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Bhutan and Trade Facilitation. Expert meeting on Trade Facilitation as an Engine for Development Geneva 21-23 September 2005. Regional Location. Bhutan location. Country Profile. Landlocked and LDC – Article V Agrarian economy – high value low volume exports
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Bhutan and Trade Facilitation Expert meeting on Trade Facilitation as an Engine for Development Geneva 21-23 September 2005
Country Profile • Landlocked and LDC – Article V • Agrarian economy – high value low volume exports • Growing trade and services sector (issue of being more trade facilitative than revenue oriented) • Manufacturing - 18% • Trade and Transport - 17% • Tourism and Hydro power driven economy
Trade Facilitation and Bhutan • Enhance contribution of trade to social and economic development –T. Policy objective • Recent World Bank findings highlight issue of Trade facilitation as a major boost to private sector competitiveness and a backward linkage of industrial development to export trade • Regional Integration – SAFTA, BIMSTEC • Global integration to WTO – opportunity to seek binding international assistance to address constraints to improve competitiveness
Measures and ongoing efforts towards Trade Facilitation • Development of physical infrastructure – provision of multimodal transport facilities • RTA’s (transit agreements with India, Bangladesh), SAARC agreement on Customs matters, Accession to WTO and Regional initiative in area HR, Accreditation, Standards, TF amongst the SAFTA and BIMSTEC • Import/export related –no quantitative restrictions and NTB on imports, one stop clearing house, • Customs work – adoption of harmonized customs codes and Implementation of automation (ASCUDA)
Challenges Ahead • Geo politics – inhibits the development of an effective intra regional multimodal transport arrangements along the trade transit corridors • Border crossing – right synergy missing and poor infrastructure facilities (transport vehicles, limited human and financial resources) • Integrity of customs officials at the trade corridor borders – adds to the costs, delay and opportunity • Absence of a single window clearance – supply side constraints to be improved
Conclusion • Limited experience from the private sector perspective • Learn from experiences through dialogue and meetings • Network set up to exchange views and experiences amongst the key players • Best way of learning – actual engagement