Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
In the OIC Member States
89
 Provide public and private sector investments for establishing connections and interchange
points between road and rail networks
 Pursue complementary modes of transport
 Develop equal opportunities and advantages for freight transport by rail and by road
The bulk of the grant has been directed to supporting the national budget. Remaining funds have
been devoted to providing Technical Assistance (TA) to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) with the aim
of addressing issues and needs associated with the restructuring and strengthening of the ministry,
modernizing the transportation sector, assisting in formulating a national strategy for the
transportation sector, enhancing capacity building, and establishing an Executive Secretariat to
support two committees that were created to implement the TTF.
Additionally, in order to support the Jordanian government’s policy on economic development and
growth, the European Union (EU) has provided the TTF program with a 33-million-Euro grant. Also,
the EU has designed and approved policies and procedures related to the program, with particular
emphasis on efforts to remove any obstacles facing Jordanian foreign trade and improve transport
systems.
4.3.1.3 Analysis
Meetings form the basis of the National Committee, and are held on a monthly basis (third week of
the month) mostly at a permanent venue. Special sessions may be required by chairman of the
National Committee for Transport and Trade Facilitation, who sends out an invitation and all
members are required to attend. At these meetings, members discuss pressing TF issues, making
recommendations and proposals on them.111
The NCTTF from Jordan has a clear and consistent communication strategy within the stakeholders.
Invitations letters are sent with the agenda. Minutes are taken during the meetings and are
distributed by e-mail and official letters to all members afterwards for validation. Evaluation is done
based on a comparison of key performance indicators established in the work-plan, contrasted with
achievements of Technical Committee meetings and decisions made by the National Committee.
The committee delivers reports in an established order. The NCTTF generates a progress report and
sends it to the NCTTF. Following its analysis, the NCTTF generates a new report which is sent to the
Jordan Council of Ministers.112
Despite that, an analysis of the performance of Jordan’s NTFB shows efficient operation in all aspects,
though there is room for improvement in some of them.
Priorities need to be set in cooperation with stakeholders, especially in terms of trade negotiations.
For example, relations with Syria and political problems are affecting trade. The committee should
work actively to find solutions regarding issues that concern them.113
111 Captain Mothamen Dalabieh, Jordan Shipping Association.
112 Ibid
113 Ms. Hana Urandi, Acting Chief Executive Officer