聯(lián)合國亞太經(jīng)社會（UNESCAP）：孟加拉國無紙化貿(mào)易的實施：現(xiàn)狀、挑戰(zhàn)和前進方向

Paperlesstradeimplementationin

Bangladesh:Status,challenges,

andwayforward

SelimRaihanandMd.TuhinAhmed

UnitedNationsNetworkofExpertsforPaperlessTradeandTransportinAsiaandthePacific

WorkingPaper

No.6I2023

TheUnitedNationsNetworkofExpertsforPaperlessTradeandTransportinAsiaandthePacific(UNNExT)isacommunityofknowledgeandpracticeforexpertsfromdevelopingcountriesandtransitioneconomiesfromAsiaandthePacificinvolvedintheimplementationofelectronictradesystemsandtradefacilitation.Thenetworkaimstosupportnational,sub-regionalandtranscontinentalSingleWindowandpaperlesstradeinitiatives,withanemphasisontraining,knowledgesharing,andapplicationofinternationalstandardsthataredevelopedbytheUnitedNationsCentreforTradeFacilitationandElectronicBusiness(UN/CEFACT),theWorldCustomsOrganization,andotherrelevantorganizations.TheUNNExTSecretariatisprovidedbyESCAPincooperationwithUNECE.

TheUNNExTWorkingPaperSeriesdisseminatesthefindingsofworkinprogresstoencouragetheexchangeofideasabouttradefacilitationissues.Anobjectiveoftheseriesistopublishthefindingsquickly,evenifthepresentationsarelessthanfullypolished.UNNExTWorkingPapersareavailableonlineat

/.

AllmaterialintheWorkingPapersmaybefreelyquotedorreprinted,butacknowledgmentisrequestedtogetherwithacopyofthepublicationcontainingthequotationorreprint.TheuseoftheWorkingPapersforanycommercialpurpose,includingresale,isprohibited.

Disclaimer:

ThedesignationsemployedandthepresentationofthematerialinthisWorkingPaperdonotimplytheexpressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartoftheSecretariatoftheUnitedNationsconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,territory,city,orarea,orofitsauthorities,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiersorboundaries.Wherethedesignation“countryorarea”appears,itcoverscountries,territories,cities,orareas.Bibliographicalandotherreferenceshave,whereverpossible,beenverified.TheUnitedNationsbearsnoresponsibilityfortheavailabilityorfunctioningofURLs.Theviewsexpressedinthispublicationarethoseoftheauthor(s)anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsoftheUnitedNations.Theopinions,figuresandestimatessetforthinthispublicationaretheresponsibilityoftheauthor(s)andshouldnotnecessarilybeconsideredasreflectingtheviewsorcarryingtheendorsementoftheUnitedNations.Anyerrorsaretheresponsibilityoftheauthor(s).ThementionoffirmnamesandcommercialproductsdoesnotimplytheendorsementoftheUnitedNations.

?UNNExT2023

iii

WORKINGPAPER

PaperlesstradeimplementationinBangladesh:

Status,challenges,andwayforward

SelimRaihan1andMd.TuhinAhmed2

Pleasecitethispaperas:

Raihan,S.andAhmed,M.T.(2023).“PaperlesstradeimplementationinBangladesh:Status,challenges,andwayforward”,UNNExTWorkingPaperSeriesNo.6,September2023,Bangkok,ESCAP.

Availableat

/

1ProfessorofEconomics,DhakaUniversityandExecutiveDirector,SANEM

2SeniorResearchAssociate,SANEM

iv

TableofContents

ListofTables vi

ListofFigures vi

AcronymsandAbbreviations vii

1.Introduction 1

2.Methodology 3

2.1Deskreviewsofrelevantdocuments 3

2.2Interviewswithstakeholders 4

3.OverviewoftradefacilitationimplementationinBangladesh 4

3.1ComparisonoftradefacilitationmeasuresbetweenBangladeshandregionalblocs 6

3.2ComparisonofpaperlesstradeimplementationmeasuresbetweenBangladeshand

regionalblocs 8

3.3Comparisonofcross-borderpaperlesstradeimplementationmeasuresbetween

Bangladeshandregionalblocs 8

3.4Overviewoftheimplementationstatusofpaperlessandcross-borderpaperlesstrade

inBangladesh(2015-2021) 9

3.5Comparisonofpaperlessandcross-borderpaperlesstradeimplementationamong

BBINcountries 12

4.Initiativesfordomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstrade 13

4.1Analysisoflegalarrangementstoimplementpaperlesstrade 13

4.1.1Legalarrangementsforthedomesticpaperlesstrade 13

4.1.2Legalarrangementsforthecross-borderpaperlesstrade 15

4.2Technicalarrangementstoimplementpaperlesstrade 17

4.2.1Technicalarrangementsforthedomesticpaperlesstrade 17

4.2.2Technicalarrangementsforthecross-borderpaperlesstrade 18

4.3Institutionalarrangementstoimplementpaperlesstrade 20

4.3.1Institutionalarrangementsfordomesticpaperlesstrade 20

4.3.2Institutionalarrangementsforcross-borderpaperlesstrade 20

5.BangladeshNationalSingleWindow 21

5.1AgenciesintegratedwithBNSW 22

5.2DocumentsintegratedwithBNSW: 24

5.3ProcessesandcurrentoperationsofBNSW 25

5.4ChallengesintheimplementationofBNSW 25

v

6.ChallengesintheimplementationofpaperlesstradeinBangladesh 26

6.1Legalchallenges 26

6.2Technicalchallenges 27

6.3Institutionalchallenges 28

7.FrameworkAgreementonFacilitationofCross-borderTradeinAsiaandthe

Pacific 29

7.1Bangladesh'sapproachtotheagreement 30

7.2Implicationsofratifyingtheagreement 30

8.Wayforward 32

8.1Recommendationsbasedontheassessmentoftechnicalactions 32

8.2Recommendationsbasedontheassessmentoflegalsupport 33

8.3Recommendationsbasedontheassessmentofinstitutionalsupport 34

References 35

Annex1:Listofthenameofinterviewedstakeholders 36

Annex2:ListofthenameoftheagenciesthatwillbeintegratedwithNSW 36

Annex3:DocumentsrequiredforBangladesh'sinternationaltradeandtheir

paperlessstatus 37

vi

ListofTables

Table1:Nationalpolicydocumentsrelatedtodomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstrade 3

Table2:Yearlyoverviewoftheimplementationstatusofpaperlessandcross-borderpaperless

trade 10

Table3:Overviewofpaperlessandcross-borderpaperlesstradeimplementationwithmajor

implementingagencies 11

Table4:ComparisonofpaperlesstradeimplementationamongBBINcountries 12

Table5:Comparisonofcross-borderpaperlesstradeimplementationamongBBINcountries

13

Table6:Individualactionplanonpaperlesstradefacilitationregardingelectronictransactions

andsignaturelaws 14

Table7:IndividualactionplanonpaperlesstradefacilitationregardingSingleWindowlaws

15

Table8:Individualactionplanoncross-borderpaperlesstradefacilitation 16

Table9:Individualactionplanonpaperlesstradefacilitationregardingautomation 17

Table10:IndividualactionplanonpaperlesstradefacilitationregardingICTinfrastructure.18

Table11:Individualactionplanonpaperlesstradefacilitationregardingbusinessprocessre-

engineering 18

Table12:Awareness,capacitybuildingandothers 19

Table13:Individualactionplanoncross-borderpaperlesstradefacilitation 19

Table14:Individualactionplanoninstitutionalandgovernancebodiesforelectronicdata

exchangeinapaperlessenvironment 21

Table15:Permittingande-applicationstatusofNBRandMoC 23

Table16:Individualactionplanregardingtheratificationoftheagreement 30

ListofFigures

Figure1:Bangladesh'stradefacilitationimplementationovertheyears(2015-2021) 6

Figure2:DigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitationofBangladeshin2021 7

Figure3:Movingtowardcross-borderpaperlesstrade:Cumulativeimplementationscoreof

coregroupsoftradefacilitationmeasuresinBBINcountries,2021 7

Figure4:ImplementationofpaperlesstrademeasuresinBangladesh,2021 8

Figure5:Implementationofcross-borderpaperlesstrademeasuresinBangladesh,2021 9

vii

AcronymsandAbbreviations

a2i

AccesstoInformation

ACU

AsianClearingUnion

AEO

AuthorizedEconomicOperator

ASYCUDA

AutomatedSystemforCustomsData

BAEC

BangladeshAtomicEnergyCommission

CAAB

BangladeshCivilAviationAuthority

BCC

BangladeshComputerCouncil

BEPZA

BangladeshExportProcessingZonesAuthority

BFTI

BangladeshForeignTradeInstitute

BGMEA

BangladeshGarmentsManufacturersAssociation

BIWTA

BangladeshInlandWaterTransportAuthority

BIDA

BangladeshInvestmentDevelopmentAuthority

BKMEA

BangladeshKnitwearManufacturersandExportersAssociation

BSBK

BangladeshLandPortAuthority

MoS

BangladeshMinistryofShipping

BNACWC

BangladeshNationalAuthorityforChemicalWeaponsConvention

BNSW

BangladeshNationalSingleWindow

BRCP-1

BangladeshRegionalConnectivityProject1

BSTI

BangladeshStandardsandTestingInstitute

BBIN

Bangladesh,Bhutan,IndiaandNepal

BGB

BorderGuardBangladesh

BIN

BusinessIdentificationNumber

BPR

BusinessProcessRe-engineering

CO

CertificateofOrigin

CCI&E

ChiefControllerofImports&Exports

CCI&E

ChiefControllerofImportsandExports

CP

ClearancePermit

CTMS

ContainerTerminalManagementSystem

CH

CustomsHouse

DC

DevelopingCountry

DSA

DigitalSecurityAct

ESCAP

EconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific

e-CO

ElectronicCertificateofOrigin

EDI

ElectronicDataInterchange

e-SPS

ElectronicSanitaryandPhytosanitaryStandards

EU

EuropeanUnion

EBA

EverythingButArms

EPB

ExportPromotionBureau

FDI

ForeignDirectInvestment

GSP

GeneralizedSystemofPreference

GSDSTF

GlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation

GoB

GovernmentofBangladesh

GSI

GovernmentSecuredIntranet

IGM

ImportGeneralManifesto

IP

ImportPermit

ICT

InformationandCommunicationTechnology

ITA

InformationTechnologyAgreement

ITTFC

Inter-MinisterialandTransportFacilitationCommittee

IDA

InternationalDevelopmentAssociation

LC

LandCustoms

LCS

LandCustomsStation

viii

LDC

LeastDevelopedCountry

MoU

MemorandaofUnderstanding

MoC

MinisterofCommerce

NBR

NationalBoardofRevenue

NCTTF

NationalCouncilforTradeandTransportFacilitation

NSW

NationalSingleWindow

NSWWG

NationalSingleWindow(NSW)WorkingGroup

NTFC

NationalTradeFacilitationCommittee

CGA

OfficeoftheControllerofAccounts

OLM

OnlineLicensingModule

OGAs

OtherGovernmentAgencies

POS

PointofSale

PIU

ProjectImplementationUnit

RKC

RevisedKyotoConvention

SWIF

SingleWindowImplementationFramework

SME

SmallandMediumEnterprise

SWIFT

SocietyforWorldwideInterbankFinancialTelecommunication

SASEC

SouthAsiaSubregionalEconomicCooperation

SAARC

SouthAsianAssociationforRegionalCooperation

TIN

TaxIdentificationNumber

TFA

TradeFacilitationAgreement

TIC

TradeInformationCentre

UNLK

UNLayoutKey

UN

UnitedNations

UNCITRAL

UnitedNationsCommissiononInternationalTradeLaw

UNESCAP

UnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific

VAT

ValueAddedTax

VPN

VirtualPrivateNetwork

WCO

WorldCustomsOrganization

WEF

WorldEconomicForum

WTO

WorldTradeOrganization

UN/CEFACT

UnitedNationsCentreforTradeFacilitationandElectronicBusiness

1

1.Introduction

Paperlesstradeisaconceptoftradedigitalizationwherethewholetradesystem,includingtheexchangeoftrade-relateddataanddocuments,functionsisgovernedbasedonelectroniccommunications(Ha&Lim,2014;UNESCAP,2016;Duval&Mengjing,2017).AspartofBangladesh'scontinuouseffortstoachievethetitleof‘DigitalBangladesh,’theGovernmentofBangladesh(GoB)isattemptingtotakethecountry'stradesystemtoanotherlevelbymakingitasefficientaspossible(GoB,2012).Keepingthisvisioninmind,BangladeshhasadoptedtheTradeFacilitationAgreement(TFA)undertheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)inDecember2013toensureitstradeefficiencybyreducinghighertradetransactioncostsandeffectivelysimplifyingthetime-consumingprocessingofrelatedtradedocumentation,whichhadcometoforceon2017.Inaddition,theGoBsignedtheRevisedKyotoConvention(RKC),WTOCustomsValuationAgreement,andWTOSanitaryandPhytosanitaryAgreement,andintroducedtheAutomatedSystemforCustomsData(ASYCUDA)toprogresstowardpaperlesstrade(UNESCAP,2019a).Followingtheseinitiatives,BangladeshisonthevergeofimplementinganelectronicNationalSingleWindow(NSW),automatedcustomssystemsande-customstofacilitatethepaperlesscross-bordersupplychainmanagementandthechallengesassociatedwithtradelogistics.

Paperlesstradesystemscanbenefittradersbyreducingcoststhroughthefastermovementofgoodsandservicesaswellasgreaterefficiencyatborderagenciesinwhichexchangeinvolvestrade-relateddocuments(WEF,2017).Estimatesrevealthattradecostscanbereducedby14.3%onaverage,onlybythecompleteimplementationoftheTFA(WTO,2015).Furthermore,itcansignificantlybenefittheleastdevelopedcountrieslikeBangladeshthroughboostingglobaltradebyupto$1trillionperyear.Also,paperlesstradingislikelytoleadtogreaterefficienciesinthedevelopingcountriesprimarilybecauseitwillreducetimeandharassmentinexport&importofgoods,simplifytradeproceduresalongwiththebureaucraticredtapetopreventdelaysintradeactivities,increasetransparency,inducecompliancewithhighergovernmentalrevenues,decreasetradecosts&holdthequalityofgoods,andsoon.EspeciallyfromBangladesh'sperspective,thecostofprovidingpaper-baseddocumentsforcross-bordertradeisamajorexpensetothetradersduetobureaucraticredtapeandhigheradministrativechargesinvolvedinfreightmanagement.

Bangladeshwillbeabletoreducetradecostsby33%aftertheeffectiveimplementationoftheTFAalongwithefficientregulationofcross-borderpaperlesstrademeasures.Thisreductionintradecostsamountstotheultimatepotentialtoincreasecostsavingsbymorethan$0.7billionperyear(ESCAP,2017).Thus,paperlesstradecanremarkablymaketradefinancemuchcheaperandmoreefficientduetofastermerchandisetransitmechanisms.Additionally,itwillsavetimebyadequatelymanagingtheadministrativepaperworkprocessandpurgingsettlementfailures.Moreover,anexcessivenumberofdocumentsandcomplexdocumentation

2

requiredfortradinghasalwaysbeenintimidatinganddiscouragesmanybusinessesfromparticipatingincross-bordertradeinBangladesh(Ha&Lim,2014).However,apaperlesstradesystemcanefficientlyaddressthisissuebyadvancingregulatorycontrolduringtheexchangeofdataamongtheagenciesacrosstheborderandaugmentingcustomsrevenuesbyeffectivelyevaluatingcompliancerisksoftransactionsduringshipments.

Itis,therefore,crucialtounderstandthecurrentsituationandmeasurespertainingtodomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstradeinBangladesh.AccordingtotheUNGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation(GSDSTF)in2021,inthelasttwoyears,Bangladeshhasmadesignificantprogressinimplementingtradefacilitationmeasures,particularlyintradefacilitationforSMEsandpaperlesstrade,althoughthecountry'sinstitutionalarrangementsandcollaborationhavenotimprovedatall.Nonetheless,BangladeshhasmanifestedastrongobligationtoputpaperlesstradesystemsintooperationwiththeNationalTradeFacilitationCommittee(NTFC)andtheMinistryofCommerce(MoC)toensurecheckandbalanceamongthegovernmentandprivateorganizations.Furthermore,atechnicalcommitteehasbeenformedtoimplementthemeasuresrequiredtoestablishe-customstoelectronicallyapprove,receive,andprocesstrade-relatedpaperwork.

However,therearenolegallawsandregulationsinplacetoensurethattrade-relateddataanddocumentswillbeexchangedacrossbordersinthefuture.Consequently,atotalpaperlesstransitionisnoteasilyattainable.Theestablishmentofrelevantlawsandregulations,aswellastheefficiencyofrecognizedcertificationauthorities(suchasBangladeshStandards&TestingInstitutionorBSTI),are,therefore,criticalinthisregard.

Theoverallbenefitsofthepaperlesstradingsystemamongstakeholders,governmentsandtradershaveledtoanincreasingamountofresponsibilitiestoensurethesuccessfulimplementationandregulationofthemechanism,especiallyforadevelopingcountrylikeBangladesh.Accordingly,thispaperanalyzesthetradefacilitationimplementationmeasuresandtheinitiativestakensofartoimplementdomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstradeinBangladesh,includingtheelaboratefunctioningoflegal,regulatory,andinstitutionalframeworks.Italsopresentsadescriptiveoverviewoftheframeworkagreementonthefacilitationofcross-bordertradeandhighlightsthecurrentstatusoftheNationalSingleWindowapproach.Moreover,itshowcasestheoverallobstaclesalongwiththeprobablemeasurestakentocounterpartthemintermsoftheeffectiveimplementationofdomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstrade.Correspondingly,theprincipalobjectivesofthestudyareasfollow:

(1)Tounderstandtheimplementationstatusofdomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstradeinBangladesh

(2)ToanalyzethefunctioningoftheBangladeshNationalSingleWindow

3

Toidentifychallengesintheimplementationofpaperlesstradeandmeasures(being)takentoaddressthechallenges

2.Methodology

Themethodologyofthestudycomprisestwointegralparts-deskreviewsofrelevantdocumentsandinterviewswithstakeholders.

2.1Deskreviewsofrelevantdocuments

Tounderstandtheinitiativesfordomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstradethecountryadoptedsofar,thestudyreviewsseveralresources(nationalandinternationaldocuments)andliterature.Table1presentsthereviewedrelevantnationalpolicydocumentsamongstothers.

Table1:Nationalpolicydocumentsrelatedtodomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstrade

Sl.No.

Nameofnationalpolicydocumentsrelatedtodomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstrade

1

ReadinessAssessmentofPaperlessTradeinBangladesh

2

DigitalCommerceGuideline2021

3

RegulationsonElectronicFundTransfer2014

4

StrategicPrioritiesofDigitalBangladesh2021

5

CustomsModernization:StrategicActionPlan(2019-2022)

6

NationalICTPolicy2018

7

ExportPolicyOrder2018-2021

8

ImportPolicyOrder2015-2018

9

Information&CommunicationTechnologyActin2006(Amendedin2009&2013)

10

BangladeshCustomsAct(1969,revisedin2019)

11

EvidenceActof1872

12

DigitalSecurityAct(DSA)(2018)

13

CompetitionAct2012

4

Besides,thestudyreviewsseveralinternationaldocumentsalongwithnationaldocumentstounderstandtheNationalSingleWindow(NSW)andFrameworkAgreementonFacilitationofCross-borderTradeinAsiaandthePacific.

2.2Interviewswithstakeholders

Severalstakeholdersacrossdifferentagenciesengagedindomesticandcross-borderpaperlesstradeimplementationwereinterviewed.NationalBoardofRevenue(NBR)correspondentswerepartofKIIsandprovidedtherelevantinformationregardingtheBangladeshNationalSingleWindow(BNSW).StakeholdersfromtheICTDivision,MinistryofCommerce,andBangladeshCustomswerealsoinvolvedintheinterviewswhichsupportedtheauthorstoobtainotherinsightfulfindings.Annexe1containsalistofthestakeholderswhowereinterviewed.

3.OverviewoftradefacilitationimplementationinBangladesh

AccordingtoWorldTradeOrganization(WTO),tradefacilitationis“thesimplificationandharmonisationofinternationaltradeprocedures,wheretradeproceduresaretheactivities,practices,andformalitiesinvolvedincollecting,presenting,communicating,andprocessingdataandotherinformationrequiredforthemovementofgoodsininternationaltrade.”Initiativestostrengthentradefacilitationcanreducethecostsandtimeittakestotheprocessesofexportandimport.However,tradecostsindevelopingnationscanbeequivalenttoa219percenttariff,whereastheycanbeequaltoa134percentadvaloremtaxoncommoditiesindevelopednations(WTO,2015).Againstthisbackdrop,theWTOandUNESCAPhavedevelopedindependentbutcomplementaryframeworkstopromotesmoothtradefacilitation.

UndertheWTOandUNESCAPframework,theGoBhasmadeseveraleffortsinfacilitatingtheflowofgoodsandservicesacrossitsbordersduringthelastfewyears.Bangladesh,forexample,adoptedtheWTOFTAandnotified34.5percentofallmeasuresunderCategoryA3oftheWTOFTA,withpossibilitiesforimprovementintheindicatorsunderCategoryB4andC5(UNESCAP,2019a).Similarly,thecountrysignedandratifiedtheframeworkagreementonthefacilitationofcross-borderpaperlesstradeinAsiaandthePacificassoonasitwasopenforaccession.Besides,thecountry’sNationalBoardofRevenue'sCustomsModernizationStrategicActionPlanfor2019-2022,adoptingtheOne-StopServiceAct,andimprovingstrategiesforthebusinessenablingenvironmentformoreinclusivegrowthandimprovedfoodsafetyandsecuritymeasuresarejustafewofthepolicycommitments.TheGoBhasalsoupgradeditscustomswebsiteandestablishedaNationalEnquiryPoint,aswellasis

3CategoryAindicatingmeasuresareimplemented

4CategoryBindicatingmoretimeisneededforimplementation

5CategoryCindicatingcapacitybuildingisrequiredbeforeimplementation

5

implementingAdvancedRulingandlaunchingaprogramforAuthorizedEconomicOperators(AEO).TheGoBwillshortlybeginputtingitsRiskManagementDecreeintoeffect,aswellasworkingtoprepareforaSingleWindow.

ThissectionexaminesBangladesh’sprogressinadoptingtradefacilitationmeasures6basedondatafromtheUnitedNationsGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation2021(GSDSTF).TheGSDSTFincludes58tradefacilitationmeasuresdividedintofoursections:generaltradefacilitationmeasures,digitaltradefacilitationmeasures,sustainabletradefacilitationmeasures,andothertradefacilitationmeasures,andsogoesbeyondtheWTOTFAsetofmeasures(ESCAP,2021).Thereare11sub-categorieswithinthesefourbasicareasofindicators7.

ThelatestdatafromGSDSTFshowsthatBangladeshhasmadesignificantprogressinadoptingtradefacilitationmeasuresinmanyindicatorsovertheyears(Figure1).Inthecaseofthetradefacilitationscore,Bangladeshhastakenabigstepin2021witha64.52%scorewhileitwas35.48%in2017.ThemostimprovedcategoriesoftradefacilitationmeasuresintheGSDSTFsurveyforBangladeshovertheyears(2015-2021)havebeenTransparency(from40%to86.67%),Formalities(from41.67%to83.33%),InstitutionalArrangementsandCooperation(from55.56%to66.67%),Paperlesstrade(from22.22%to59.26%)andCross-BorderPaperlessTrade(from11.11%to27.78%).

6

/

7Generaltradefacilitationmeasuresincludethesub-categories‘transparencymeasures’,‘formalitiesmeasures’,‘institutionalarrangementandcooperationmeasures’,and‘transitfacilitation’.Digitaltradefacilitationmeasuresinclude‘paperlesstrademeasures’and‘cross-borderpaperlesstrademeasures.Sustainabletradefacilitation

measuresinclude‘tradefacilitationforSMEsmeasures’,‘a(chǎn)griculturetradefacilitationmeasures’and‘womenintradefacilitationmeasures’.Othertradefacilitationmeasures,anewsub-categoryaddedin2021,include‘tradefinancefacilitationmeasures’and‘tradefacilitationintimesofcrisis’measures.

6

Figure1:Bangladesh'stradefacilitationimplementationovertheyears(2015–2021)

100.0

75.0

50.0

25.0

0.0

40.0

53.3

73.3

86.7

41.7

50.0

66.7

83.3

55.6

55.6

66.7

66.7

22.2

22.2

40.7

59.3

11.1

11.1

27.8

27.8

13.3

20.0

40.0

25.0

58.3

66.7

55.6

66.7

TransparencyFormalitiesInstitutional

Paperless

Cross-Border

Trade

Agriculture

Womenin

Arrangement

Trade

Paperless

Facilitation

Trade

Trade

and

Trade

forSMEs

Facilitation

Facilitation

Cooperation

2015201720192021

Source:UNGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,(2015-2021)

3.1ComparisonoftradefacilitationmeasuresbetweenBangladeshandregionalblocs

NotonlyintheindicatorsoftradefacilitationmeasuresintheGSDSTF,butBangladeshhasalsoshownanexceptionaleffortcomparedwithotherregionalblocssuchasEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP)countries(65.85%),SouthandSouth-WestAsia(63.12%),andLDCsinAsia-Pacific(51.79%).

Despitesuchprogress,Bangladeshstilllagsbehindinsomenotableindicators,particularlyintheimplementationof‘Cross-BorderPaperlessTrade’(27.8%)and‘TradeFacilitationforSMEs’(40%).Bangladesh’sperformancehasbeensubstantialinthe‘Transparency’(86.67%),‘Formalities’(83.33%),‘InstitutionalArrangementandCooperation’(66.67%)whereastheglobalaverageintheseindicatorsis77.96%,74.86%and68.75%respectively(Figure2).

Meanwhile,thefollowingfigure(Figure3)comparestheoveralltradefacilitationimplementationacrossBBIN(Bangladesh,Bhutan,India,andNepal)countries.Inthelasttwoyears,BBINcountrieshavemadepivotalprogressontradefacilitationmeasures.However,exceptforIndia,paperlesstradeandcross-borderpaperlesstradeimplementationstillhavealongwaytogo.

7

Figure2:DigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitationofBangladeshin2021

Bangladesh

WomeninTradeFacilitation

AgricultureTrade

Facilitation

Transparency

100

80

60

40

20

0

Formalities

EconomicandSocialCommissionforAsia

andthePacific(ESCAP)

handSouth-West

LDCsinAsia-Pacific

InstitutionalArrangement

andCooperation

TradeFacilitationfor

SMEs

PaperlessTrade

Cross-BorderPaperless

Trade

Source:UNGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2021

Figure3:Movingtowardcross-borderpaperlesstrade:CumulativeimplementationscoreofcoregroupsoftradefacilitationmeasuresinBBINcountries,2021

Note:Maximumpossibleimplementationscoreis100.Foreachgroupofmeasures,aslopelesssteepthanthefrontierorthebenchmarkimplieslowerlevelsofimplementation.Source:UNGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2