«ESCWA» supports Iraq project «a window of international trade»

yota691 · January 29, 2018

«ESCWA» supports Iraq project «a window of international trade»

29/1/2018 12:00 am

Baghdad / Al-Sabah

Iraq is still one of the most prominent countries in the region, which requires those concerned to produce a large number of documents for the conduct of import and export transactions. Hence, there is a need for a "one-stop" trade facilitation system that includes a full range of trade, transport and logistics measures.

On 16 and 17 January 2018, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) organized a training workshop in support of Iraq in adopting this platform as part of its work to promote trade integration.
The workshop was attended by 10 trainees from different ministries, five members of the Iraqi National Committee for Transport and Trade Facilitation, and the Executive Secretary for the project.
"There is an urgent need for more efficient and flexible channels to facilitate the flow of global trade across borders at lower costs and efforts, especially with the growth of global trade and its role in development and business," said Dr. Mukhtar Mohamed El Hassan, Director of the Department of Economic Integration and Development of ESCWA.
Iraq will benefit greatly from the implementation of the single-window system as its performance in various international indices, which measure the ease of doing business and trade, is modest, ranking 153 out of 160 countries in the 2016 Logistics Performance Index, a leading global index of logistics efficiency, In line with the modest performance of the Customs sub-index.
"The Arab region needs to develop this type in order to improve the competitiveness of its exports and improve the collection of customs revenues and also ensure efficiency in the import process in the interest of the consumer." Iraq continues to request a large number of documents for imports and exports, and this is shown by a very modest mark in the time required to remove the shipment by customs. Iraq ranks 179th in the World Bank's cross-border trade index in 2016, along with rising costs and time for the export-import compliance document.
"It is necessary to take some corrective measures to remedy these shortcomings and reduce barriers to trade that harm the national economy and all economic actors," he said.
The members of the National Committee participated in the workshop by presenting the efforts and efforts of the Iraqi government to implement the system of the international trade window and preparing a draft law for this purpose which is currently in the legislative stages.
"Implementing the single-window system is not an easy task, although different agencies are involved in the process of clearing goods and regulating trade flows," he said. "There have been many types of windows in recent years, each with different jobs and players."