Improving Transnational Transport Corridors
In the OIC Member Countries: Concepts and Cases
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4.8.3. Economic factors
Based on EoDB compiled annually by the World Bank, Turkey performs best among the
corridor countries. However, if only Mashreq countries are considered, it is Jordan. As shown
in the times taken to complete border and documentary processes in Jordan are the
lowest, much lower than the other countries. Jordan appears to have very efficient customs
clearance procedures. The cost to export is also the least. This is also confirmed by its OI,
which is the highest among the corridor countries, as indicated in Table 63.
Table 62: EoDB of corridor countries in 2016
Source: World Bank
Table 63: Openness of corridor countries in 2016
Source: Fimotions (2017), analysis on data o
4.8.4. Trade Facilitation
Trade Agreements
Member States of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) adopted the
Integrated Transport System in the Arab Mashreq North-South Corridor (ITSAM). ITSAM aims
to facilitate trade and transport between the countries of the region, in order to enhance
regional integration and trade flows. ITSAM includes the following: (a) an agreement on
international roads in the North-South Corridor; (b) priority routes M40 and M45; (c) an
agreement on international railways in the Mashreq North-South Corridor; (d) a memorandum
of understanding on maritime transport cooperation in the North-South Corridor; (e) national
committees for the facilitation of transport and trade; (f) road safety; (g) a regional transport
information system; and (h) an agreement on multimodal transport of goods between Arab
countries.
GDP Imports Exports
JOR 37,517 19,207 7,509 71.2%
SAUDI 646,002 129,796 207,572 52.2%
SYR N/A 17,561 11,353 N/A
TURKEY 718,221 198,602 142,606 47.5%
YEMEN 35,955 6,753 509 20.2%
Country
USD Millions
Openness
TURKEY 69 70 16 376 5 87
SYR 173 176 84 1113 48 725
JORD 118 50 38 131 2 16
SAUDI 94 158 69 264 90 105
YEMEN 179 189 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Time to
export
(hours)
Cost to
export
(USD)
Documentary Compliance
Overall Trading
across
borders
Time to
export
(hours)
Country
Ranking Border Compliance
Cost to
export
(USD)