FACILITATING INTRA-OIC TRADE:
Improving the Efficiency of the Customs Procedures in the OIC Member States
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3.1.10. Consultations with the Private Sector
OIC Countries use various types of consultation mechanisms with the private sector in
customs related issues. For example some of them have already established Trade
Facilitation Bodies, which is mostly called as “Trade Facilitation Committee”. However
this mechanism is established by a limited number of Member States. According to
UNCTAD (2013) 20 Member States have a national Trade Facilitation Committee or
equivalent body. According to the study most of these committees are motivated by the
WTO Trade Facilitation negotiations. They are acting as a consultative body for
determining the positions of respective countries. Customs related issues constitute an
important place in the issues considered by these Committees.
Table 17: Member States Having Trade Facilitation Bodies
Country Body
Afghanistan Afghanistan Pro committee (AFPRO)
Albania Albanian PRO-committee (ALBAPRO)
Azerbaijan National Working Group on transport and trade (AZEPRO)
Bangladesh
Working Group on Trade Facilitation and Customs Valuation; and National
Trade Facilitation Committee
Benin
Working Group on Trade Facilitation in Benin, and National Committee on
Transport Facilitation and Inter-State Road Transit
Burkina Faso
National Committee monitoring and coordinating the implementation of the
WTO Agreements
Egypt Trade Facilitation Sub–committee
Iran Pro-committee
Jordan National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee
Kyrgyz Republic Kyrgyz Republic National Council on Trade and Transport Support
Mali The National Sub-commission on Customs and Trade Facilitation issues
Niger National Committee on Trade Facilitation
Nigeria National Committee on Trade Facilitation
Pakistan National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee
Senegal National Sub–committee on Trade Facilitation
Sierra Leone National Trade Facilitation Committee
Sudan Sudan National Working Group on Trade Facilitation
Togo Sub–committee on Trade Facilitation
Turkey National Working Group on Trade Facilitation
Uganda National Working Group on Trade facilitation
Source
Despite establishing such committees, some of the Member States are facing obstacles
in ensuring the sustainability of such committees. Holding the meetings regularly,
financing the work, participation in the meetings and lack of efficient coordination are
some of the problems faced in this regard.