Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
In the OIC Member States
52
further understood that these commissions have a primary -10- focus on the policy issues associated
with cross-border transport, rather than on the operational problems associated with formalities for
border crossing. One of their best practices is that the authority of these commissions to take
effective action is reinforced by the fact that they are chaired by persons at high levels of
Government. “The commissions are chaired either by the Deputy Minister of Transport and
Communications in case of Kazakhstan. The commission in Kazakhstan has organized four sessions
during the period from 1998 to 2006 and discussed important issues on cross-border transport.”64
3.4.7. Mali
Description
The official name of the NTFB of Mali is the National sub-commission on customs and trade
facilitation issues was established in 2004.
The public sector participants are; Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Foreign
affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of agriculture, Ministry of justice, Ministry of communication,
Ministry of culture, Ministry of transport.
The private sector participants to the Committees are as follows; Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, National Council of Employers, Coordination of Women´s Organizations, Civil Society,
Banks and Insurances.
The main objectives are; to formulate negotiating positions of Mali and Monitoring the WTO
negotiations on trade facilitation.
There is no clear the source of funding.
Analysis
The NTFB has performed access to real-time proposals from Member countries of the WTO and
facilitate the mobility of members of the sub–committee.
Even if group members are willing to participate, the greatest obstacles that face the NTFB is that the
group will hardly maintain without financial and material resources. Thus, technical assistance is
needed.
3.4.8. Niger
Description
The official name of the NTFB in Niger is National Committee on Trade Facilitation, was established
in 2009.
64 UNESCAP (2007) Study on national coordination mechanisms for trade facilitation in the UNESCAP region p. 9