Regional: Support for Forward-Looking Trade Facilitation Measures in Asia and the Pacific
The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will support trade facilitation implementation in developing member countries (DMCs) and in the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through research and development, capacity building, and collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) for the conduct of the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum (APTFF). This will synergize the efforts of regional departments and the private sector to improve and facilitate cross-border trade.
Project Details
-
Project Officer
Kim, Kijin
Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department
Request for information -
Country/Economy
Regional -
Sector
- Industry and trade
| Project Name | Support for Forward-Looking Trade Facilitation Measures in Asia and the Pacific | ||||
| Project Number | 54384-001 | ||||
| Country / Economy | Regional |
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| Project Status | Active | ||||
| Project Type / Modality of Assistance | Technical Assistance |
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| Source of Funding / Amount |
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| Strategic Agendas | Inclusive economic growth Regional integration |
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| Drivers of Change | Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Governance and capacity development Knowledge solutions Partnerships Private sector development |
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| Sector / Subsector |
Industry and trade / Trade and services Public sector management / Public administration |
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| Gender Equity and Mainstreaming | Some gender elements | ||||
| Description | The knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) will support trade facilitation implementation in developing member countries (DMCs) and in the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through research and development, capacity building, and collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) for the conduct of the Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum (APTFF). This will synergize the efforts of regional departments and the private sector to improve and facilitate cross-border trade. | ||||
| Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy | It is well documented that trade facilitation measures help raise efficiency and transparency, lowering trade costs and boosting trade flows. Full implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement can reduce trade costs by 9% on average, or up to 16% if digital trade facilitation measures are implemented. While economies in Asia and the Pacific are steadily implementing trade facilitation measures, much remains to be done. Overall trade facilitation implementation in the region increased from 49% in 2017 to about 60% in 2019. But implementation rates vary across subregions and across measures. The COVID-19 pandemic is also having a major impact on trade and is exposing vulnerabilities in the world trading system. Digital transformation in trade and trade facilitation will likely accelerate in the aftermath of the pandemic. As trade facilitation is one of the main strategic and operational priorities in ADB's subregional programs, these priorities can be further supported when post-COVID-19 policy implications for trade facilitation are taken into consideration. The transition to the _new normal_ will require a knowledge base for forward-looking trade facilitation policy making as well as enhanced capacity building for stakeholders, including customs and trade officials. DMCs will benefit from building more resilient supply chains with adequate digital infrastructure and regulatory systems to implement digital trade facilitation. It is also important to promote greater access to trade finance for MSMEs disproportionately impacted by economic fallout. Countries should focus on building capacity for better coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders. | ||||
| Impact | Opportunities for trade and trade facilitation agenda advanced. Economic opportunities for SMEs, especially those managed by women entrepreneurs, increased. |
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| Project Outcome | |
|---|---|
| Description of Outcome | Design and implementation of DMC trade facilitation measures, especially in paperless trade, improved. |
| Progress Toward Outcome | |
| Implementation Progress | |
| Description of Project Outputs | Best practices and benefits of trade facilitation and trade finance advocated and disseminated. Capacities of trade agencies to initiate digital trade and trade facilitation measures enhanced. Research and assessment on developments in trade facilitation promoted and disseminated |
| Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues) | |
| 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 | |
| Business Opportunities | |
|---|---|
| Consulting Services | ADB will engage the consultants following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff instructions |
| Procurement | No procurement component in the TA. |
| Responsible ADB Officer | Kim, Kijin |
| Responsible ADB Department | Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department |
| Responsible ADB Division | ERCI |
| Executing Agencies |
Asian Development Bank 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Philippines |
| Timetable | |
|---|---|
| Concept Clearance | 14 Oct 2020 |
| Fact Finding | - |
| MRM | - |
| Approval | 14 Dec 2020 |
| Last Review Mission | - |
| Last PDS Update | 14 Dec 2020 |
TA 6668-REG
| Milestones | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approval | Signing Date | Effectivity Date | Closing | ||
| Original | Revised | Actual | |||
| 14 Dec 2020 | - | 14 Dec 2020 | 30 Nov 2023 | - | - |
| Financing Plan/TA Utilization | Cumulative Disbursements | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADB | Cofinancing | Counterpart | Total | Date | Amount | |||
| Gov | Beneficiaries | Project Sponsor | Others | |||||
| 750,000.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 750,000.00 | 17 Jun 2022 | 54,332.13 |
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.
The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.
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| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Support for Forward-Looking Trade Facilitation Measures in Asia and the Pacific: Technical Assistance Report | Technical Assistance Reports | Dec 2020 |
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
None currently available.
Related Publications
| Title | Document Type | Document Date |
|---|---|---|
| Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Report 2021: Supply Chains of Critical Goods Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic—Disruptions, Recovery, and Resilience | Reports | Oct 2021 |
| Getting Ready for the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout | Papers and Briefs | Feb 2021 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Analyst | Individual - Consulting | Closed | 23 May 2022 | 29 May 2022 |
| Research Associate | Individual - Consulting | Closed | 08 Oct 2021 | 14 Oct 2021 |
| Senior Research Associate | Individual - Consulting | Closed | 08 Oct 2021 | 14 Oct 2021 |
| Research Analyst | Individual - Consulting | Closed | 24 Jan 2021 | 30 Jan 2021 |
Contracts Awarded
No contracts awarded for this project were found
Procurement Plan
None currently available.