Guidelines on ICT Application for Trade and Transport
Facilitation for Landlocked Countries in the Asia-Pacific
Region
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| Author(s):
Information, Communication and Space Technology
(ICSTD) |
| Economic Sector(s):
Information and communication
technologies, Trade, Transport |
| Division:
Information, Communication and Space Technology |
| Published Date:
December 2006 |
| Country:
{Sub-regional Publication} |
| Hard Copy Price:
Free |
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Download
(PDF, 2.36 MB) |
According the Human Development Report 2005 entitled
“International cooperation at crossroads: Aid, trade and
security in an unequal world” , the trade costs for landlocked
developing countries (LLDC) is roughly nine per cent higher
than maritime countries. For the majority of the regions, the
average trade cost for LLDC is almost double. Accordingly,
almost all LLDC export less per capita than the average of the
maritime countries in the region. Due to these and other
difficulties, LLDC often lag behind their maritime neighbours
in overall development and trade. A study found that the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of LLDC is 57 per cent of
that of maritime neighbours.
New information and
communication technology (ICT) and its ever decreasing costs
opened up new opportunities to facilitate trade and transport,
especially for landlocked developing countries which face more
challenges than other developing countries in general, owing to
geographical remoteness to markets and high cost associated
with transportation.
The application of ICT to trade and transport initiatives,
assisted by harmonised Customs systems and documentation can
clearly help to speed up processes. This is especially true of
using the concept of pre-clearing goods before they actually
arrive at a Customs post, of pre clearing vehicles and drivers
and of risk management and selectivity processes. Future
harmonisation of Customs risk management systems, of valuation
processes and databases will be of great value in
accelerating cross border trade facilitated by road or rail
transport for landlocked country.
This document was prepared within the project entitled
“Institutional Capacity Building for Facilitation of
International Trade and Transport in the Landlocked and
Transit Countries” funded by the Royal Government of the
Netherlands and implemented by the United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
This guideline intends to assist member States in the
introduction and establishment of an ICT-based inter-operable
trade and transit facilitation system. More specifically, the
guidelines provides a step-by-step implementation strategy as
well as various tools to monitor the progress made in
designing and implementing ICT applications for trade and
transit facilitation so as to create an enabling environment
for more efficient and cost effective trade and transport in
landlocked countries in Asia and the Pacific. It is also
believed that other landlocked countries in the region as well
as neighbouring transit countries will also benefit from the
document.
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