Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
In the OIC Member States
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3.2.3. African group
From the African Group of the OIC, 6 Members from 17 seem not to have sources over internet to
realize whether or not they have NTFBs or similar mechanisms in place. This represents a 33% of
the total amount of Members making this group the one that needs to work the most in the
establishment and or publication information easily available about the existence of an NTFB or
similar mechanisms
1. Cote d´Ivoire
2. Chad
3. Gabon
4. Guinea
5. Guinea-Bissau
6. Mozambique
3.2.4. Common obstacles for establishing a NTFB
It is particularly challenging to define whether specific regional obstacles exist. The only issue that
may differ from region to region is the international organization that allocates funds for regional
trade facilitation projects with a view to establishing functional NTFBs. This funding has helped
many OIC Members to set up and implement their NTFBs or similar mechanisms.
However, many countries come across with common obstacles when trying to establish their NTFB.
Some of them are included in the list below:
i. Lack of political priority
ii. Lack of designation of a leading agency
iii. No clear objectives
 Lack of defined structure
 Lack of clarity as to who the main stakeholders are
 Lack of funds for a motivating start up
 Lack of continuation on the initial allocated funds in technical assistance
projects
 No work plan
 Ad hoc place of meetings
iv. No permanent Secretariat
v. Non-existent meetings
3.2.5. Proposed solutions for establishing a NTFB
When a country takes the decision to establish its own National Trade Facilitation Body, certain steps
can be followed, such as the following:
i. Coordinating Agency
ii. Legal Framework
iii. Work Plan
iv. Objectives
v. Terms of Reference