Strengthening National and Regional Trade Facilitation Organisations

1
Strengthening National and Regional Trade
Facilitation Organisations

• Strengthening National and Regional Trade
  Facilitation Organisations
• 31 October 1 November 2006

2
The Pacific Islands Forum Region

• 16 Countries are members of the PIF (14 of which
  are Island countries)
• PIFS delivers a range of regional public policy
  services politics, law enforcement economics
  (includes trade policy)
• Other than Australia and New Zealand, global
  trade is not significant
• Fish - biggest resources amongst island economies

3
Trade Facilitation Development Objectives

• Mandate Political Statement Trade Ministers
  agree that TF is key trade policy issue
• Establishment of National TF Committees (NTFC)
  essential
• Partnership - an integral element of TF
• NTFC to ensure trade facilitation polices
  consistent and seize the opportunities from
  regional/ international trade developments
• Challenge is to tailor national polices to the
  unique needs and realities of the individual
  country

4
NTFC Structure
5
National Trade Facilitation Committees - theory
and practice

• Established by Ministerial Mandates
• Chaired by Ministers who can meet twice a year
• Subcommittees established and who meet as
  required
• Regular reporting
• Partnership between public and private sector
• Private sector related needs priorities be
  driving force for formulation of solutions
• Integrated approach of TF policy demands
• Political commitment regional/national
• Funding support demand driven

6
Regional Coordination

• Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) a
  five year programme
• Funded by Australia and New Zealand
• Has four main components Customs, Quarantine
  and Standards Conformance and Coordination
  Unit
• Forum Trade officials and Ministers meet every
  two years to review progress

7
Funding and Sustainability

• Regional level Regional Trade Facilitation
  Forum, annual national consultations donor
  funded
• National level some countries establish NTFCs
  funded primarily by national govts and supported
  by Forum Secretariat
• Periodic review essential
• The prerequisite cross-cutting reforms,
  programmes and activities drives the funding
  demand at this stage (funding for TF bodies are
  not the issue)

8
Supporting agencies opportunities

• Oceania Customs Organisation
• Pacific Plant Organisation
• Donors
• International Organisation
• Harnessing support of the Pacific Islands Private
  Sector Organisation

9

• MERCI