Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
In the OIC Member States
41
various pre-defined structures in place to ensure that channels of communication remain open and
that all relevant stakeholders have a means of providing inputs.
 Adequate, reliable funding is required so that the NTFB can fulfill its mandate.
Funding for all of the NTFBs discussed above are from government and reports confirm that at least
some of these NTFBs do not have independent budgets of their own. Thus, it appears that
independent budgets are not a pre-requisite for the successful functioning of an NTFB.
 Strong institutional foundations and a defined mandate are key success factors even
though it may necessary – and desirable – for these to evolve over time. A defined mandate
may prevent institutional overlap and overstepping, enhance legitimacy and “buy in”,
and provide clear indications to domestic and international stakeholders about the
scope and purpose of the NTFB’s work.
3. NATIONAL TRADE FACILITATION BODIES AND SIMILAR MECHANISMS IN
THE OIC MEMBERS
3.1. Introduction
Part 3 of this study examines the state-of-play of NTFBs and similar coordination mechanisms in OIC
Member States. This Part has four main substantive sections.
In the first two sections (i.e. 3.2 and 3.4) the situation of OIC Members is analyzed according to
whether they have established or not NTFBs or similar mechanisms. Each section is divided into
three parts corresponding to each of the OIC groups, beginning with the Arab group, followed by the
Asian group, and, finally, with the African group. Section 3.2 outlines which are the OIC Members that
do not seem to have established yet a NTFB or similar mechanism. It highlights the problems for
Members in not having established a NTFB and propounds recommendations for establishing
functioning NTFBs. The next section, 3.3, mentions which are the OIC Members that have established
NTFBs or similar mechanism, presenting their respective names and a timeline that shows the
evolution of NTFBs in OIC Members.
The following two sections (i.e. 3.5 and 3.6) examine the OIC Members that have established an NTFB
or similar mechanism and the discussion goes as to whether or not this mechanism is functioning.
Each section provides numerous case summaries regarding the NTFBs or similar mechanisms that 41
OIC countries have formed. The following elements are analyzed for each country:
1. Description of the NTFB
a. Name and acronym of the NTFB
b. Year of establishment
c. Membership/Number of participating agencies (public and private agencies
separately)
d. Lead agency and whether there is a permanent secretariat (number of people,
role/tasks, and budget concepts)
e. Structural organization