ANALYSIS
Efforts to Reduce SE Europe’s
Regulatory and Administrative
Bottlenecks in Trade
Author: Violane Konar-Leacy, Project Manager, IFC Belgrade
The International Finance Corporation’s (IFC’s) Western Balkans Trade Logistics Project has been working
in the region since 2012. The project’s goal is the reduction of regulatory and administrative bottlenecks
to regional cross-border trade by streamlining export
and import procedures, harmonizing inter-agency cooperation within and between countries, and
championing risk-based controls, wider use of electronic systems for data exchange and trade-logistics
related payments. The project aims to improve the
competitiveness of the private sector by improving
access to regional and global markets. The activities
implemented by the project are expected to generate $10 million in private sector savings.
Case in Point: Lengthy Consignment
Sampling Procedures
Getting goods across Southeast Europe can be a
lengthy endeavor. Regional cross-border trade is
hampered by burdensome import procedures, infrastructural issues, and the high frequency of physical examinations conducted by food, veterinary,
and phytosanitary agencies. Macedonia is no exception, a challenge hig