Transcript Progress in the implementation of the Almaty - UN

Third Meeting of Trade Ministers of
Landlocked Developing Countries
Progress in the
Implementation of
The Almaty
Programme of Action
Ezulwini, Swaziland,
21-22 October 2009
Sandagdorj Erdenebileg
UN-OHRLLS
Tel: 212 963 7703, fax: 212 963 0419,
email: [email protected]
The Almaty Programme of Action
“The Millennium Summit of September 2000 committed to addressing the special
needs of LLDCs. The Almaty Programme of Action translates this commitment into
specific actions.” – UN Secretary-General
Outcome of the 2003 International Ministerial Conference of
Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and Donor Countries
and International Financial and Development Institutions on Transit
Transport Cooperation
Overarching goal: to forge partnerships to establish efficient
transit transport systems
Only four major priority areas:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Fundamental transit policy issues
Infrastructure development and maintenance
International trade and trade facilitation
International support measures
UN-OHRLLS Global Mandate on LLDCs
The High Representative is the highest ranking UN official appointed to deal with the three
vulnerable groups of countries.
Mobilization and coordination of UN System-wide efforts for the
implementation of the Almaty Programme
Assist LLDCs in strengthening their negotiating capability in
international fora
Advocacy to mobilize international awareness and resources
Monitor and report on the implementation of the Almaty Programme
(GA annual review: Secretary-General Report and Resolution)
UN-OHRLLS: 4 sets of indicators
UNESCAP
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On economic development;
On transit transport and
communications infrastructure;
On trade and trade facilitation
and transit policy issues;
On International Support
Time/cost distance methodology
World Bank
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Doing Business Report
2.
Logistics Performance Index
High Level Meeting on Midterm Review
Convened by the General Assembly on 2 and 3 October 2008 in New York
Adopted a consensus Midterm Review Declaration (Res.63/2) –
broad recognition of LLDCs’ specific challenges
Noted progress made in transit policy reforms, increased
international support (ODA, market access, debt relief) and
greater support by international community to LLDCs
Identified specific bottlenecks related to trade facilitation that
persist in LLDCs and transit neighbours and must be urgently
addressed
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Excessive number of documentation for import/export
Multiplication of scheduled and unscheduled roadblocks
Lack of adjacent border controls
Unnecessary customs convoy
Insufficient application of IC
Non transparency of trade and customs laws
Underdeveloped logistics sector
Absence of competition in transit transport services sector
High Level Meeting on Midterm Review
Declaration identifies specific actions to be undertaken by all
stakeholders to accelerate implementation under each priority:
LLDCs and transit developing countries are called to:
• strengthen legal frameworks for transit transport operations
• effectively implement trade facilitation measures
• make efforts towards eliminating customs convoy practice
• Improve border infrastructure facilities
• Widen and deepen public and private sector cooperation
• Mobilize investment from all sources
Donors and multilateral, regional, financial and development
institutions are called to:
• provide appropriate, substantial and better coordinated
technical and financial assistance, notably in the form of
grants or concessionary loans
• effectively operationalize the Aid for Trade Initiative, so as to
support trade facilitation measures and trade-related
technical assistance
• facilitate access to and encourage transfer of technologies
related to transit transport
2009 Annual Report: Economic Overview
LLDCs continue to remain at margins of global economy
Even though progress was being made:
2003 – 2007 GDP of LLDC Group had average annual growth rate of 7.7
per cent -- average GDP p.c. almost doubled in quantity
2007: Record high FDI inflows of $14 billion in 2007 - result of
strategic policy reforms and continued economic liberalization
Better macroeconomic management also resulted in lower ratios of
external debt to GNI
Share of world trade in goods amounted to only 0.7 percent in 2007
– up from 0.5 in 2003
LLDCs’ structural vulnerabilities have magnified the negative
impacts of the global economic and financial crisis – on top of
climate change impacts and preceding energy and food security
crises
IMF GDP growth projections for 27 out of 31 LLDCs will sharply
decline in 2009
2009 Annual Report: Progress - Priority 1
Notable progress made in reviewing regulatory frameworks
applicable to transit transport and trade to eliminate inefficiencies
Electronic single-window systems and automated customs procedures
National trade and transport facilitation committees or transport
corridor groups with balanced private and public sector participation
Reduction in the number of checkpoints along transit routes (between
Dakar and Bamako dropped from 25 to 4, reducing the average
transport time between the two capitals by one week)
One-stop border facilities (i.e. at Chirundu between Zambia and
Zimbabwe) and increasing competition among customs brokers
Regional customs transit system (Thailand, Laos and Vietnam)
Over last 3 years: for LLDCs the average time to complete export
formalities was reduced by an entire week and the time for imports
dropped by six days
2009 Annual Report: Progress - Priority 2
Great number of infrastructure development and upgrading projects
of regional and sub-regional relevance are underway in all landlocked
regions with the financial support of the donor community
Substantial advancements to Trans-Asian Railway and the Asian
Highway Networks, with the latter having achieved the goal of
providing connectivity to all LLDCs in the region
Renewed commitment to regional infrastructure development
attested by the decision by African Union and NEPAD to merge their
strategic frameworks to create a common continental initiative,
called the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa.
Resource mobilization for investment in priority projects of regional
importance remains a central challenge
2009 Annual Report: Progress - Priority 3
Global just-in-time production sharing and intensified global
competition highlight crucial importance of TRADE FACILITATION
key component of LLDCs trade policy strategy
WTO negotiations on Trade Facilitation are expected to produce a winwin solution for business, consumers and Governments which can look
forward to reaping higher revenues from modernized and more
streamlined border procedures
Importance of trade facilitation for LLDCs is reflected in their very
active engagement at the negotiating table
LLDCs to strengthen concerted engagement with a view to reaching
an agreement with binding rules that ensures improved conditions
for transit, harmonized standards and a smoother flow of goods
across the borders
2009 Annual Report: Progress - Priority 4
Increased International financial support is needed to assist LLDCs
achieve the Almaty goals, particularly to fill the enormous gaps in
infrastructure resource needs
ODA continues to represent the most significant source of external
financing for LLDCs -- Since 2003, increased from $12 billion in 2003 to
$18.6 billion in 2007. However, most was for debt relief, technical
assistance and emergency relief, which do not entail long-term
investment in raising domestic productive capacities. Only 4 %
allocated to transport, storage and communications infrastructure
development in LLDCs
Private sector’s participation in infrastructure development remains
heavily concentrated in ICT -- The global economic crisis is expected to
negatively impact on private participation in infrastructure.
AID for TRADE Initiative entered more operational phase (LLDCs in GMS
and Southern Africa have benefited from pilot projects) -- best
practices show that success depends on creating closer cooperation at
the national level among relevant Government authorities in the areas
of trade and finance
Follow Up to High Level Midterm Review
UN System-wide Coordination
Inter-Agency Consultative Group on Almaty Follow-Up
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About 20 inter-agency partners committed to undertake research
and technical assistance programmes, designed to assist the
LLDCs and their transit neighbours in implementing the APoA
and the midterm review declaration, in the following areas:
1. Coordination and intergovernmental processes
2. Transit policy issues
3. Transit transport infrastructure
4. International trade and trade facilitation
5. Resources mobilization
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Endorsed Matrix which outlines activities and programmes to be
implemented by UN and other international organizations
Enable greater coordination and streamlining of efforts to ensure
maximum utilization of resources
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Thank You
UN-OHRLLS