Partner Organization Projects

To assist Palestinian customs in making the existing Risk Management Unit work more effectively.

Raise awareness of national Customs in understanding and implementing WTO TFA by adopting the WCO instruments and tools in order to boost the national integration.
Explain the different WCO tools and instruments under Mercator Programme

an opportunity to share international and regional knowledge and best practice in various topics such as roles of National Committees on Trade Facilitation (NCTF), expected benefits of implementation of WTO TFA, adoption of international standards and partnerships with businesses and industries in the pursuit of better economic competitiveness of goods and services.

Reducing clearance costs for AEO certified companies in the participating countries, enhancing customs-to-customs collaboration, improving customs-to-business collaboration and facilitating future negotiations with relevant trading partners that will unlock additional benefits for AEO companies and contribute to
strengthening and securing the international supply chain.

Supporting Malawi to design and implement a modern, equitable, robust and fit-for-purpose clearing agent licensing framework.

Supporting the design and implementation of a modern, equitable, robust and fit-for-purpose customs broker licensing framework.

Supporting the modernisation and automation of INMETRO’s licensing procedures and interoperability of its IT systems with Brazil’s new single window, as well as the introduction of a risk-based system to reduce application backlog and license irregularities. The project is expected to lower the average time to issue compliant licenses from 7 to 3 working days for 70% of applications.

Developing the regulatory and operational framework for the establishment of Multi-Country Consolidation (MCC).

Optimising and digitising the weighing and other processes at the Port of Casablanca for bulk imports and container exports and introduce an electronic phytosanitary certificate process (ePhyto), reducing weighing process time at port service points by 25% and the clearance time of goods requiring phytosanitary certification by two days.

Expediting the clearance and release of goods, increasing predictability and reducing costs, by introducing a fully-automated, paperless riskbased pre-arrival process. The goal is that at least 70% of all incoming shipments will be released upon arrival, from a baseline of 10%.

Expediting clearance and release of goods, increasing predictability and reducing costs, by introducing a fully-automated, paperless risk-based pre-arrival
process.

Reducing hold rates and times through the establishment of a regime of conditional release guaranteed by a customs bond.

Implementing a risk-based management system that reduces inspection rates from 100% to 70% or below for food and medical products.

Establishing a Centre for Trade Facilitation and Good Practices to issue advance rulings affecting the automotive industry, resulting in greater predictability and
lower times for border clearance.

Based on a country prioritisation assessment carried out by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), ITC is providing technical assistance, funded by Denmark, to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Vietnam to support them in the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, with a particular focus on public/private sector TFA capacity-building and establishment/enhancement of Trade Facilitation Portals.

The programme aims overall at increasing formal small-scale cross-border trade flows in the COMESA/tripartite region, leading to higher revenue collection for governments at the borders as well as increased security and higher incomes for small-scale cross-border traders. The specific objective of the programme is to facilitate small-scale cross border trade flows between targeted countries through effective policy and government reforms, institutional capacity building, improved border infrastructure and better data collection and monitoring.

The EU-EAC MARKUP is a regional initiative focusing on increasing the participation of SMEs based in the East Africa Community (EAC) in intra-regional trade and the European market. On the trade facilitation side, the project aims at enhancing the capacity of trade support institutions (TSIs) to advocate for the removal of sectoral trade barriers in tea and coffee sectors, as well as improving access to trade facilitation and market information requirements by developing/enhancing Trade Facilitation Portals.

The project supports the implementation of trade facilitation reforms with a view to improve the country’s compliance with its obligations under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) including through the development of implementation roadmap for Category B and C commitments, as well as contribution to the implementation of key measures of the Agreement (I.e. Advance Ruling, Information Available Through Internet, etc.). The project enhance the competitiveness of the business community through capacity building for improved participation in trade facilitation reforms formulation and the reduction of time and cost of cross-border formalities by identifying existing barriers to trade, as well as developing action plans for facilitating export procedures and reducing trade costs.

The overall objective of this programme is to contribute to Nepal’s sustainable and inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction. The project is expected to achieve the following outputs:
1) Enhanced capacities of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) and the Trade and Export Promotion Center (TEPC) to formulate trade policies, negotiate trade agreements and effectively implement them; 2 ) Trade facilitation and export policies toolbox is developed;
3) Increased capacity throughout Nepal’s coffee value chain; and 4) Increased capacity throughout Nepal’s pashmina value chain

The project is to improve trade performance and international competitiveness of MSMEs through enhanced favorable framework condition for trade, public-private dialogue mechanisms, and a strengthened eco-system for dynamic trade promotion to achieve this long-term objective, the programme foresees to accomplish three major outcomes: 1) Exports are facilitated and documented in a National Strategy; 2) the private sector collaborates with the Government through public-private dialogues for export development; and 3) dynamic Business Support Organizations (BSOs) are enabled to deliver services to SMEs for exports and participation in global value chains.

The project aims to promote and enhance international trade competitiveness in Pakistan through three areas of intervention:
i) Pakistan National Export Strategy: Developing Pakistan’s National Export Strategy (NES) elaborated through public and private dialogue
ii) Trade Policy: Improving market access opportunities for Pakistani businesses by implementing trade policy reforms and addressing trade barriers, and;
iii) Trade Facilitation: Implementing trade facilitation reforms reflecting public-private consensus and improving business compliance with cross-border requirements.

The project aims to unlock Afghanistan's trade potential by improving quality and standards- setting, strengthening export/investment promotion capacities, facilitating cross border trade including through removing regulatory and procedural barriers, supporting specific value chains and women’s participation in international business and trade. The specific objectives of the project are: a) strengthened business/investment environment to support regional economic integration and connectivity; b) improved competitiveness and economic, social and environmental responsibility in agri-business and manufactured products value chains; and c) improved competitiveness and economic, social and environmental responsibility in agri-business and manufactured products value chains.

The project aims at strengthening institutional capacity to formulate and implement effective trade policies and strategies in Afghanistan, with a special focus on regional cooperation, engaging private sector to participate in trade policy reforms and dialogue. The trade facilitation component is focused on the institutional strenghtening of the NTFC to facilitate the implementation of the TFA, as well as on the capacity-building of SMEs to manage cross-border procedures and compliance with regional and global market requirements.

The project aims at strengthening the participation and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), located in secondary growth centres in Sri Lanka, in international markets. To reach this objective, the projects will: a) improve the user-friendliness and accessibility of the Sri Lanka Trade Information Portal (SLTIP) for the business community; b) provide description of export procedures of up to 10 agriculture products, with a focus on organic ones, as well as provide assistance and technical support for the simplification of export procedures in Sri Lanka related to selected products; and c) strenghten representation of SMEs in the NTFC

The project aims to contribute to Sri Lanka’s inclusive trade-led growth and regional integration
through increased trade competitiveness of Sri Lankan SMEs in regional/SAARC
and EU markets. The trade facilitation component of the project contributes strive to enhance efficiency of SMEs to comply with cross-border procedures, and is focused on four key activities: 1) strenghtening the NTFC as a platform to facilitate SMEs involvement and TFA implementation; 2) organizing public-private dialogues to complement the Single Window Blueprint; 3) embedding additional tools and functionalities to the Trade Facilitation Portal; 4) improving SMEs' capacity to comply with export management requirements.

The project aims to promote intra-regional and international trade in Central Asia (CA) by enhancing the transparency of cross-border requirements, removing regulatory and procedural barriers, strengthening business capability to comply with trade formalities and standards, as well as by improving cross-border e-commerce. The project is structured according to four expected results:
1. Key regulatory and procedural obstacles to international trade are addressed; 2. SMEs capacities to comply with cross-border requirements (including notably quality standards, technical regulations, relevant preferential trading schemes/GSP+) are improved; 3. Improved Central Asia countries readiness, in particular women-led companies, for conducting cross-border e-commerce; 4. Increased opportunities for participation of women-led enterprises in international trade.

The project will stimulate income and employment generation resulting from improved trade support services and enhanced competitiveness of Tajik SMEs, focusing on the textile & clothing sector. On the trade facilitation side, the project is providing assistance for the establishment and operationalization of a Permanent Secretariat to the Tajikistan Trade Facilitation Committee; it is also enhancing the scope of information and functionalities available under the Tajikistan Trade Facilitation Portal.

7.1 Pre-arrival Processing
8 Border Agency Cooperation
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements

1.1 Publication
1.2 Information Available through Internet
7.4 Risk Management
23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

(inactive in FY19)
7.4 Risk Management
7.5 Post-Clearance Audit
7.7 Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized Operators (with the WCO)

(inactive in FY19)
1.1 Publication
1.2 Information Available through Internet

23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

1.1 Publication
1.2 Information Available through Internet
7.4 Risk Management
7.6 Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times
7.7 Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized Operators
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements
23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

6.1 General Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation
6.2 Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges for Customs Processing Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation
7.4 Risk Management
7.6 Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times
7.7 Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized Operators
8 Border Agency Cooperation
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements
23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

1.1 Publication
1.2 Information Available through Internet
6.1 General Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation
7.4 Risk Management
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements
10.3 Use of International Standards

7.1 Pre-arrival Processing
7.6 Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times
8 Border Agency Cooperation
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements

7.1 Pre-arrival Processing
7.4 Risk management
7.6 Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times
8 Border Agency Cooperation
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements

4 Procedures for Appeal or Review
7.4 Risk Management
10.3 Use of International Standards

7.4 Risk Management
23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

7.4 Risk Management
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements
23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

(inactive in FY19)
1.1 Publication
1.2 Information Available through Internet
3 Advance Rulings
7.1 Pre-arrival Processing
7.4 Risk Management
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements
10.2 Acceptance of Copies

7.4 Risk Management
7.6 Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times
7.7 Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized Operators
8 Border Agency Cooperation
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements
10.3 Use of International Standards
10.4 Single Window
23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

1.1 Publication
1.2 Information Available through Internet
7.8 Expedited Shipments
8 Border Agency Cooperation
10.1 Formalities and Documentation Requirements
10.2 Acceptance of Copies

7.4 Risk Management
23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

1.1 Publication
1.2 Information Available through Internet
2.1 Opportunity to comment and information before entry into force
2.2 Consultations
7.4 Risk Management
8 Border Agency Cooperation
10.4 Single Window
23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation

6.1 General Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation
23.2 National Committee on Trade Facilitation