Implementer: Center for Development Policies IDEAS DePo

Implementation period: October 12, 2015 – October 15, 2019

Funding mechanism: Subcontract with SEGURA Consulting, implementer of the USAID Regional Economic Growth (REG) Project

Objectives

Overall objective of this initiative was to support trade facilitation reforms in North Macedonia in line with its national priorities and international commitments under the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (WTO TFA) and the CEFTA Agreement.

More specifically, the initiative aimed to:

• Increase the awareness of public and private sector institutions on the goals and main requirements of WTO TFA and strengthen their capacity for implementation of trade facilitation reforms in line with the Agreement.
• Support the establishment and operation of the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) as a mechanism for inter-agency coordination and inclusive public-private dialogue for more efficient and effective implementation of country’s trade facilitation agenda.
• Assist leading trade facilitation agencies to implement specific trade facilitation reforms, such as the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Program, e-customs, reforming of the licensing regime, etc.

Activities

Assistance was provided through combination of activities designed in close coordination with beneficiary institutions from the public and the private sector, including but not limited to:

• National workshops and seminars relating to specific trade facilitation topics.
• Participation of representatives of North Macedonia’s government and companies at regional events organized by the REG Project and its international partners to enable exchange of experiences and best practices for advancement of the regional trade facilitation agenda.
• Technical assistance and advice relating to implementation of specific policies for facilitating and simplifying cross-border procedures.
• Drafting of documents and procedures aimed at strengthening the mechanisms for dialogue and improving private sector access to relevant information.

Assistance activities were designed in a flexible manner, in close cooperation with the beneficiary institutions and wherever necessary, in coordination with other donors and international organizations active in the field of trade facilitation – the World Bank Group, CEFTA, WTO, WCO, UNECE and GIZ.

Contact information

Gordana Tosheva, Project Manager

gordanatoseva(at)ideasdepo.mk