United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNCTADTechnical Assistanceand Capacity Building

in

Trade FacilitationServices Development Division

Aims of the Technical Assistancein TRADE FACILITATION

• To reduce the costs caused by inefficiencies in international trade practices & procedures;

and• To increase awareness and use of ICT-based

tools such as ASYCUDA and ACIS.

Expected benefits• reduced overall delivered costs of imports;• increased competitiveness of exports through

reduced transaction costs;• new options for improved door-to-door logistics;• increased Customs revenue collection & control.

This presentation covers:

• ASYCUDA: a tool to support Customs Reform and Modernization;

• ACIS: a tool to speed the flow of transported goods by improving the availability & use of information;

• Trade Facilitation: a series of measures to create the environment for efficient trade & transport transactions, including transit and border crossing issues.

ASYCUDA

Automated System for Customs Data

ASYCUDA is a tool to complementCustoms Reform & Modernization programme,

leading to:

• faster Customs clearance procedures;• better valuation of imports and exports;• higher Customs revenue collection and control.

Through ASYCUDA implementation

• Formulation of modern Customs policy;• Reform of Customs procedures;• Introduction of international EDI standards;• Increase of Customs yield;• Timely production of trade statistics.

ASYCUDA main features

• Traditional core features;• SAD• DTI (declarations);• DSI (manifest);• Selectivity module;• Transit module.

ASYCUDA Transit Module

• Essential for landlocked countries (transit agreements);

• Protects Customs revenues;• Procures the effective monitoring of the

smooth transit of goods (JIT);• Supports T1 and TIR procedures;• Takes advantage of ICT developments.

ASYCUDA is:

• a computer software developed by UNCTAD;• provided free to Customs administrations;• implemented under UNCTAD supervision

(for adaptation to the local conditions);• part of a Government’s commitment towards

Customs Reform & Modernization.

Preparatoryphase

Pilotimplementation

Roll-outSite #1 Roll-out

Site #2 Roll-outSite #3

ASYCUDA project life cycle

ACIS

Advance Cargo Information System

ACIS: a tool box of computer applications:• To produce management information;• To address multi-modal cargo transit and transport

resource problems;Each application is independent of the other…

but is designed with a modular approachto enable all to « co-habit » & freely exchange data

in an industry-accepted standard form.

ACIS Tool Box

BACKBONE

PortTracker

RailTracker

LakeTracker

RoadTracker

Users

Users

Users

Users(connected country)

Independent modular compartments exchanging datain industry-accepted standards

A Management Tool BoxTo track cargo and rolling stock

on modes and at interfacesin difficult physical environments.

Users can:• Identify bottlenecks and deficiencies;• Take the necessary steps to correct these faults

Improve their performance and efficiency.

ACIS Outputs

• Advance information;• « Spot » information for users;• Monthly traffic statistics for users and

planners;• Performance indicators for users and

macro-economic planning

Changing transportation culture

• Promoting « business partnerships »– Operators/users– Private/public– National/international

• Clients are aware of reasons for:– Delays of consignments– Poor quality of service

What does UNCTAD provide?

• ACIS standard tracker softwareper mode/interface;

• Standard hardware(computer & appropriate telecoms);

• Training of user/operator staff;• Continuous technical support during project life.

TRADE FACILITATION

MEASURES

The Challenge• To make the best use of existing physical infrastructure

(the “hardware”),• By fostering the “software” dimension of international

trade and transport through: – improving the performance of transport operators and auxiliary

services, – changing the commercial behaviour of users, and – introducing innovative relations between public institutions and

transport providers and users • As well as eliminating outdated procedures, and multiple,

non-standardised documents, which result in additional transaction costs and unnecessary delays.

Ministry of Transport

Ministry of Trade

Ministry of Finances

Reduce transaction costs Monitor external trade flows

Customs reform& modernization

Trade facilitationmeasures

Door-to-doorLogistics

Private Sector

Promotion of Trade Facilitation

Principles of Trade Facilitation

Harmonization of laws & regulations(lawyers)

Simplificationof procedures

(business men)

Standardizationof means

(technicians)

Towards the establishment of…

• Sound legal and institutional framework for trade transactions;

• Commercially viable reforms in the trade & transport sectors;

• Appropriate consultation mechanisms;• Effective transit agreements;• Trade Points• Training programmes.

Awareness WorkshopRecommendations & PoA

PHASE I

DiagnosticInstitut’al, legal, operat’al, HRDSeminarsIssues identified, Plan of Action

PHASE II

Elaboration of concrete proposals Thematic workshops Laws & regulations Administrative & operational measures Strengthening of associations Preparation for ASYCUDA & ACIS Training programmeImplementation Plan

PHASE III

Ad-hoc implementation of the proposals

National Facilitation Body

TF project life cycle

New & growingcompetitiveness intransport services

New infrastructure& technology

in place

Better preparedoperators

Improvedadmin. & commerc.

procedures

More demandingtraders

Adequate national& bilateralframeworks

COSTS SERVICESTRADE

VOLUMECOMPLEXITY

OF PROCEDURES

Benefitsof

Trade Facilitation

CONCLUSION

Funding & Cooperation

• ASYCUDA and ACIS are self-financed by user countries (Governments’ or operators’ contributions).

• Countries might get financial support from int’l donor agencies or bilateral donors.

• Cooperation with other UN Depts., WCO, WB, EC, regional organizations and Nat’l Customs Administrations is essential to the success of UNCTAD’s Technical Assistance