Enhancing Public Availability of Customs Information
In the Islamic Countries
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Based on a rigorous review of the available data, the report finds that although higher income
countries tend to perform better in terms of public information availability related to Customs
and trade, there are also important instances of low and middle income countries that have
taken important steps forward. Indeed, the fastest relative rate of improvement in this area is in
low income countries in terms of World Bank income groups, and in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms
of geographical regions. There is widespread evidence of performance improvements on a broad
basis, despite differences in outcomes according to the data source used.
With the OIC, the data reveal a considerable degree of heterogeneity both across the three
regional groups, but also across countries within each group. There are instances of strong
performers within the Organization relative to the global best practice frontier, such as Malaysia,
the UAE, and Morocco. But numerous other countries show a considerable distance between
their current level of performance and international best practice, which is proxied throughout
the report by Singapore, an acknowledged leader in trade facilitation and logistics.
Building on the data review, the report presents two types of case studies. First, Singapore,
Malaysia, the UAE, and Mexico are studied using desk research. The studies show that each of
these countries is a strong performer in terms of the public availability of Customs and trade
information, and that there are some commonalities among them that are retained in the
report’s findings. Use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), and integration of
trade information portals with virtual Single Windows, are common approaches to reducing the
informational costs associated with international trade transactions.
The second type of case study is based on field visits. The countries visited were Senegal (African
Group), Morocco (Arab Group), and Bangladesh (Asian Group). These countries have different
income levels and economic structures, as do the desk review case studies, but they show that
even in a low or middle income environment, it is possible to take important strides forward on
the public availability of information, in particular by using ICTs. Morocco in particular stands
out as a high performer in this area within the OIC, as it has successfully brought together the
trade community—including the private and public sectors—to support an integrated Single
Windowwith comprehensive trade information and procedures available, as well as a TIP under
development that will work closely with existing resources. Although technical assistance from
outside agencies like the World Bank and the regional development banks has been important
in putting these structures in place in the case study countries, there is now significant evidence
that they are becoming sources of technical assistance themselves, in an excellent example of
South-South cooperation and information exchange.
The case studies show that although performance is variable among OIC member countries,
there is a rich body of successful experience in reducing the informational costs associated with
international trade transactions. There is scope to promote information exchange and
experience sharing so that higher performance countries can help lower performance countries
“leapfrog” intermediate stages that were part of the historical development of public
information structures, and move more rapidly towards to the global best practice frontier.
Each case study contains a summary of lessons learned, from the perspective of the county itself,
but also with the intention of informing the broader OIC membership. However, the report’s
recommendations, presented for the consideration of member countries, are broader in nature.
They attempt to bring together the various experiences and provide guidance for countries at
all levels of advancement in terms of the promotion of public availability of Customs and trade
information.