Establishing a National Working Group on Trade Facilitation Challenges and Lessons Learned

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Establishing a National Working Group on Trade
Facilitation Challenges and Lessons Learned

• Presented by Elizabeth Tamale
• Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry
• Uganda

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Introduction

• Uganda carried out self needs assessment in 3-7
  December 2007
• Participants Recommended that
• Private sector should participate more in the
  negotiating issues of TF
• Further consultations should occur to determine
  how to best strengthen the functioning of
  agencies with trade-related responsibilities
  involving private and public sector.
• Accountability and monitoring strategies through
  regular interagency meetings coordinated by MTTI
  should be developed.

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• Received technical assistance from UNECE/ Camlexa
  Consulting to analyse TF using Buy-Ship-Pay
  concept using module developed by CAMLEXA, 2008.
• Participants emphasized the need for a National
  Working Group on Trade Facilitation to handle all
  matters related to Trade facilitation and not
  only the negotiations as previously envisaged
• Developed a draft Workplan for the establishment
  of the NWGTF

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Tasks identified

• Build upon the report and matrix of Ugandas self
  assessment on TF needs on a regular basis
• Build on the National TF plan developed during
  the Entebbe Workshop 20-24 October 2008
• Provide support to Geneva based officials,
  involved in WTO negotiations and ongoing TF
  negotiations
• Provide technical advice on TF negotiations in
  the EAC, COMESA and EPAs
• Monitor implementation of measures arising from
  different negotiations
• Identify capacity building needs and donor
  assistance for their implementation
• Develop and monitor the COMESA Simplified, Trade
  Regime (STR) work plan

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Tasks

• Work with the Tripartite Task Force of the
  Regional Trade Facilitation Program to address TF
  harmonization in the EAC, COMESA and SADC
  regions.
• Analyse barriers to trade facilitation and make
  policy recommendations on reform
• Identify issues affecting the cost and efficiency
  of the countrys international trade
• Provide a national focal point for the collection
  and dissemination of information on best
  practices in international trade facilitation
• Review and evaluate progress of negotiations and
  make recommendations for adjustments in a timely
  manner.

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Membership

• Private Sector members include the following
• Uganda Clearing and Forwarding Association
• Private Sector Foundation Uganda
• Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA)
• Uganda Manufacturers Association
• Exporters Association
• Transport Operators
• Financial services including insurance

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Government Ministries and Agencies

• Ministry of Tourism Trade and Industry
• Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic
  Development
• Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and
  Fisheries
• Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of ICT
• Ministry of Works and Transport
• Uganda Revenue Authority
• Uganda Export Promotion Board
• Uganda National Bureau of Standards
• Uganda Investment Authority

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Key External Partners identified

• WTO
• OECD
• UNCTAD
• UNECE
• UN/CEFACT
• World Customs Organization (WCO)
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
• Regional trade facilitation projects
• Local Donors

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Structure

• NWGTF chaired by MTTI/deputized by Private sector
  Organization
• 3 sub-committees have been proposed
• Customs Uganda Revenue Authority
• Transport-Ministry of Works and Transport
• Technical assistance and capacity building
  Ministry of Finance
• All deputized by private sector repr.
• MTTI to provide the secretariat
• The terms of reference for these subcommittees
  are yet to be established

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Cont

• Operating on limited budget under the External
  Trade Dept of MTTI
• Meetings held quarterly/before negotiations, 2
  have been held in 2009 focusing on WTO/TF
  negotiations
• Cabinet info paper prepared
• Work plan needs refining taking into account the
  tasks which have been identified.

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• The NWGTF will also use the UN CEFACT supply
  chain reference model as a basis to examine
  commercial, transport, regulatory and financial
  procedures to ensure simplification,
  transparency, predictability and efficiency.

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Challenges

• Needs assessment done in 2007, need to review the
  progress taking into account the development in
  the negotiations
• Limited capacity of the NWGTF to analyse TACB
  needs, develop schedule of commitments and
  implementation plans
• Capacity to follow up on the regional initiatives
• MTTI is the secretariat but has limited capacity
  (financial and human resources)

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cont

• Recognition and support of other agencies and
  ministries and agencies i.e. Ministry of Finance
• TF border committees not yet in place yet are
  important source of information
• Coordination with other agencies and programs
  handling TF elements/ negotiations COMESA, EAC
  and EPAs and other Trade facilitation task
  forces.
• Sustainability of the NWGTF

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Conclusion

• The NWGTF should be treated initially as project
  with external funding. Can evolve into a
  permanent fixture at a later stage
• Support required to fund activities of the task
  force including a secretariat
• Widening of the mandate of the working group
  requires support from all agencies including
  political support
• TACB required to develop work plan, budgets
• Share experience with successful working groups.

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• Thank you for your attention