Trade Facilitation in Central Asia: A Donor’s Perspective

June 18, 2012

Jeremy StraussSenior Economic Policy Specialistjstrauss@usaid.gov

• Based in Almaty, Kazakhstan.• Regional Mission: Ashgabat, Astana, Bishkek,

Dushanbe, Tashkent.• Technical Assistance Programs in Civil Society,

Economic Growth, Education and Health.• Regional Economic Growth Activities: Power and

Trade• Regional Trade Liberalization Project 2007-201.• Regional Economic Cooperation Project 2011-2014.• http://centralasia.usaid.gov

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Why a focus on trade?

•Central Asian States and Afghanistan will not achieve sustainable economic development without increasing trade.

...“the level of intra-regional cooperation after the break-up of the Soviet Union has proved insufficient to maintain the integrated

regional systems of transportation, energy and natural resource management. Therefore, an enhanced level of regional cooperation will be required to establish a sustainable basis for transition and development in the long term.”

–European Investment Bank, May 2012

Not a lot of trucks moving across the Tajik border with Afghanistan today…

Past USAID activities: The Regional Trade Liberalization and Customs Project (RTLC)•$16 million in technical assistance from 2007-2011.•Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan.•Trade facilitation, trade policy, customs reengineering, WTO accession, transport corridor performance, intellectual property rights.•Accession to and implementation of international conventions and agreements concerning trade.•Helping Central Asian firms network and create linkages for trade.•More details at www.rtlc.net

Some Results:•WTO Accession Process for Tajikistan•Assisting Kazakhstan with the WTO Accession Laws and Policy Documents•Customs Modernization in Kazakhstan•Customs Modernization in Tajikistan•Regional Transportation Reform

Results:•Reforms to Customs Regulations Save Kyrgyzstan’s Traders Over $2.1M

Current Project: The Regional Economic Cooperation Project•$6.2 million October 2011- March 2015.•Based in Almaty with partners in Tashkent.•Central Asia and Afghanistan•Helping Central Asian firms network and create linkages for trade. •Creation of Export Partnership Groups.•Helping Central Asian firms supply the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.•Central Asia Trade Forum in Almaty, September 2012.

What can be learned from our experiences in trade-related technical assistance?

Implementing the UAIS in Tajikistan

• Align TA with CAREC or other, ongoing efforts.

Tajikistan’s Working Party Meeting September 2009

• Foster buy-in at the highest level.

Regional Customs Training on Risk Management in Astana

• Promote regional activities, learning and sharing.

Regional Economic Cooperation Partnership Event, May 2012

• Significant involvement of the private sector.

Thank You

KZ Customs staff study best practices in border management in Finland (mobile container x-ray scanner).