NATIONAL TRADE FACILITATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT THE ZAMBIAN EXPERIENCE.

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• NATIONAL TRADE FACILITATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT- THE
  ZAMBIAN EXPERIENCE.
• Presentation by - Marryat Haafwuma
• Nosiku S Munyinda

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Outline

• Introduction
• National Needs Assessment
• Major Findings
• Measures considered most difficult to implement
• Outcomes
• Making use of needs assessment teams
• Conclusion

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ZAMBIA - A SNAP SHOT
Population (Millions) 12 GDP ( billions)
10.7 Area (1,000.sq.km) 743 GNI per
Capita() 630
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National Needs Assessment

• 1st country to undertake needs assessment-
  February, 2007
• Representation from government, civil society,
  industry and quasi-government

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Needs assessment results

• 71 proposals were considered
• Preparedness-
• Already Compliant with 26 (37)
• Partially compliant with 27 (38)
• Not compliant with 9 (12.5)
• Not yet applicable with 9 (12.5) E.g.
  proposals related to customs union .

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COMPLIANT MEASURES

• These include
• Appeal procedures
• Objective criteria for tariff classification
• Pre-arrival Clearance
• Prohibition of Consular Transactions.
• Promotional of Regional transit arrangements
• Strenthened Non Discrimination

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PARTIALLY COMPLIANT

• These include
• Publication notification of trade regulation
  and of penalty provisions
• Automation
• Establishment of a code of conduct
• Specific parameters for fees/charges
• Risk Management/Authorized traders
• Post clearance Audit
• Advance Rulings

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NON COMPLIANT

• These include
• Automated payment system
• Reduction of no. diversity of fees/charges
• Expedited Shipments
• Single window/one time submission
• Pre-Shipment Inspection.

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Barriers

• Infrastructure
• Improvements
• Maintenance
• Lack of Investment in the relevant IT
  infrastructure
• Institutional
• Commitment to training and provision of IT staff
• Limited dissemination of information
• Institutional co-operation (Border Agencies)
• Information sharing
• Administration harmonisation

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Barriers

• Institutional co-operation (Ministries)
• Human Resource Constraints
• Limited Co-ordination
• National Legislation
• IT policies/laws are not in place
• Awareness
• Justification of policies
• Availability

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Measures considered difficult to implement

• Single Window (Cost, Legislation, Poor
  ICT-infrastructure,Skills,Lead Agency etc. )
• Border Agency Coordination (infrastructure-
  suitable buildings, legislation)
• Enquiry points (Lead agency, Maintenance costs).
• Internet Publication of Elements Art. X
  (Legislation, Political will )
• Establishment and Publication of average release
  /clearance time( Cost- Auto/Manual systems,
  Priority).

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Outcomes

• The formation of a standing National Working
  Group on Trade Facilitation
• Objective
• To assist continuous discussions on Trade
  facilitation feeding directly into the National
  Working Group on Trade.
• TORs for the National Working Group on Trade
  Facilitation Nov 2007.doc

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Outcomes ctd

• Completion of initial self-assessment matrix-
  November, 2007
• Commencement of the development of a prioritized
  implementation plan with measures divided into
  Short, Medium and Long Term
• Two day retreat held out of town and sponsored by
  the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry

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Outcomes ctd

• Attendance to Geneva meetings to provide
  technical support to Geneva based negotiations
• July, 2007 Commerce and Environment
• October, 2007 Patents and Health
• December, 2007 Immigration, Government
  Printers, Environment
• February, 2008 Customs, Immigration, Justice
  and Health
• May, 2008 Customs, Immigration,
  Environment and Justice
• July, 2008 Customs and Environment

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• Points to note
• Inter-ministerial representation- GATT Articles
  being considered cut across various ministries
• Incorporation in internal planning and budgeting
  processes of the individual agencies
• Prior consultation in formal meeting ensuring
  that a true national position is presented.
  Similarly, a report is prepared and presented to
  the group after each meeting and a way forward
  mapped out.

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How has the needs assessment been useful?

• Useful document frequently referred to during
  negotiations to get the true picture of what is
  on the ground
• ANNEX A Results from the Trade Facilitation
  Workshop.doc
• The working group formed now has an extended
  mandate to consider all other issues to do with
  trade e.g. COMESA Simplified Trade Regime Border
  Agency Coordination was an integral part of this
  initiative in the development of the product
  lists.

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Challenges faced

• The conclusion of the Zambia Threshold Project
  under which the Border Management Task Force was
  housed
• Lack of formal working relationships among border
  agencies
• Change management- business as usual attitude
• Constant revision of proposals implies
  corresponding revision of self-assessment matrix

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CONCLUSION

• Success of the Needs Assessment will depend on
• Adequate preparations
• Experience/knowledge of participants on TF
  Matters
• Continuous exchange of information between the
  capital officials Geneva officials
• Continuous update of the Matrix/Identification of
  Stakeholders
• Team Work.

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• Thank you for your Attention.
• nmunyinda_at_necz.org.zm
• marryat2003_at_yahoo.com
• pnymlewa_at_yahoo.co.uk