Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)
In the OIC Member States
70
BOX 2 . National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee of Lebanon
The NTTFC of Lebanon was formally established under the Council of Ministers' Decision No. 58
in October 2006. Since 2008, they have held only one meeting, the work plan has not been
published, and has been reported to be “on hold”.
Public sector participation involves thirteen ministries and associations.
The committee started with strong leadership that gradually diminished, almost to the point of
stopping its activities.
Main tasks of the NTTFC are:
The three main objectives that have been defined for managing the actions and decisions of the
NTFB are deepening integration, further strengthening trade logistics, and streamlining
administration.
4.2.2. Case study from the Asian group: Indonesia
4.2.2.1. Introduction
Indonesia is a country with rapid growth in trade, member of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and signee of the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
4.2.2.2. Description
In this context, Indonesia has cross-sectorial coordination mechanisms to facilitate trade and
logistics, although there is no official trade facilitation body. However, there is a similar mechanism
that plays the role of its NTFB and is called the Task Force on Trade Facilitation in the WTO context81
and established in 2005.
According to the information gathered the public participants of the Committee are as follows:
- Ministry of Trade. This ministry is considered to be the main coordinator of multilateral
corporations. It is responsible for interagency coordination in trade facilitation issues.
- Ministry of Finance. This ministry is in charge of all technical aspects of the TF, which serves
as CEO to customs (there are three customs directorates: Directorate on Technical Customs,
Customs Audit, and International Customs).
- Ministry of Coordinating Economic Affairs (KEMENKO): Responsible for incorporating
climate change mitigation and adaptation into development policies. Also is in charge of
developing and overseeing economic development.
- National Planning Agency (BAPPENAS): Central government institution responsible for
formulating national development plans and budgets (annual, five-year, and long-term).
BAPPENAS also coordinates cooperation in international development (unilateral, bilateral,
and multilateral). Responsible for managing all the technical assistance projects.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The government ministry responsible for foreign policy.
81Mr. Titian Ludbianto, part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2004, in charge of Trade Facilitation issues in Geneva since 2012.