Afghanistan National Trade Facilitation Committee

Transcription

1 Baraimal JERYAN Afghanistan National Trade Facilitation Committee Senior Trade Expert, Asia Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum Yogyakarta Indonesia

2 Outline : 1. Background 2. Structure of NTFC Afghanistan 3. Opportunities and Challenges 4. Conclusion

3 I. Background: Afghanistan joined WTO as 164th member 29 th - July 2016 Afghanistan ratified TFA on 29 th - July It was the 90 th member and 9 th LDC in WTO ratifying TFA

4 Who is the Trade and Investment policy making authority? Ministry of Commerce and Industries Mission : To encourage growth through the development of appropriate policies and regulations, and the facilitation of private sector production and trade.

5 Partnership with Private sector! MOCI vision : A socially responsible market economy in Afghanistan, in which sustainable and equitable growth is private sector led and leads to increased employment, higher living standards and the reduction of poverty, in which competition operates for the benefit of all.

6 Legal basis/ supporting documents for trade facilitation: a. Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) b. Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework (ANPDF) c. MOCI Strategic Action Plan (Policy Area on Facilitating trade and transit) d. Afghanistan WTO post accession strategy (component on Implementation of TFA) e. National Trade Policy (NTP) (Policy area 3, 3.3, 4.1 and 6.2) f. National Export Strategy (NES) (pillar on trade Facilitation)

7 ii. Structure of National Trade Facilitation Committee -TFA Article 23.2 Establishment of National Trade Facilitation Committee WTO and Trade Facilitation Inter- Ministerial Committee is established in Afghanistan as per presidential degree 2601 dated 19-October-2016.

8 ii. Structure of National Trade Facilitation Committee ( Continued ) Ministry of commerce and Industries is leading the WTO-TF Inter Ministerial Committee. 20 other ministries and relevant agencies are the members of IMC.

9 Members of WTO-TF IMC: Ministry of Finance (Afghan Customs Department) Ministry of Economics Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Ministry of Public Health Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Culture and Information Ministry Information Technology and Communications Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation

10 Members of WTO-TF IMC: (Continued) Ministry of Justice Ministry of Mining and Petroleum Ministry of Interior Affairs Ministry of Urban Development Ministry of Counter Narcotics Central Bank of Afghanistan (DABs) Afghanistan National Standard Authority ( ANSA) National Environment protect Agency (NEPA) Independent Directorate of Local governance (IDLG) (sub- goverments and municipalities) Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (representing the private sector)

11 WTO- TF IMC Budget : There is no allocated Budget for the IMC MOCI is sponsoring the IMC through the Current Budget and Donor Budget Venue of the meetings : Ministry of commerce and Industries

12 WTO- TF IMC Meetings Level : 1. Technical Level Chaired by : DM for commerce MOCI Participants level: Director General - Directors Experts of member ministries/agencies.

13 WTO- TF IMC Meetings Level : 2. High Level (Policy Making level) Chaired by : H.E Minister MOCI Participants level: Deputy Minister level

14 Frequency of the meetings : -Technical Level meetings ( Ad hoc) so far, 5 round of meetings held since January But as per Cabinet endorsement No: 5 dated 22-June-2017 The WTO-TF IMC is mandated to submit progress report on monthly bases to Ministerial Council and High Economic council and quarterly to the Cabinet meetings. So, it is decided that WTO- TF IMC technical level meetings should take place at least once a month.

15 Frequency of the meetings : - High level meeting: (Ad Hoc), It has conducted two rounds of meetings -On 3th January the high level IMC approved the Post accession Strategy -On 25 th June 2017 the high level IMC approved the categorization of TFA measures and it is submitted to HEC for adoption and it will be soon notified to WTO secretariat.

16 Challenges: - Lack of effective coordination - Replacement of representatives/focal points -Lack of Human capacity and public awareness on WTO and TF issues. - Lack of sufficient and developed Infrastructures - Lack of a stable budget. -Lengthy and bureaucratic procedures for implementing decisions taken by IMC. -No representation of Afghanistan chamber of Industries and mining -No representation of trade and industry unions -No internal coordination and synchronized reporting to IMC. -Horizontal (same level) authority

17 Opportunities: - Strong Political will for implementation of trade facilitation - Available legal basis and well defined mandates for implementing Trade Facilitation. - Many stakeholders are on-board. (But only from public sector) - Supportive office at ARG (presidential office) - Support of Donor Projects

18 Conclusion: -Afghanistan emphasizes the high priority that is placed on regional integration and trade facilitation, including initiatives aimed at further developing regional transportation and transit infrastructure. - Afghanistan viewed WTO membership as an essential element of the effort to strengthen its trade and investment framework and establish the environment for greater economic opportunities that would alleviate poverty in the country. - Trade facilitation and the measures aimed at increasing the efficiency of customs and border control which facilitate exports and imports remains an essential component of Afghanistan National Trade Policy.

19 Thank you!!!