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 be Areas where additional support/funding may be

necessarynecessary Input to an Updated and Expanded National Input to an Updated and Expanded National

TF StrategyTF 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’ PartnersConsultations with ‘Annex D’ Partners 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 ‘add-Measures may require ‘fine tuning’ or ‘add-

ons’ to Achieve Compliance with the final ons’ to Achieve Compliance with the final text text

Need to identify Lead Agency to drive changeNeed to identify Lead Agency to drive change

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 development Capacity Building to assist in development and implementation of reform strategies and implementation of reform strategies (not technical)(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 suitable conducting study (identification of suitable respondents)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 effective study helped in making it more effective /focused and saved time on the ground/focused and saved time on the ground

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 a focus) without appearing dismissive (not a debate on TFA merits)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 implementation consultation with the lead implementation AgencyAgency

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

For further information

Please contact:

José María Rubiatojose.rubiato@unctad.org

Jan HoffmannJan.hoffmann@unctad.org

Dr Mohammad Saeedmohammad.saeed@unctad.org