Progress Report 2002

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Progress Report 2002
Michel Audigé, Lead Transport Specialist
TTFSE Program Team Leader
The World Bank
7th Regional Steering Committee Chisinau (Mo
ldova) - February 6-7, 2003
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TTFSE Program

• Regional Investment Program - US125 million, WB
  76 million
  
• Eight countries/one project in each -
  implementation started in 2001
  
• Co-financed with the US, and other bilateral
  donors
  
• Implemented in close partnership with the EU
• Three to four years implementation time periods
• Development objectives (i) to reduce non-tariff
  costs to trade and transport and (ii) to reduce
  smuggling and corruption at border crossings.
  
• Components (i) Technical Assistance for Customs
  modernization, (ii) physical improvements of
  facilities (iii) IT equipment and TA, (iii)
  operational improvements, (iv) training of
  Customs staff as well as trade transport
  professionals, (v) website providing updated
  information on border agencies rules/procedures.

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TTFSE Program Financing and Implementation
Schedule
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TTFSE Principles

• Monthly monitoring of performances related to
  trade and transport operations and procedures at
  border and inland pilot sites
  
• Use of regional mechanisms
• Regional Steering Committee (RSC) Today in
  Chisinau (February 2003)
  
• Regional Website http//www.seerecon.org/Regio
  nalInitiatives/TTFSE/http//www.ttfse.org
  
• Regional Training for border users
• Strong Involvement of border users
• Constant dialogue (participation in RSC
  meetings)
  
• Building on an existing regional network
  (PRO-Committees)
  
• Independent user surveys (in all countries -
  every year)
  
• implementation of a dedicated trade
  facilitation component
  
• Building distance learning programs with
  professional associations (IRU, FIATA)

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TTFSE Achievements

• Significant reduction of waiting time at the
  Borders Crossing Points and Inland Clearance
  Terminals Results on the ground
  
• Improved dialogue among Customs administrations
  within the region
  
• Transparent and public Customs performance
  monitoring system in place (all the data
  collected are available to the public through
  INTERNET)
• Independent user surveys also available to the
  public through INTERNET
  
• Training of SMEs' staff through the Trade
  Facilitation Component
  
• Clear positive economic impact for the region and
  the countries, i.e., US8.4 million since 2001.
  

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Main issues observed

• Resistance in implementing selectivity (MZ)
• Lack of cooperation between border crossing
  agencies (MZ)
  
• Excessive turnover of staff in Customs
  administrations (BO)
  
• No real progress in fighting smuggling and
  corruption (BO)
  
• What role for National Coordinators (RSC7)

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Recommendations and next steps

• Strengthened dialogue at Ministerial level on
  policy issues, e.g. follow up on past
  resolutions?
  
• Increased selectivity
• Roles of Border Police and Customs need
  clarification
  
• New initiatives to better fight smuggling and
  corruption
  

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Conclusions

• The agenda of the present RSC is right on
  target
  
• Customs in a new era The relationship between
  security and facilitation
  
• Fighting corruption through organization and
  procedures
  
• Private meeting for National Coordinators
• The solutions to address the remaining issues
  entirely depends on you, based on your experience
  and knowledge
  
• Donors can only assist you in implementing these
  solutions
  
• I see no reason why the region would continue to
  lag behind EU and international standards
  
• I see no reason why the Customs administrations
  in the region would continue to be perceived as
  highly corrupt
  
• And a last thought to conclude What will
  remain, once the TTFSE program will close early
  next year?