Regional : Advancing Time Release Studies in Southeast Asia

Sovereign Project | 50251-001

The technical assistance (TA) aims to support the customs administrations of participating ADB member countries to better implement the various Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trade facilitation initiatives. The proposed TA will assist participating countries to undertake specific customs reform and modernization steps, using TRS-collected data, that support substantive trade facilitation measures based on the action plan, and to conduct a study of their checkpoints to initiate improvements in dealing with the bottlenecks.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Sekiguchi, Taro
    Southeast Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Regional
  • Modality
  • Sector
    • Industry and trade
Project Name Advancing Time Release Studies in Southeast Asia
Project Number 50251-001
Country / Economy Regional
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 9312-REG: Advancing Time Release Studies in Southeast Asia
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific US$ 1.00 million
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Governance and capacity development
Knowledge solutions
Partnerships
Private sector development
Sector / Subsector

Industry and trade / Trade and services

Gender No gender elements
Description The technical assistance (TA) aims to support the customs administrations of participating ADB member countries to better implement the various Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trade facilitation initiatives. The proposed TA will assist participating countries to undertake specific customs reform and modernization steps, using TRS-collected data, that support substantive trade facilitation measures based on the action plan, and to conduct a study of their checkpoints to initiate improvements in dealing with the bottlenecks.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy Countries face challenges that include lack of transparency about rules and regulations, redundant and lengthy clearance processes, and complicated document requirements (e.g., with different formats and data elements). It is equally important to focus on trade and regulatory processes conducted at the border to ensure they are optimized and that the time required for trade-related procedures is reduced where appropriate. Activities related to calculating and recording the time needed by customs to release goods can provide pertinent information to guide necessary process improvements and identify desirable regulatory changes to ensure the effective facilitation of trade. The TRS is a tool for collecting and assessing data, and can help highlight areas that need to be addressed to reduce or eliminate bottlenecks, and to assess progress in implementing modernization programs.
Impact

Trade facilitation in Southeast Asia enhanced in terms of efficiency of border procedures

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Trade facilitation regimes in participating ASEAN member countries improved

Progress Toward Outcome -
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

TRS recommendations implemented

New TRSs conducted

TRS implementation strategy strengthened

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) March 2021: CAM - The resource person completed the feasibility study on cargo tracking to identify the best model and shared it with GDCE in March 2021. Due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, he had to finalize his study to make the best use of remote communications with relevant stakeholders in Cambodia. MYA - Due to the unexpected development of political situation in MYA, further assistances under the TA were suspended. PHI - Following ADB's suggestion to improve transparency, PBOC published their 2019 TRS report on their website in October 2020. BIMP-EAGA - ADB attended the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Security (CIQS) Working Group and Trade and Investment Facilitation Cluster virtual meetings in October 2020 to make a presentation about impacts of the COVID-19 on trade facilitation in the subregion.================Sept 2020:CAM- ADB and GDCE co-hosted a virtual TRS Exit Conference which was held on 30 July 2020. The TRS reports both in English and Khmer language were officially published on the GDCE website. On Cargo tracking, an interim feasibility study was prepared and shared with GDCE.MYA: A virtual TRS Exit Conference was considered under the pandemic. The TRS Report is proposed to be published on the MCD website. On Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), a gap analysis between the draft Standard Operational Procedure on AEO of the MCD and the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards was conducted and presented to MCD. PHI: The TRS Report has been finalized and is proposed to be published on the PBOC website.============March 2020 ADB management approved the extension of the implementation of the TA, from 31 March 2020 to 31 March 2021.The TRS reports for CAM, MYA and PHI are all in progress though finalization may be delayed, and TRS exit conferences may be rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.September 2019TRS workshop held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with GDCE. As a result of this workshop, 4 types of questionnaires, one each for customs clearance, verification, permit and OGA processes for both import and export have been finalized. Data collection, data analyzation and drafting of final report are scheduled within this year. September 2019 TRS Technical workshop held in Manila, Philippines with PBOC. As a result of this technical workshop, the expert under the ADB TA and the expert of the WCO financed by this TA together with PBOC's TRS Working Group have finalized the process maps and created TRS questionnaires for import and export. Data collection, data analysis and drafting of final report are scheduled within this year.
Geographical Location Regional
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation September 2019The TRS workshop held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia had more than 100 participants with key stakeholders including other government agencies and private sectors. In the margin of TRS workshop, ADB team visited JICA's local office to exchange views about the current implementation status of RETA9312 and possible idea of cargo tracking.September 2019The TRS technical workshop held in Manila, Philippines had more than 40 participants with key stakeholders including other government agencies and private sectors.Prior to the workshop, RETA9312 Project Officer, Mr. Taro Sekiguchi met with the new JICA Expert assigned in PBOC, Mr. Mitsuo Suzuki. Mr. Sekiguchi discussed the focus areas of TA9312 in the Philippines, which are TRS and AEO. Mr. Suzuki shared JICA's focus areas in the Philippines, which are ICT and risk management.
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services A total of 78 person-months of consulting services will be engaged for the TA comprising 28 person-months of international consultants and 48 person-months of national consultants.
Procurement No procurement of goods and works will be conducted under this TA.
Responsible ADB Officer Sekiguchi, Taro
Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Public Management, Financial Sector and Trade Division, SERD
Executing Agencies
Asian Development Bank
Timetable
Concept Clearance 28 Oct 2016
Fact Finding -
MRM -
Approval 19 Apr 2017
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 31 Mar 2021

TA 9312-REG

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
19 Apr 2017 - 19 Apr 2017 31 Mar 2020 31 Mar 2021 25 Jun 2021
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
0.00 1,000,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,000,000.00 17 Jun 2022 757,007.23

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

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Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

Title Document Type Document Date
Advancing Time Release Studies in Southeast Asia Validation of Technical Assistance Completion Reports Jul 2023

Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Country Specialist (Trade Facilitation Expert for Cambodia) Individual - Consulting Closed
Project Administration Consultant Individual - Consulting Closed
Country Specialist - Myanmar Individual - Consulting Closed

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

None currently available.