Trade facilitation - Germany

On behalf of BMZ, GIZ is supporting four Central Asian countries in their efforts to reduce administrative barriers to trade (ABT), through the development of effective administrative procedures in the relevant ministries and agencies involved in the regulation of foreign trade. This helps to reduce the bureaucratic burden and costs of entrepreneurs, improve the investment climate and competitiveness of the region.

On behalf of BMZ, this GIZ project aims at improving the conditions for reducing transport costs and delays along the Dakar-Bamako Trade Corridor. To achieve this objective, the project focuses on providing advisory services in three areas. At the institutional level, the port and customs administrations are supported in simplifying their processes. To improve the regulatory framework, the project promotes the implementation of the bilateral transit agreement through dialogue formats and research. In addition to advising state actors, the project supports business owners in using the transit agreement.

The private sector is one of the primary beneficiaries of Trade Facilitation measures. That is why the governments of Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States have joined forces with the World Economic Forum (WEF), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) in the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. The Alliance partners have established a unique public-private platform to leverage business expertise, leadership, and resources to support effective trade facilitation reforms. The WEF and the ICC enjoy the trust of the private sector and have the necessary structures to involve the private sector. CIPE and implementing partners like GIZ have profound experience with the implementation of development cooperation projects. The Global Alliance will implement first projects in 10 potential pilot countries.