1. Transport and Trade Linkages: Central Asia & Eastern Europe
Henry Kerali
Senior Transport Specialist
The World Bank

2. Presentation Outline Central Asia Transport & Trade
Status review
Main trade corridors & linkages
Trade & transport trends
Impediments & suggested reforms
Transport & Trade Facilitation in Southeast Europe (TTFSE)
Current issues, project objectives & key actions
Project components & achievements
Recommendations & Scaling-up
The results of the TRRL studies were used to develop the RTIM2 model whilst the World Bank developed a more comprehensive model incorporating the findings from all previous studies and this led to HDM-III. Both models were originally designed to operate on mainframe computers and, as computer technology advanced, the University of Birmingham produced a microcomputer version of RTIM2 for TRRL. Later, the World Bank produced HDM-PC, a microcomputer version of HDM-III.
Further developments of both models continued with the TRRL producing RTIM3 in 1993 to provide a user-friendly version of the software running as a spreadsheet, and in 1994, the World Bank produced two further versions; HDM-Q incorporating the effects of traffic congestion into the HDM-III program, and HDM Manager providing a menu-driven front end to HDM-III.

3. Road & Rail Links to/from Central Asia

4. Exports from Central Asia
Source: TRACECA (Tons/Year) 2001

5. Imports to Central Asia
Source: TRACECA (Tons/Year) 2001

6. Main International Corridors

7. Southern linkages for Central Asia

8. Central Asia Corridor Performance

9. Impediments to Trade & Transport
High transportation and handling costs
Poor transport infrastructure and transport performance
Trade barriers of neighbouring countries
Long and costly customs procedures and other inspections
Lack of coordination between countries in the region
Impediments amount to between 10 – 15% for roads and 2 – 10% for rail
Transportation costs amount up to 50%

10. Suggested Reforms Need for regional trade and transport policy
Diversification of the transport industry including forwarding, handling, containerization, etc
Regional harmonization and implementation of customs procedures
Promotion of trade and transport standards
Common and transparent transit fees
Development of rail shuttle services
Implementation of international freight handling standards, e.g. TIR, ASYCUDA, etc.

11. Trade and Transport Facilitation in Southeast Europe (TTFSE)
World Bank supported project

13. Program Countries Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia
Macedonia
Moldova
Romania
Serbia & Montenegro

15. The Issues
The high cost and uncertainties of trade and transport in Southeast Europe are major constraints on economic recovery and development in the region
Complicated, opaque and non-standardized border procedures affect the business environment and deter foreign investment (the Paper Curtain)
Countries concerned with high level of corruption, smuggling, organized crime
Customs administrations do not have aligned legislation and procedures with EU standards

16. Project Objectives Reduce non-tariff costs to trade and transport
Reduce smuggling and corruption at border crossings

17. Actions (1)
Getting donors on board to complement / coordinate / provide assistance
Regional approach/mechanisms:
Regional Forum: Steering Committee
Public – Private Partnerships (PPP)
Training programs for transport operators, freight-forwarders, importers, exporters
TTFSE website
Survey of users

18. Actions (2) Focus on Customs procedural reforms
Border Inter-agency awareness and cooperation
Pilot approach: 27 selected border crossing points and in-land stations
National Coordinator
Performance monitoring: overall Customs and pilot indicators
Local Project Teams

19. Country & Regional Program
Regional Investment Program: US$120 m
WB $78 million
US Government (grant) $13 million;
Others: France, Austria
Each project was designed to be country specific, but supported the development objectives by the selection of elements under similar components

20. Total Program Costs

21. Common Components Supporting customs reform
Strengthening mechanisms of interaction and cooperation between private and public parties at regional, national, and local levels
Disseminating information and providing training to the private sector

22. Achievements in 2 ½ years …
Significant reduction of waiting time at the border and inland pilot points (50% and more) leading to US$8million savings annually
Improved dialogue among Customs administrations through regional consultation and information sharing (8 RSC meetings)
“Institutional awareness”: the facilitation role of border agencies vs. revenue collection & control classic roles
Transparent and public Customs performance monitoring system in place

23. Achievements in 2 ½ years ..
User participation in the evaluation of border agencies’ performance
A collaborative culture of partnership between the public and the private sectors
Certified learning opportunities in road transport operations (85 locations and on-line)
Detailed information available to the public at:

24. Achievements in 2 ½ years.
Revenue collected by Customs doubled through risk management and selectivity approach
Higher than estimated trade volumes increase (e.g almost doubled in Romania)
EC – WB Policy Notes from lessons learned

25. Scaling-up TTF
REPLICATE the program to other/all borders, and cross-border projects in SEE
EXPAND the approach and methods to railways, inland water-ways, ports, airports
STREAMLINE international transport documentation & linkages
REPLICATE the program to other regions, e.g. Caucasus, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, etc.