Trade Project

Transit, Regional Connectivity and Integrated Border Management:

The Way Forward

Trade Project

Regional Conference on Strengthening Transport Connectivity and Trade Facilitation

December 10, 2013

Trade Project

Agenda

• Background: Pakistan’s Strategic Location

• Pakistan’s Regional Framework

• Regional Connectivity and Transit Issues – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis

• Way Forward: Improving Regional Connectivityo Grant Most Favored Nation (MFN) Status to Indiao Implement TIR Conventiono New Trade Routeso Trade Facilitationo Building Supply Chains

• Conclusion

Trade Project

Pakistan’s Strategic Location: Benefiting from Transit Trade

Trade Project

Pakistan’s Regional Framework

• SAFTA: South Asia Free Trade Agreement (2006)

• CAREC: Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (2010)

• APTTA: Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (2010) • QTTA: Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement among Pakistan,

China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan (2004)

• ECOTTA: Economic Cooperation Organization Trade Agreement (1998)

• CBTA: Cross-Border Transport Agreement among Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan (Pakistan has observer status)

Trade Project

Regional Connectivity and Transit Issues:SWOT Analysis (I)

Strengths• Strategic location provides the shortest route to seaports• Three seaports open throughout the year• Road connectivity to the seaports is in reasonable condition

Weaknesses• None of the transit agreements is fully functional• APTTA partially functional but trade substantially reduced• Pakistan has not acceded to TIR Convention• Security concerns and political uncertainty

Trade Project

Regional Connectivity and Transit Issues:SWOT Analysis (II)

Opportunities• Pakistan borders the two fastest growing economies in the world: India

and China• Pakistan’s western neighbors are rich in energy resources• China’s Western Provinces (bordering Pakistan) need a link to the

nearest seaports• Donors investing in CAREC corridors• Current Government of Pakistan keen on increasing regional

connectivity

Threats • Transit trade not viewed favorably by general public• Vested interests prevent full utilization of Pakistan’s potential• Local industry may oppose due to perceived increase in smuggling

Trade Project

Way Forward: Improving Regional Connectivity

• Grant MFN Status to India

• Implement TIR Convention

• Open New Trade Routeso Provide links with inland dry ports

• Trade Facilitationo Accelerate implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Agreement on Trade Facilitation/Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC)o Negotiate/fully implement bilateral transit agreementso Integrated Border Management Systems

• Build Supply Chains

Trade Project

Implementing the TIR Convention

• Pakistan is the only ECOTTA country (of 10 total) not yet implementing the TIR system

• Its implementation was approved in 2002 but is still pending

• Implementing TIR involves the following:

o National guarantee associations and customs authorities control access

o Goods accompanied by TIR Carnet, which serves as the control document in the countries of departure, transit, and destination

o Duties and taxes covered by an internationally valid guarantee

o Goods travel in approved secure vehicles and containers

o Customs control measures taken in country of departure are accepted by the countries of transit and destination

Trade Project

Open New Trade Routes

• At present only (A) Wagah – Attari is open for limited trade

• Other land crossings that can easily be re-opened:(B) Lahore – Patti (Burki road)(C) Kasur – Ferozpur (Ganda Singh)(D) Sahiwal – Fazilka (linking Southern Punjab)(E) Munabao – Khokhrapar rail (linking Sind)

• Open direct shipping routeso Karachi-Mumbai

Trade Project

Trade Facilitation: RKC

Adopting the following measures would significantly increase connectivity and cut trading costs:

• Risk management• Streamlined border procedures• Harmonization and simplification of documents• Automated processes • Information availability

RKC: To achieve these objectives, full compliance is necessary

Trade Project

Trade Facilitation vs. Tariff Reduction

Increase in Global Trade and GDP (USD $ trillion)

2.6

1.61.5

1.0

0.4

1.1

(US

D $

tri

llio

n)

4.7%

14.5% 2.6%9.4%

0.7%

10.1%

Trade GDP

Tariffs

All tariffs removed globally

Modest scenarioAmbitious scenario

Countries improve trade facilitation halfway to regional best practice

Countries improve trade facilitation halfway to global

best practice

Note: Based on export value; includes only the effect of “Border Administration” and “Telecommunication and Transport Infrastructure” Source: Ferrantino, Geiger and Tsigas, The Benefits of Trade Facilitation – A Modelling Exercise; World Economic Forum (2007 baseline)

0

Trade Project

Trade Facilitation: Integrated Border Management

Cooperation at the National Level:• Grouping border management-related functions in a single body

• Introduce a layer of coordinated governance (e.g. joint services or groups) while relevant organizations continue to function separately

Cross-border Dimension:• Establish cross-border cooperation among Customs authorities

• Establish joint controls, align opening hours of border stations and the construction of juxtaposed Customs offices

• Advance electronic information on cargo and container shipments

Trade Project

Integrated Border Management: Cross-border Movement of Trucks

• Joint scanning and weighing could reduce equipment needed

• Allowing cross-border movement of trucks to the nearest dry-ports could reduce the cost of building infrastructure at ports

Source: Wagah - Attari Border, tribuneindia.com Source: Wagah - Attari border, dawn.com

Trade Project

Supply Chains: Surgical Goods

Increasing Exports through Partnerships• Sialkot produces high quality surgical

goods

• Sialkot’s exports remain low (USD $300 million in 2012)

• Cheaper raw-materials and coordination with India can increase exports substantially

• Similar examples in sporting goods from Sialkot

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%Raw materials (35.0%)

Forging & shaping (1.5%)

Miling & machining (5.9%)

Rough grinding (4.6%)

Final grinding, packing & other (53.0%)

US Germany UK France Italy India Brazil China Australia Japan -

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

67

29 26 11 6 5 5 5 4 4

(US

D $

mill

ion

)

Pakistan’s Surgical Goods Cost Margins

Pakistan’s Top 10 Countries for Surgical Goods Exports (USD $ million)

Source: Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (2012)

US 41%

EU 44%

Asia 9%

Other 6%

Top ten destinations

Trade Project

Supply Chains: Plastics and Chemicals

Plastics• Pakistan imports over USD $1 billion of Polyethylene (300kt) and Polypropylene (300kt)• Less than 10% are imported from India, whose petrochemical plants are located near

Lahore• Most plastic manufacturing units (over 400) are located near Lahore• India can import cheaper, high quality plastic goods such as water coolers, bottles and

parts from Pakistan

Chemicals• Pakistan has surplus capacity for soda ash and caustic soda

o India currently imports these products from more expensive sources • Huge demand in Pakistan for dyes, colouring materials and organic chemicals

PET (Resin)

Polyethylene Granules

Plastic goods (e.g. water coolers)

Dyes and coloring materials

Textiles

Trade Project

Conclusion

• Pakistan needs to redesign its transit trade policies

• Five big steps needed: o Grant MFN Status to India o Accession to TIR Convention o Open New Trade Routes o Trade Facilitation:

– Implement recent RKC/WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation– Integrated Border Management Systems

o Reduce Taxes on International Trade

• Improving regional connectivity may not require major resources

Trade Project

Thank You