1. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 1 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade National PRO committees The UK Experience Peter Wilmott Board Director SITPRO

2. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 2 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade What is SITPRO? SImpler Trade PROcedures A government-funded pressure group, constituted as a private company, but with the government as sole shareholder An organisation with a foot in both the public and the private sector A centre of expertise on trade facilitation for more than thirty years

3. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 3 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Organisation A Board of non-executive Directors, with unpaid volunteers from the private sector and representatives of DTI and Customs A full-time CEO, with executive responsibility A permanent staff of around ten, drawn from the public and private sectors An annual budget, provided by the DTI, currently around £1 million

4. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 4 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Mission Make international trade easier –Simplify border processes and procedures –Reduce the costs that formalities impose on business –Make access to international trade cheaper and easier –Make the supply chain work more efficiently

5. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 5 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Targets Government bureaucracy and inefficiency –Border processes (customs, tax, health, security, statistics, agriculture, etc) –UK, EU and global rule-making Supply chain efficiency –Information handling (design of forms and control routines, business processes, etc) –Ancillary services (banking, insurance, brokerage, etc)

6. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 6 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Working methods Private-sector based working groups Pilot projects (UNeDocs; Interact project; etc) Policy positions (eg on WTO trade facilitation agenda, security issues) and behind-the-scenes networking and lobbying Conferences, seminars, road-shows and publications

7. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 7 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Achievements Probably the most widely known and respected PRO organisation in the world Aligned documentation procedures, in UK and Europe Major contributor to work of CEFACT in UN

8. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 8 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Analysis Major advantage to have a single-focus organisation, with advocacy skills based on in-depth knowledge and experience Essential to have legitimacy with UK and global business (ie be of the private sector), but full understanding of government values and processes (ie be with the public sector)

9. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 9 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Analysis UK model is successful in a plural democracy with government prepared to pay an organisation to criticise it This model is less likely to succeed in economies with a less tolerant or more volatile political environment

10. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 10 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Alternatives French model (ODASCE) is self-funded and business-based –More independent, and fully legitimate with business –Less influence on government, and more fragile financially and politically (ie vulnerable to pressure from the administration)

11. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 11 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Alternatives Chambers of Commerce –Perhaps too narrowly based, with issues of legitimacy with both government and business and risks of conflicts of interest –Varying degrees of freedom from the State may affect independence and ability to influence policy and practice

12. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 12 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Recommendations Function is more important than form Trade facilitation crosses boundaries – public/private; inter-ministerial; cross sectoral in private sector – and a holistic view is key to success Without political will, backed by concrete government action, trade facilitation will not happen

13. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 13 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Recommendations Some mobilising force is required to keep governments on track A forum for dialogue is essential, within government, between government and the private sector, and within the private sector These are the key PRO committee functions

14. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 14 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Recommendations Form is less important, but funding and organisational details must give independence to the PRO body if it is to be credible, legitimate and effective Focussing on concrete initiatives leads to greater trade facilitation than abstract debate; these can be regional or sectoral in nature, in order to make quick initial progress and gain support

15. Moscow, 22-23 November 2004 Peter Wilmott, UK experience, slide 15 SITPRO Simplifying International Trade Conclusion PRO organisations can bring focus and expertise to both the policy and practice of trade facilitation Their benefits can far outweigh their costs, and their function is more important than their form For countries to gain from creating PRO bodies, they must be independent, strong, expert, financially resilient and persistent