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EGM on Assessing the Status of Implementation of Trade and Transport Facilitation Instruments and Measures in Africa. Summary of Recommendations Economic Commission for Africa Addis Ababa 15 July 2013. Context. Present meeting an expanded EGM - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Summary of Recommendations
Economic Commission for AfricaAddis Ababa15 July 2013
Present meeting an expanded EGM Aimed to improve ECA report (non-recurrent
publication) Issues raised and recommendations will
also feed into African Regional Review of APoA
Report of proceedings of EGM Improved report on assessment of status of
implementation of trade and transport facilitation instruments and measures in Africa
Contribution to Outcome Document of African Regional Review on APoA
Contribution to global 10-year review conference of APoA in 2014
Geographical scope of report – beyond SSA: possibility of covering all 8 RECs recognised by AUC should be explore
Consistency in use of terminology (eg. SADC vs. SACU)
The need to place more attention to national legal instrument: present focus almost exclusively on International and RECs instruments
Tables in the document should be improved to serve as effective M&E tools
Consider highlighting specific reasons for low implementation in tables
Factual issues Conceptual issues/definitions have to be
elaborated: for example free movement of people
Southern Africa has many examples, especially in relation to corridor management that could improve the report
Inadequate capacity within RECs to implement mandate
It is debatable if progress has been made in free movement of people
The reality is that several departments are involve (transport, immigration, etc.) and tracking progress is difficult
Problems related to visas for drivers/duration of visas is also very limited
Development partners should provide more support to policy harmonisation
Introduce system of NTB in West Africa More attention should be placed on road safety &
HIV/AIDS
The concept of OSBP is well known but mixed results recorded in practice (Report could provide an inventory)
Need to synchronise infrastructure development and operational issues
Location of OSBP could be an issue OSBP between Togo and Burkina Faso, managed by
private sector, has actually increased transport cost and number of controls (from 2 to 3)
Equipment at OSBP not being used: underscores need for adequate consultations with all stakeholders
Need for a prototype (template) legal framework for OSBP
Collaboration between border agencies should be reinforced
Review of legal and operational/management framework of OSBP would be helpful
Multiplicity of guarantees is a problem ECOWAS units in member states should be
strengthened to support sensitisation of TF instruments at national level
Impact of maritime law/regulations on landlocked countries should be assessed
Management of bilateral agreements – to ensure appropriate follow-up
Scope of report could be expanded to better cover Central Africa, including issues related to River Congo
Protection of revenue generation is a key contributing factor to non-implementation of trade facilitation instruments
Private sector not sufficiently involved in drafting TF instruments – therefore not involved in domestication of good policies
The cost of facilitation of trade should studied and clearly articulated
Lack of political will as an implementation challenge is being overstated (this is debatable)
Problem could be more at the technical level – where officials who benefit from inefficient systems resist change
Need to elaborate on the Maritime Charter and its evolution
Domestication is a key challenge to implementation of instruments – linked to sovereignty and jurisdiction issues
Countries interpret and apply conventions differently
Over-reliance on donors is a constraint to implementation – donors focus on pilot projects and there is lack of continuity & ownership
Involve private sector in development and management of trade facilitation instruments
Harmonise existing trade facilitation instruments – some of which contradict each other
Need to harmonise cargo tracking systems
Inputs will be incorporated in report Factual issues will be addressed Success stories and lessons learnt will be
incorporated in report
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