Establishing Well Functioning National Trade Facilitation Bodies (NTFBs)

In the OIC Member States

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building of the Ministry of Finance.

The main objectives are to

build upon Uganda’s self-assessment report regarding trade facilitation needs, provide support to

Geneva-based Ugandan officials involved in WTO negotiations, advise and provide background

information for negotiations on trade facilitation among the East African Community, the Common

Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and Economic Partnership Agreements.

Figure 9: Public and Private Stakeholders in Uganda

Source: Author

The main functions are to analyse barriers to expedited trade facilitation, identify gaps in Uganda’s

trade facilitation, analyse the types of capacity building required, and develop and monitor the

Simplified Trade Regime work plan of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The NTFB group is expected to analyse proposals presented by different members of WTO and

provide advice to Geneva negotiators. The NTFB should also follow up on bilateral negotiations in the

area of trade facilitation, analyse issues related to trade facilitation at the domestic level, and advise

policymakers, including the IITC.

Funding comes from the MTTI, but a lack of funding to cover the working group’s activities has

hindered its operation.

The NTFB needs resources and seed money to start to operate properly, specifically for a permanent

secretariat, refreshments for meetings, research papers, transport refunds, communication etc.

Once the NTFB is up and running, ministries or private bodies interested in the NTFB will be willing

to cooperate, but first it is necessary to garner resources to start working.

Ms. Elizabeth Tamale, op. cit.

Ibid

Public Stakeholders

•MTTI

•MoFPED

•Ministry of Agriculture, Animal,

Industry and Fisheries

•Ministry of Justice and

Constitutional Affairs

•Ministry of Foreign Affairs

•MoICT

•Ministry of Works and Transport

•URA

•UEPB

•UNBS

•UIA

Private Stakeholders

•UCIFA

•PSFU

•UNCCI

•KACITA

•UMA

•Others

•WTO

•OECD

•UNCTAD

•UN/DEFACT

•WCO

•ICC