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WTO Symposium, WTO Symposium, GENEVA,08 November, 2011GENEVA,08 November, 2011
Study of Trade Facilitation Initiatives in Pakistan
Implementing trade facilitation reforms: Aligning national plans with multilateral and regional commitments
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
Purpose of this StudyPurpose of this Study Part of UNCTAD’s Ongoing Pakistan Trade Part of UNCTAD’s Ongoing Pakistan Trade
& Transport Facilitation Project Work & Transport Facilitation Project Work Program Program
Support for Pakistan in WTO TF Support for Pakistan in WTO TF NegotiationsNegotiationsIdentify areas of non-complianceIdentify areas of non-complianceWhat needs to be done to achieve complianceWhat needs to be done to achieve complianceDetermine need for Technical AssistanceDetermine need for Technical AssistanceAreas where additional support/funding may Areas where additional support/funding may
be necessarybe necessary Input to an Updated and Expanded Input to an Updated and Expanded
National TF StrategyNational TF Strategy
Perspective of the Study Perspective of the Study
Not Official Government Position Not Official Government Position (views of individuals) and Does Not (views of individuals) and Does Not Represent Any Commitment by Represent Any Commitment by GovernmentGovernment
No Attempt to ‘Categorize’ Measures No Attempt to ‘Categorize’ Measures in the Context of TFA Negotiationsin the Context of TFA Negotiations
Did Not Try to Identify Specific Did Not Try to Identify Specific Implementation CostsImplementation Costs
Findings Remain the Property of the Findings Remain the Property of the Government of PakistanGovernment of Pakistan
MethodologyMethodology Consultations with ‘Annex D’ Consultations with ‘Annex D’
PartnersPartners
Consultations with CBSG, TTFP Consultations with CBSG, TTFP Counterparts in Pakistan & Mission Counterparts in Pakistan & Mission in Genevain Geneva
Questionnaire Developed & Used as Questionnaire Developed & Used as Basis for Survey Basis for Survey Template prepared by UNCTAD and Template prepared by UNCTAD and
approvedapproved Background/additional research Background/additional research
including 2008 ‘Needs Assessment’including 2008 ‘Needs Assessment’
Desk Research /AnalysisDesk Research /Analysis
Methodology (cont)Methodology (cont)
Survey/Interviews conducted by Survey/Interviews conducted by UNCTAD in Pakistan June 2011UNCTAD in Pakistan June 2011
On-site visits where possibleOn-site visits where possible
Only involved ‘Public Sector’ Only involved ‘Public Sector’ stakeholders (in this phase)stakeholders (in this phase)
Key Finding presented at Key Finding presented at domestic stakeholder conference domestic stakeholder conference for ‘Validation’for ‘Validation’
Key FindingsKey Findings Pakistan Well Placed to achieve compliance Pakistan Well Placed to achieve compliance
with TFA, No measures beyond reachwith TFA, No measures beyond reach TF is not an ‘alien’ concept (principles well TF is not an ‘alien’ concept (principles well
understood)understood) Significant Progress Since ‘Needs Significant Progress Since ‘Needs
Assessment’ (2008)Assessment’ (2008) Many Measures are implemented, but not Many Measures are implemented, but not
‘institutionalized’‘institutionalized’ Measures may require ‘fine tuning’ or Measures may require ‘fine tuning’ or
‘add-ons’ to Achieve Compliance with the ‘add-ons’ to Achieve Compliance with the final text final text
Need to identify Lead Agency to drive Need to identify Lead Agency to drive changechange
Key Findings (cont)Key Findings (cont) Automation (rationalization/stability) Automation (rationalization/stability)
remains a key challenge to achieving remains a key challenge to achieving progress and providing the enabling progress and providing the enabling environment necessary to support other environment necessary to support other measures measures
Most T.A. necessary will be in form of Most T.A. necessary will be in form of Capacity Building to assist in Capacity Building to assist in development and implementation of development and implementation of reform strategies (not technical)reform strategies (not technical)
Need to aim beyond just achieving Need to aim beyond just achieving compliance with TFA to maximize returnscompliance with TFA to maximize returns
Concerns expressed about private sectors Concerns expressed about private sectors ability to engage in some measures / drive ability to engage in some measures / drive agendaagenda
Lessons LearntLessons Learnt Important not to underestimate Political Important not to underestimate Political
Support still necessary, even at advanced Support still necessary, even at advanced stagesstages
Need to Aim Beyond Just Achieving Need to Aim Beyond Just Achieving Compliance with TFACompliance with TFA
Need to identify and implement ‘Change Need to identify and implement ‘Change Management’ Strategies and lead agency Management’ Strategies and lead agency to help in Achieving Ownership of Reformsto help in Achieving Ownership of Reforms
In most circumstances the use of a In most circumstances the use of a National Consultant would help in National Consultant would help in conducting study (identification of conducting study (identification of suitable respondents)suitable respondents)
The ‘Needs Assessment’ was a useful The ‘Needs Assessment’ was a useful starting pointstarting point
Lessons Learnt (cont)Lessons Learnt (cont) The desk research prior to conducting The desk research prior to conducting
study helped in making it more study helped in making it more effective /focused and saved time on the effective /focused and saved time on the groundground
Where implementation is already Where implementation is already underway, need to monitor with regard to underway, need to monitor with regard to final textfinal text
‘‘Costing’ remains a complex issueCosting’ remains a complex issue A well functioning national trade A well functioning national trade
facilitation Committee can steer the facilitation Committee can steer the implementation process in a better wayimplementation process in a better way
Need to help guide respondents (keep Need to help guide respondents (keep focus) without appearing dismissive (not focus) without appearing dismissive (not a debate on TFA merits)a debate on TFA merits)
Next StepsNext Steps Consulting the Private SectorConsulting the Private Sector Look beyond TFA to broader National TF Look beyond TFA to broader National TF
agendaagenda Review and Update of National TF Review and Update of National TF
StrategyStrategy Develop Action Plan for updated TF Develop Action Plan for updated TF
StrategyStrategy Design implementation Plans in Design implementation Plans in
consultation with the lead consultation with the lead implementation Agencyimplementation Agency
Strengthen the National Trade and Strengthen the National Trade and Transport Facilitation committeeTransport Facilitation committee
Use experience in other countriesUse experience in other countries The process in Pakistan helped The process in Pakistan helped
developing a working methodology:developing a working methodology:• QuestionnaireQuestionnaire• InterviewsInterviews• Validation WorkshopValidation Workshop
And Identifying missing steps / And Identifying missing steps / components:components:• Involve private sector from the startInvolve private sector from the start• Aim at implementation plans with Aim at implementation plans with
actions, budgets and calendarsactions, budgets and calendars
A TACB project starting in 2012A TACB project starting in 2012 EU funded – other donors interestedEU funded – other donors interested 2012-2014 life span2012-2014 life span 15 (volunteering) countries15 (volunteering) countries Working in national official languageWorking in national official language 6-8 weeks national consultants work 6-8 weeks national consultants work
supported by Annex D agencies – supported by Annex D agencies – mainly but not limited to UNCTADmainly but not limited to UNCTAD
Implementation plans as outputsImplementation plans as outputs
