Publication: Trade and Regional Cooperation between Afghanistan and its Neighbors
Date
2004-02-18
ISSN
Published
2004-02-18
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
The report envisages significant,
medium-term benefits for Afghanistan and its neighbors from
trade policy liberalization, from country-by-country reforms
in trade logistics, and, especially within Afghanistan, from
road rehabilitation and building a commercially-oriented
enabling environment for trade, private investment and
entrepreneurial development. The growth of regional and
transit trade will boost private investment and growth in
the short-to-medium term and help to realize the long-term
vision for Afghanistan as a country moving toward
middle-income status, based on sustainable development of
its resources. Recommendations focused on Afghanistan
include calls for priority action, with broad support from
the international community, aimed at: improving security
throughout the country both for persons and property;
completing the main road rehabilitation, extending telephone
and other telecommunication systems and ensuring that after
reconstruction maintenance is undertaken to sustain roads in
good condition; streamlining of border crossing procedures;
reestablishing formal financial and insurance systems
including development of a effective clearance and
settlement system; implementing a national customs and
transit system; eliminating restrictions on direct transit;
removing internal checking-posts and en-route inspections;
and increasing domestic trucking competition. To foster a
strong, enabling environment for domestic and foreign trade,
the study also advocates a set of immediate and short-term
measures, including implementing a functioning payments
system for international and domestic transfers though the
formal banking system; making transit bonds and transport
insurance available to shippers; redefining the role of the
Afghan Ministry of Commerce to emphasize its mandate in
trade and investment promotion relative to it role in trade
regulation; supporting a larger role, distinct from that of
government, for a private chamber of commerce to assist in
export promotion; designing and implementing major
capacity-building programs to develop skills and
professionalism in banking, insurance and customs; and
encouraging truckers and freight forwarders to establish
national private industry organizations and to affiliate
with international organizations.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2004. Trade and Regional Cooperation between Afghanistan and its Neighbors. © Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/15547 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”