Presented at the Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs United Nations Headquarters, New York 10 th December, 2015

PRESENTATION OUTLINE 1. Background 2. Corridor Framework 3. COMESA Treaty 4. COMESA Transit Transport Facilitation Instruments 5. Other Legal Instruments 6. Implementation & Challenges 7. Tripartite Initiatives 8. Way Forward Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs

1.Background & Context Challenge - high transport costs that harm competitiveness Transport costs affect both imports and exports Worse for landlocked countries Long 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 LLDCs

2.Corridor Framework Geographical challenge - Distance to markets but the countries are linked oTransit;Inter-modalism; Multi-modalism; Multi-stakeholders oNeed for Legal Framework Corridor framework provides opportunities for; i.Coordinated infrastructure development, maintenance and management ii.Standardization and harmonization of infrastructure, equipment, policies and skills development iii.Harmonization of Legal Framework iv. Information sharing, performance monitoring and efficiency improvement v.Focused support from collaborating partners. Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs

3.COMESA Treaty Article 4 (2b) –Transport and Communications MS Undertake to make regulations for facilitating trade within the Common Market Article 85 – Roads and Road Transport (h) – establish common measures for the facilitation of road transit traffic COMESA 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 LLDCs

4. COMESA Transit Transport Facilitation Instruments (i) COMESA Carrier License (ii) COMESA Transit Plate (iii) Yellow Card (iv) RCTG (v) COMESA Customs Document (vi) COMESA Transit Plates (vii) Harmonised Road User Charges (viii) Axle Load Limits (ix) Vehicle Dimensions (x) One Stop Border Posts (xi) COMESA Virtual Trade Facilitation System Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs

5. Other Legal Agreements for Transit Transport Cooperation Regional Model Legislation on OSBP Corridor Agreements Bilateral Agreements Inter-railway Agreements Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs

6. Implementation & Challenges Most 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 instruments Regional Integration Support Mechanism supports MS implementing agreed regional integration instruments Transit 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 LLDCs

Implementation challenges relate to; Domestication of Harmonised policies and regulatory regimes across countries Guidelines and Procedures not set out clearly on a regional basis Lack of awareness – policy-practice divide in some cases Protectionist 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 LLDCs

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

8. Way Forward Enhance corridor management and encourage use agreed instruments in line with COMESA Treaty Implement adopted COMESA/Tripartite instruments Align policy with practice – public/private forum Implement the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme Leverage on VPoA, AAAA and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION Contact details: Bernard Dzawanda Mobile: Expert Group Meeting on Improving Transit Cooperation, Trade and Trade Facilitation for the Benefit of the LLDCs