Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
In the OIC Member States
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The Coordinating Agency and person in charge of this coordination agency should have strong
leadership qualities as perceived by the principal stakeholders. This lead agency should raise
awareness among stakeholders on the establishment of the NTFB and such an awareness campaign
would also provide an opportunity to obtain information from stakeholders on the national needs
and culture (feeding into the form that the NTFB will take).
Different entities can be the coordination agency. Circumstances will dictate what entity may best
play this role. For example, a country’s Ministry of Trade is often the coordinating agency but it need
not be – for example, the secretariat of the NTFB itself may be the coordinating agency. Factors that
may influence the choice of entity include:
 The anticipated focus and scope of the trade facilitation efforts/the NTFB.
 The agency’s commitment to trade facilitation and competitiveness.
 The capacity of the agency to coordinate and communicate with the other relevant agencies
and the private sector.
 The capacity of the agency to mobilize the necessary level of political support.
 Identification of the objectives of the NTFB
Identifying the objectives of the NTFB is critical because they define the work of the NTFB and the
ensuing results to be achieved. By definition, NTFBs act as open forums to promote trade facilitation.
The specific objectives/purposes of an NTFB will depend on the national circumstances and culture
but will likely include some of the following for example:165
 Facilitation inter-agency coordination.
 Provision of directives on major trade facilitation issues.
 Championing of national strategic trade priorities.
 Development of new national policies.
 Promotion of existing trade facilitation solutions and assistance in their implementation.
 Participation in the creation and maintenance of trade facilitation measures
internationally.
 Contribution to the work of established international organizations such as UN working
parties, WCO committees, and other recognized international bodies.
Annex 1 of UNCEFACT’s 2015 instalment on NTFBs provides for a draft terms of reference for NTFBs,
which includes draft purposes and objectives of NTFBs, including objectives related to facilitation,
regulatory, development, outreach and capacity building, and negotiations.166
 Structure
The definition of a clear structure addressing inter alia the participation of the public and private
sectors. An NTFB’s structure is inter-related to other elements, including the profile of stakeholders;
funding; terms of reference; and work plan.
165 See, e.g., UN/CEFACT (2015),National Trade Facilitation Bodies: Final Draft for Public Review Recommendation No. 4, p. 7.
166 Ibid., pp. 15 – 16.