Presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit - PowerPoint Presentation

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Presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCsUnited Nations Headquarters, New York10th December, 2015

Legal Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation in the COMESA RegionSlide2

PRESENTATION OUTLINEBackground Corridor Framework

COMESA TreatyCOMESA Transit Transport Facilitation InstrumentsOther Legal InstrumentsImplementation & ChallengesTripartite InitiativesWay Forward

Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCsSlide3

Background & ContextChallenge - high transport costs that harm competitiveness

Transport costs affect both imports and exportsWorse for landlocked countriesLong distances from the market, poor state of infrastructure and, regulatory and administrative bottlenecks (weak transit arrangements)

Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCsSlide4

Corridor FrameworkGeographical challenge - Distance to markets but the countries are linkedo

Transit; Inter-modalism; Multi-modalism; Multi-stakeholderso Need for Legal Framework Corridor framework provides opportunities for;Coordinated

infrastructure development, maintenance and managementStandardization and harmonization of infrastructure, equipment, policies and skills

development

Harmonization of Legal Framework

Information

sharing, performance monitoring and efficiency improvementFocused support from collaborating partners.

Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCsSlide5

COMESA TreatyArticle 4 (2b) –Transport and Communications

MS Undertake to make regulations for facilitating trade within the Common MarketArticle 85 – Roads and Road Transport(h) – establish common measures for the facilitation of road transit

trafficCOMESA Protocol on Transit Trade and Transit Facilities is Annex 1

of the COMESA Treaty.

Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCsSlide6

4. COMESA Transit Transport Facilitation Instruments(i)

COMESA Carrier License COMESA Transit Plate Yellow Card

RCTG

COMESA

Customs Document

COMESA Transit Plates

Harmonised

Road User

Charges

Axle

Load Limits

Vehicle Dimensions

One

Stop Border Posts

COMESA

Virtual Trade Facilitation System

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5. Other Legal Agreements for Transit Transport CooperationRegional Model Legislation on OSBPCorridor Agreements

Bilateral AgreementsInter-railway Agreements

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6. Implementation & ChallengesMost countries are making an effort to implement the instruments (to varying degrees).Some have derogations in respect of some agreed standards

Northern Corridor is the leader in the implementation of instrumentsRegional Integration Support Mechanism supports MS implementing agreed regional integration instrumentsTransit Transport instruments are among the key indicators monitored under RISM

Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCsSlide9

Implementation challenges relate to;Domestication of Harmonised policies and regulatory regimes across countries

Guidelines and Procedures not set out clearly on a regional basisLack of awareness – policy-practice divide in some casesProtectionist tendencies by some MS

Weak enforcement mechanism

High

turnover of experts and regulatory

staff

Capacity constraints

Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCsSlide10

7. Tripartite InitiativesTripartite considering proposals on Harmonised Cross Border Road Transport Regulations and Standards pertaining to the following;

(i) Tripartite Vehicle Regulations and Standards;(ii) Training and Licensing of Commercial Drivers; (iii) Harmonization of Cross Border Third Party Motor Vehicle Insurance Schemes;(iv) Proposed Self-Regulatory Scheme –Road Transport Management System;

(v) Tripartite Transport Registers, Information Platform and System [TRIPS];(vi) Draft Multilateral Cross Border Road Transport Agreement [MCBRTA]; and

(vii) Implementation Plan for Harmonised Tripartite Cross Border Road Transport

Regulations

and Standards

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8. Way ForwardEnhance corridor management and encourage use agreed instruments in line with COMESA Treaty Implement adopted COMESA/Tripartite instruments

Align policy with practice – public/private forumImplement the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation ProgrammeLeverage on VPoA, AAAA and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTIONContact details:

Bernard DzawandaE-mail: bdzawanda@comesa.intMobile: +260 978829149

Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs