading partners) *High level support from ECAVP -Willingness to go regional and add projects to CAS -Timely budget

TTFSE Mechanisms   Balancing top-down and bottom up approach (strategy-local project teams)   Regional Mechanisms *Performance measurements -at border crossings and clearance facilities -at Customs operational level (efficiency) *Regional Steering Committee: high decision makers-policy and comparison *Regional Website *Regional Training for traders, transporters, forwarders (see transweblibraryECA website)   Strong Involvement of Private Sector/ Professional Associations *Constant dialogue (contribution to RSC) *Building on an existing regional network (more than 100 specialists regionally under PRO-Committees) *User surveys (in each country) *Trade facilitation component implementation *Building distance learning programs with international/local professional associations (IRU, FIATA)

Performance Indicators   Customs efficiency indicators -National customs performance measurement -Allow for comparison (evolution, regional) -Close attention needed in collection   Pilot site indicators -National Customs and US Customs collecting data regionally and measuring the overall processing (from entry to exit) -Three indicators linked to covenants : Percentage of vehicles cleared in less than 15 minutes; percentage of declarations inspected; trucks opened at border. -Constant attention required to collect meaningful and comparable data while staff rotates

TTFSE Indicators (2)   Pilot Sites *Pilot Inland Terminal -Import Clearance Time (min) -Physical Examination (%) -Trucks cleared in less than 15 min (%) -Irregularities/number of examinations (%) *Pilot Border Crossings -Truck Examination (%) -Irregularities/ Number of Examinations (%) -Average Border Exit Time (min) -Average Border Entry Time (min) -Surveyed Occurrence of Corruption (%)   Customs Efficiency Indicator ratios based on: -Total Number of Customs Staff -Annual Number of Declarations -Total Customs Collection (US$ million) -Total Customs Salaries (US$ million) -Total Customs Cost (US$ million)

Regional User Survey   First phase – strengthen baseline and methodology -Objective: supplementing performance measurements through survey, interviews and discussion groups to analyze performance improvement among border agencies in each country. -A sample of 15 to 30 firms (forwarders, transport companies, traders) in each country, with validation from international firms as needed -Questionnaire covering six dimensions : Customs law; Communication; Procedures; Personnel and Integrity; Logistics; Work methods -Methodology refined after first phase to increase comparability of results; transfer to Chambers of Commerce in phase II  Highly useful tool to initiate in depth discussions

Ttfse cost and trade map

TTFSE and Distance Learning   Professional competence-an EU requirement for road transp. Operators *EU-accession  legal harmonization *Creation of 13 vocational training centers (EU-PHARE/TACIS) *IRU Academy established regional quality standards (CPC)/planned DL *Bank/TTFSE program catalyst to attract funding for knowledge transfer *Distance Learning Certificate of Professional Competence for RTO : two countries being piloted BA, MK - 2 other enrolled-three more involved shortly   Similar approach with FIATA-Preparation of a Distance Learning Program for Forwarders, started in SEE   Next steps in DL *Creation of a web platform for the Global Facilitation Partnership-Distance Learning Initiative (GFP-DLI) (under finalization) *Creation of a mechanism for new Bank projects to build on available content and programs with certification and support their expansion, as appropriate to new countries *Prof. Associations: Leadership role *WB: catalyst to attract funding and help in content pooling. *Sustainable capacity building tool *Integration and use of content produced by donors/IFIs, professional associations *Development of a Supply Chain Manager Program *Cooperation with other regions to see what program could be expanded

Achievements and Challenges   Some Achievements *Sharp improvement in performance at some pilot sites in one year through procedural improvements -Inland terminal (HR) : processing time reduced by 50% (150 minutes); Border crossing exit time (HR) reduced by 75%; -Advanced declaration module (BG) reduction of clearance to 15 minutes for pre-cleared goods *RSC: decision on International Weighing Certificate recognition for Customs *New Customs Law adopted in Croatia and Macedonia   Challenges *High rotation of key staff at country level  high supervision intensity to preserve initial results *High expectations *Delays in introducing selectivity *Close coordination made difficult by the large number of players *Setbacks (conflict in Macedonia) *First phase of an 8 year modernization process- demonstrating the approach validity *Sustainability and EU prospects *Defining similar program in other regions (Caucasus, Central Asia)