Streamlining transport and trade logistics to increase cross-border trade in Central Asia

Building on our firm understanding of customs and trade facilitation issues and through the provision of our ICT, Single Window (SW) and procurement expertise, Crown Agents is helping to improve border crossing points (BCPs) and Single Window development to benefit Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) member countries.

Streamlining transport and trade logistics to increase cross-border trade in Central Asia is a key component of the CAREC transport and trade facilitation strategy (TTFS). CAREC faces the challenge of improving connectivity between the borders to better facilitate the movement of people and goods.

Border crossing points have been identified as the major bottleneck for transport and trade in the CAREC region and infrastructure improvements are necessary. Typically, a 20-ton truck travelling 500km spends three-quarters of the total stopping time at BCPs, waiting to start border-crossing formalities. Other delays are attributable to poor physical infrastructure, information and communication technologies and limited supporting trade logistics at the BCPs.

Through this project, CAREC countries are able to leverage Crown Agents' experience in customs and trade facilitation, and in particular our position leading SW implementations around the world to streamline the flow of trade and transport information, even in advance of cargo's arrival at the border and thus provide significant efficiency gains.

Crown Agents seeks to;

• Foster a network of national single window (NSW) systems in selected CAREC member countries, to help develop seamless corridors to assist with competition and transparency.
• Provide support and quality control to remove bottlenecks and support the development of transport and trade logistics adjacent to the BCP areas.
• Deliver procurement expertise to aid transport and trade facilitation between CAREC member countries.

Crown Agents is utilising its expertise in IT and SW to ensure that the correct infrastructure is in place to support the SW developments. Training programmes based on the new system will ensure efficient trade facilitation is sustained across multiple borders. Our procurement specialists will coordinate the schedule of works so that both sides of the BCP are completed simultaneously to facilitate trade and improve transportation.

Through our continued work in the region, visiting border crossing points and working with stakeholders in CAREC member countries, our technical assistance helps to articulate regional needs in relation to improving transit times and facilitating trade.