1. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 20021 Role of ESCWA in promoting the facilitation of international transport and trade in the ESCWA region Nabil Safwat Chief, Transport Section Sectoral Issues and Policies Division United Nations- Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia nsafwat@escwa.org.lb Presentation at the international trade facilitation forum, Geneva, 29-30 May 2002

2. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 20022 Presentation Outline  Statement of the member countries on ITSAM (27 May 1999)  Regional integrated transport network (ITSAM –NETWORK)  Agreement on International Roads in the Arab Mashreq  Transport and trade facilitation  Project proposals  Summary of the role of ESCWA

3. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 20023  Adoption of the regional integrated transport network Roads Railways Seaports Airports  The start of work on the development of an integrated transport system to be known as the “ Integrated Transport System in the Arab Mashreq” (ITSAM) Statement of Member Countries on ITSAM

4. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 20024 Development of ITSAM  Regional network (ITSAM- NETWORK)  Information System (ITSAM –INFOSYS)  Methodological framework (ITSAM-FRAMEWORK)

9. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 20029 Agreement on International Roads in the Arab Mashreq  Adopted by All 13 ESCWA members on 10 May 2001  Signed by 10 ESCWA members; one ratified (as of May 2002)  Contents of the Agreement: Articles of the agreement Technical terminology Annex 1: International road network Annex 2: Technical specifications Annex 3: Signs and signals

10. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200210 Transport and Trade Facilitation

11. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200211 Study on the Facilitation of the International transport of goods in the ESCWA region, 2000

12. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200212 Facilitation study (2000) Objectives & Methodology  Detailed description of procedures based on first hand information  Comparative analysis and evaluation of procedures for imports, exports, transit and re-export door-to –door operations  Analysis of characteristics and interests of participating entities  Diagnosis of problems and causes  Suggestion of solutions and recommendations  Suggestions of “model procedures”  Suggestion of the role of ESCWA

13. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200213 Facilitation study (2000) Selected countries and their systems  Traditional systems (in the process of upgrade): Syria  Advanced systems and technologies: UAE (Dubai ports and Customs)  Varying levels of advanced systems: Lebanon Egypt Jordan

14. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200214 Facilitation study (2000) Major Problems  High cost of logistics and procedures  Excessive delays  Illegal practices and corruption

15. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200215 Facilitation study (2000) Some Major Causes  Lack of clarity/transparency of procedures  Direct transactions with several employees  Numerous manual paperwork and many errors  Many control entities with different policies and procedures  Lack of coordination among various parties  An average of 40 steps and 20 signatures for import  Unclear standards for the valuation of goods

16. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200216 Facilitation study (2000) Recommendations 1- Simplification of procedures 2- Transparency 3- Integrity of practices 4- Automation and ICT 5- Institutional reform 6- Regulatory reform 7- Valuation and classification of commodities 8- Improved performance levels 9- Implementation of multimodal transport 10- Accession to existing conventions and formulate new ones 11- Enhancement of the role of ESCWA

17. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200217 Study on the application of EDI and UN/EDIFACT in the ESCWA region, 1999

18. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200218 Study on the application of advanced ICT in the transport sector in the ESCWA region September 2001

19. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200219 Capacity – building in trade facilitation and electronic business in the Mediterranean Project proposal by ECE in cooperation with ESCWA and ECA (2002-2003)

20. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200220 Capacity – building in trade facilitation and electronic business in the Mediterranean  United Nations Regional Commissions involved: ECE (Coordinator) ESCWA ECA  Project Duration: 2 years (2002-2003)  Project Budget : US$ 600,000  Approved by General Assembly; began implementation

21. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200221 Capacity building in developing interregional land and land-cum-sea transport linkages Project proposal by All five UN Regional Commissions (2002-2006)

22. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200222 Capacity building in developing interregional land and land-cum-sea transport linkages  United Nations Regional Commissions involved: ECE ESCWA (Coordinator) ECA ESCAP ECLAC  Project Duration: 5 years (2002-2006)  Project Budget : US$ 1,250,000  Approved by General Assembly: began implementation

23. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200223 Summary of the role of ESCWA in promoting transport facilitation in the region  Contribute to the development of ITSAM Network Information System Methodological framework  Promote the agreement on international roads in the region  Contribute to the formulation of regional agreements to promote transport facilitation  Assist in the implementation of automation and ICT  Assist in the establishment of national transport and trade facilitation committees  Cooperate with UN Regional Commissions

24. Nabil Safwat, Transport Section, SIPD, UN-ESCWA, May 200224 Thank you for your attentiveness Ready for your Questions and Comments