Case stories
These case studies have been developed in the context of the UNECE TFIG project. They illustrate success stories in the implementation of trade facilitation measures and instruments presented in this Guide, in different areas of the world.
The Interagency Working Group on Trade Facilitation and Logistics in Ukraine (IWG) as the basis for a national trade facilitation committee
Ukraine demonstrates a “bottom–up” approach to establishing a National Trade Facilitation Committee. The country has experience with facilitating trade and interagency cooperation since the 1990s, and in 2011 stakeholders from Odessa launched a port community system project, receiving advisory services from UNECE.
Business Process Analysis in Cambodia
Business process analysis (BPA) was conducted in Cambodia in 2010. Its objective was to evaluate procedures, times and related costs associated with the export and import of products of strategic importance. The BPA uncovered procedural bottlenecks and practices unfriendly to trade. The results were instrumental in raising awareness and building political will for on-going trade facilitation reform in Cambodia.
Customs Modernization in Jordan
Since at least 1997, Jordanian Customs has demonstrated a clear commitment to improve the efficiency of customs clearance processes and border controls in order to facilitate trade and to combat illegal commerce. The use of information technologies, better methods and equipment, and improved coordination between government authorities and international trading companies has been prioritized.
Iraq: Strengthening international trade through an upgrading of the National Quality System
Since the lifting of UN sanctions in 2003, Iraq has strengthened trade relations with the regional and international community and is working to become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). A vital step towards achieving this objective involves a comprehensive upgrading of the country’s National Quality System (NQS).
A Road Toward Paperless Trade: Senegal’s Experience
The Senegalese Single Window (ORBUS) was created and is operated by a local company, GAINDE 2000, established under a public/private partnership. Through the paperless trade project initiated in 2009, GAINDE 2000 further enhanced electronic interconnectivity among stakeholders of the international supply chain both within and across borders, thus bringing the country closer to a paperless trading environment. GAINDE 2000’s contribution has been recognized recently as it gained first place in the 2012 United Nations Public Service Awards.
Interagency Collaboration for SW Implementation: Thailand’s Experience
National Single Window (THAINSW) is a successful interagency collaboration. It is a national flagship project set up to enhance trade facilitation in Thailand with a vision of becoming the world-class logistics hub for Indochina. It is in accordance with the Agreement to Establish and Implement the ASEAN Single Window and builds support for the formation in 2015 of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee as Effective Mechanism for Implementing Trade Facilitation Measures in Pakistan
Pakistan began its national Trade and Transport Facilitation programme with the establishment of the National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee (NTTFC) in August 2001. The NTTFC works in coordination with government ministries and public and private stakeholders in order to adopt trade and transport facilitation measures.
Single Window Implementation in Mozambique
Mozambique’s Single Window was launched in 2011, providing a centralized platform to streamline and simplify the operation of customs and other government agencies involved in border control. Implementation was not easy. Mozambique had to overcome infrastructure weaknesses at land borders in remote areas and resistance from certain stakeholders. Today, the system is able to handle up to 400,000 customs declarations per year, or about 1,500 per day, bringing many benefits to both clients and participating agencies.
Facilitating port expansion, through process simplification, integration and harmonisation – the Felixstowe approach, UK
The Port of Felixstowe was facing an operational crisis in 1981. Following rapid growth in the preceding years, throughput had reached over half a million twenty foot equivalent units (TEU). Increased throughput could only be achieved with either more land or increased efficiency. As land was limited, management decided to streamline certain processes and procedures that were causing delays to the movement of goods.
Building a national Trade Facilitation Strategy: The Greek Trade Facilitation Roadmap 2013 – 2015, Greece
The Greek Case Story is an example of strategic policymaking embedding trade facilitation in economic policies. In 2012, the Government developed a national trade facilitation strategy to support economic recovery by simplifying export procedures and reducing export time and cost. The strategy is an interministerial effort encompassing a variety of reforms to be carried out in three years.
Public-Private Partnership in Border Processes Modernization: Brazil’s experience
In May of 2004, the Alliance to Modernize Brazil’s Foreign Trade was officially established bringing together more than 50 business associations. One decade later, this partnership between the private sector and the Government/Customs has become crucial rendering exceptional results in an immense, emerging economy. Brazil’s experience represents one way of developing effective cooperation.
Ghana National Single Window Programme – A Phased Approach
Work on establishing a Single Window in Ghana commenced in 2000 and the initial system was launched by GCNet in 2002. This focused primarily on automating Customs’ process and procedures and also linking the systems of a number of other government agencies. In September 2015, the Government of Ghana decided to launch the 2nd phase of the Ghana National Single Window (GNW) programme and contracted West Blue Consulting to undertake the work.
