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A workshop jointly conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on 13-15 January 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand officially launched the collection of baseline studies required for implementation of the Trade and Transport Facilitation Monitoring Mechanism (TTFMM) in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. 

The Workshop

• Reviewed preparations for conducting the Business Process Analysis Plus (BPA+), time release study (TRS) and time-cost-distance (TCD) baseline studies and analyses, to be carried out by country teams in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal in 2016;
• Discussed technical and operational details for the baseline studies on the BPA+, TRS, and TCD; and
• Finalized national work plans for data collection and analysis of baseline data.

Attended by officials from SASEC countries' ministries of Commerce, Finance, or Trade and Industry, Customs administrations, and clearing and forwarding agents from the private sector, together with the ADB-financed technical consultant teams for each country, the Workshop provided guidance and knowledge on the

• roles of relevant government agencies in data collection and analysis;
• specific data to be collected and optimal methods of collection;
• format and guides for preparation of the baseline study reports by country, and for the region; and
• time-frame for the collection and analysis of data, and the preparation of the reports.

The TTFMM is an integrated monitoring system that tracks the progress of transport and trade facilitation measures implemented in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal under their respective national plan, to optimize trade and transport processes. The national plans were developed through a series of regional and national training workshops held in November 2013 (Bangkok, Thailand), in March 2014 (Phuentsholing, Bhutan), and in April 2014 (Dhulikhel, Nepal; and Dhaka, Bangladesh).

Technical experts and resource persons for the TTFMM are provided by ADB and ESCAP. The Workshop was funded by the ADB-technical assistance 'Support for South Asia Regional Economic Cooperation.'

Related Link:

UNESCAP: Workshop on TTFMM baseline studies in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal