Trade and transport facilitation and development Trade facilitation and regional integration Private sector expectations from the WTO negotiations on trade facilitation Implementation of trade facilitation measures Conclusions and the way forward

Trade facilitation

Implementation of trade facilitation measures

Priority three International trade and trade facilitation

Trade facilitation and logistics

(iv) World Trade Organization (WTO) WTO Trade Facilitation

Trade facilitation and regional integration

Trade facilitation was also important.

Status of WTO negotiations on trade facilitation

One of those issues was trade facilitation.

Trade and transport facilitation and development

Trade and transport facilitation and development

Mr. David Wakeford, Trade Facilitation Alliance

(e) Establishment of a regional network in support of the above stated activities, using existing groups for trade facilitation and liberalization and national trade facilitation bodies, establishing a virtual community of users of innovative trade facilitation and information exchange tools

Trade facilitation as an engine for development

Introduction to implementation issues in trade facilitation

Capacity building in trade facilitation was of critical importance.

The secretariat was also providing technical assistance to LDCs on identifying needs and priorities for trade facilitation and establishing trade facilitation platforms.

The implementation of trade facilitation measures needs to rely on local knowledge, build on regional trade and transport facilitation networks, and make use of existing tools.

Mr. Omar E. Odarda, Trade Facilitation Alliance, Switzerland

Efficient transport and trade facilitation to improve participation

Topic Trade facilitation as an engine for development

The single window concept is a particularly important trade facilitation measure, as it provides a platform on which to build further trade facilitation programs.

Regional organizations will play a key role in advancing trade facilitation and in implementing measures that may result from a multilateral agreement on trade facilitation.

Trade facilitation was one of the most requested topics for 2005.

Trade facilitation offers a development dividend for all countries.

Some experts highlighted the need for trade facilitation measures.

Efficient transport and trade facilitation to improve participation by developing countries in international trade

A number of UNCTAD member countries have introduced trade and transport facilitation committees with a view to improving coordination between different agencies when implementing trade and transport facilitation measures.

This event addressed the basic issues of trade facilitation and the progress made by the WTO Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation (NGTF), taking into account the perspective of landlocked developing countries.

South South and intra regional trade in particular would benefit from multilateral trade facilitation agreements.

Theme Efficient transport and trade facilitation to improve participation by developing countries in international trade

Expert Meeting on Trade Facilitation as an Engine for Development

Private sector expectations from the WTO negotiations on trade facilitation

(ii) Mr. Douglas Cruikshark, USAID Trade Facilitation and Investment Project

UNCTAD coordinated its activities in the field of trade and transport facilitation with other international organizations through the Global Facilitation Partnership (GFP).

E. Capacity building in support of trade integration, with emphasis on integrated trade information flow management and trade facilitation in Central Asia

Experts analysed the relationship between trade and transport facilitation and development, trade facilitation in the context of regional integration, private sector expectations from the WTO negotiating process, as well as implementation issues.

report of the expert meeting on trade facilitation as an engine for development

WCO Task Force on Security and Facilitation of the International Trade Supply Chain

Delegates reiterated the importance of transport and trade facilitation for developing countries' competitiveness.

Developing countries stand to gain the most from improving trade facilitation.

Trade facilitation can reduce the overall cost of international trade transactions through the internationally agreed alignment of key trade and transport procedures and documents.

However, trade facilitation issues too have received increased attention in recent years.

Experts said that trade and transport facilitation must not exclude physical infrastructure.