NATIONAL Trade Facilitation Stakeholders in Solomon Islands recently participated in a World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) Roadmap and Action Plan Review and Prioritization workshop in Honiara.
The workshop concluded a weeklong visit by the World Bank Trade Facilitation Mission to Solomon Islands, aimed at reviewing progress and prioritizing actions under the National Trade Facilitation Roadmap and Action Plan.
Director of External Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Natalia Patternot expressed her appreciation to the representatives of the World Bank Trade Mission and the members of the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) for making the workshop possible.
She said the TFA is a very specific and technical area related to procedures and controls governing the movement of goods.
Ms Patternot said a roadmap and action plan is important to prioritize the work of the NTFC.
“We had previous roadmaps in 2017/2018 whereby implementation was occurring unknowingly.
Director Patternot said the Solomon Islands Government is grateful to collaborate with World Bank in developing a new roadmap relevant to evolving trade related circumstances – emergency, unpredictable environments and also in sequencing our work realistically.
“While these efforts will meet our obligations as a WTO member and also for Trade Agreements with similar provisions, ultimately our goal is to provide traders with a predictable and stable trade facilitation environment that is transparent, simplified, harmonized and standardized,” She added.
She further acknowledged World Bank for supporting Solomon Islands in several of these areas already, expressing gratitude while encouraging the organization to identify additional areas for further collaboration or expansion.
Ms. Patternot said all represented at the workshop are critical partners and their inputs into the priority areas for NTFC is crucial.
WTO members concluded negotiations at the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference on the landmark Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which was entered into force on 22 February 2017 following its ratification by two-thirds of the WTO membership.
The TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues.
Solomon Islands formally deposited its instruments of acceptance of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) on 22nd April 2022.
