Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the
LLDCs
United Nations Headquarters, New York
10th December, 2015
Legal Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation in the
COMESA Region
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1. Background
2. Corridor Framework
3. COMESA Treaty
4. COMESA Transit Transport Facilitation Instruments
5. Other Legal Instruments
6. Implementation & Challenges
7. Tripartite Initiatives
8. Way ForwardExpert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of
the LLDCs
1. Background & Context
•Challenge - high transport costs that harm
competitiveness
•Transport costs affect both imports and exports
•Worse for landlocked countries
• Long distances from the market, poor state of
infrastructure and, regulatory and administrative
bottlenecks (weak transit arrangements)
Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs
2. Corridor Framework
Geographical challenge - Distance to markets but the countries are linked
o Transit; Inter-modalism; Multi-modalism; Multi-stakeholders
o Need for Legal Framework
Corridor framework provides opportunities for;
i. Coordinated infrastructure development, maintenance and management
ii. Standardization and harmonization of infrastructure, equipment, policies and skills development
iii. Harmonization of Legal Framework
iv. Information sharing, performance monitoring and efficiency improvement
v. Focused support from collaborating partners.Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of
the LLDCs
3. COMESA Treaty
•Article 4 (2b) –Transport and Communications
MS Undertake to make regulations for facilitating trade within the Common Market
•Article 85 – Roads and Road Transport
(h) – establish common measures for the facilitation of road transit traffic
•COMESA Protocol on Transit Trade and Transit Facilities is Annex 1 of the COMESA Treaty.
Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs
4. COMESA Transit Transport Facilitation Instruments
(i) COMESA Carrier License
(ii) COMESA Transit Plate
(iii) Yellow Card
(iv) RCTG
(v) COMESA Customs Document
(vi) COMESA Transit Plates
(vii) Harmonised Road User Charges
(viii) Axle Load Limits
(ix) Vehicle Dimensions
(x)One Stop Border Posts
(xi)COMESA Virtual Trade Facilitation SystemExpert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of
the LLDCs
5. Other Legal Agreements for Transit Transport Cooperation
•Regional Model Legislation on OSBP
•Corridor Agreements
•Bilateral Agreements
• Inter-railway Agreements
Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs
6. Implementation & Challenges
• Most countries are making an effort to implement the
instruments (to varying degrees).
• Some have derogations in respect of some agreed standards
• Northern Corridor is the leader in the implementation of
instruments
• Regional Integration Support Mechanism supports MS
implementing agreed regional integration instruments
• Transit Transport instruments are among the key indicators
monitored under RISM
Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs
Implementation challenges relate to;
• Domestication of Harmonised policies and regulatory regimes across countries
• Guidelines and Procedures not set out clearly on a regional basis
• Lack of awareness – policy-practice divide in some cases
• Protectionist tendencies by some MS
• Weak enforcement mechanism
• High turnover of experts and regulatory staff
• Capacity constraintsExpert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of
the LLDCs
7. Tripartite Initiatives
• Tripartite considering proposals on Harmonised Cross Border Road Transport Regulations and Standards pertaining to the following;
(i) Tripartite Vehicle Regulations and Standards;
(ii) Training and Licensing of Commercial Drivers;
(iii) Harmonization of Cross Border Third Party Motor Vehicle Insurance Schemes;
(iv) Proposed Self-Regulatory Scheme –Road Transport Management System;
(v) Tripartite Transport Registers, Information Platform and System [TRIPS];
(vi) Draft Multilateral Cross Border Road Transport Agreement [MCBRTA]; and
(vii) Implementation Plan for Harmonised Tripartite Cross Border Road Transport Regulations and Standards
Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs
8. Way Forward
• Enhance corridor management and encourage use
agreed instruments in line with COMESA Treaty
• Implement adopted COMESA/Tripartite
instruments
•Align policy with practice – public/private forum
• Implement the Tripartite Transport and Transit
Facilitation Programme
• Leverage on VPoA, AAAA and 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of
the LLDCs
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION
Contact details:
Bernard Dzawanda
E-mail: [email protected]
Mobile: +260 978829149Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of
the LLDCs
