TTFSE.ORG: Adding value for business through transparency
Presentation by Géerald Ollivier, TTFSE Regional Trade Facilitation CoordinatorProject Team Leader, and Kremena Gotcheva, BULPRO
Executive summary
Thise presentation is devotfocused toon the evolution of TTFSE.ORG - a regional website created by public-private committees on trade and transport facilitation (the PRO-Committees), effort of the SECIPRO in under the framework of the Trade and Transport Facilitation in Southeast Europe Programproject ( - please add precise URL).). This site aims at increasing transparency regarding international road transport of goods across eight countries of Southeast Europe, in line with Article X of the GATT.
The site has been
Although initially designed as an advanced portal asconsolidating information from more than 50 governmental bodies impacting international road transport and trade in the region. providing site, Several of its present value-added features (automated notification, route planner) its acceptance by business shows the way towards athe long-term sustainability of the site beyond the TTFSE Program, which ends in about a year. commercialisation of the site The free provision of border agency requirements will be coupled with value added features, enabling a commercialization of part of the site and making itturnin evolve from an information center g it into a regional service hub.
In this context, the site managers are seeking new partners to introduce a consolidated administrative interface between border agencies and traders, XML-based, to integrate value added feature (more interactive maps), to extend the tool to other countries in Central Europe and Turkey and to develop training programs under the GFP-DLI[1]. Discussions are on-going to integratewe believe that th e integration of UNeDocs into the TTFSE.ORG is a logical development for this project, andplatform. An estimated US$400,000 are required for the second phase of development of TTFSE.ORG. We are soliciting your financial support today to crystallize these grassroots’ efforts and support SEE countries in their effort to provide a transparent, predictable environmentwish to find partners and sponsors for such project. BULPRO as the eldest and most active PRO committee in the region is willing to implement the pilot phase and has the necessary networks to promote it both in Bulgaria and the entire region.
Main presentation topics:
During the preparation of the Trade and Transport Facilitation Program in Southeast Europe (TTFSE)[2], surveys of users indicated the difficulty SMEs were facing in complying[3] with rapidly changing laws and regulations, particularly as SEE countries aligned progressively their legal framework to EC requirements. These changes combined with insufficient information channels and an explosion in the number of SMEs in the forwarding and road transport sector, meant significant increased transaction costs at borders and lack of predictability in transit times toward the EC market. Increased transaction costs took the form of delays and frequent “facilitation” payment, sometimes justified, sometimes not.
In order to fight corruption and reduce those transaction costs, six countries[4] of SEE (later joined by 2 others[5]) requested support from the World Bank and the US Government to facilitate trade and transport in the region in 1999. The resulting TTFSE Program, a US$123 million facilitation program, offers technical services for Customs modernization, improvement of border facilities and information systems and a trade facilitation component.
This trade facilitation component was designed jointly with SECIPRO and each of the national PRO Committees through the Chambers of Commerce. PRO Committees are public-private bodies focused on trade and transport facilitation. The trade facilitation component is managed by the American College in Thessaloniki, implemented by the PRO-Committees, funded by the US Government and the Dutch Government and supervised by the World Bank. It contains in particular conventional training for SMEs in road transport and forwarding, distance learning for the same target group (visit and the creation of the TTFSE website.
The TTFSE Website aims at reducing transaction costs through increased transparency, and targets the user group identified during project preparation (SMEs in road transport and forwarding). The site became operational for data input in late 2002. Content is being uploaded by all PRO Committees in the region, under the regional coordination of BULPRO, with a target date of end of September 2003 to have all information entered.
The first feature of the TTFSE website is the consolidation of procedures, laws, documents required by about 50 governmental bodies in SEE in respect to trade and transport. Each TTFSE country committed to provide information on a sustained basis, through their respective loan/credit agreements. These countries operationalized this requirement by entering into Memoranda of understanding with each of the Ministries concerned(annotation to narrative slide "What is the TTFSE website" - to be made up by G.O.)
(annotation to slide "Consolidate information about SEE" - to be completed by G.O.)
• MoU: regional Governments' commitment to transparent information provision on procedures and documents. This is a unique effort in meeting partially the GATT Article X on transparency of procedures and legal requirements.
PRO committee experts of AL, BH, BG, CR, MK, RO and YUSM definedtermined the information structure, and established the information links with the various ministries concernedto be provided for implementation in the website’s layout. The foundation of an unique information tool has beenwas laid down. (short presentation of the import/export/transit sections)
•The TTFSE site goes beyond mere information consolidation. It offers in particular three value added services: (i) automated notification when changes take place; (ii) a route planner; and (iii) a user forum. Currently, all these services are free.…
The site provides tailored alert services to registered users via e-mail. Users select the categories they are interested in such as changes in legislation, required documents and procedures. When new items are entered in the database, they are notified. This saves time for users by removing the need to visit the site simply to check if some new information has been added.
(annotation to slide "Provide services: notification/route planning" - to be completed by G.O.)
For the convenience of freight forwarders and road transport operatorsspeditors, especially SME who cannot afford specialised software, the TTFSE site includes a user forum and a specific information tool - route planner enabling users to select an itinerary, and to displayingroads, distances, border agency locations, documentary requirements (import/export/transit)..all the information on a chosen route in the region - were designed.
Registered users are able to save their usualfrequented routes and view rapidly all cargo, person and vehicle documents applicable to the countries through which the route passes. Automated notification when changes take place on a preferred route will be developed shortly.
The site provides via e-mail tailored alert services to registered users. Notification can be subscribed for when changes in legislation, required documents and procedures are entered into the database.
…
BULPRO, the regional co-ordinator in the first year, conducteded usability surveys after the site's software was released. Periodic usability tests are conducted in the course of information uploading with potential users from the Bulgarian business to ensure usability of the information templates.
Beyond perception testing, the results showed interest on the part of the business and NGO to participate in the effort.
The site is supported by Schenker Bulgaria, whichoprovidesgive valuable inputs on the contents and structure. The Bulgarian Business News section is vastly provided for by the Bulgarian Economic Forum's news service.
This developments show the way into the second phase of the site's implementation. Starting with a presentation during theThe promotion of the site will start during a bilateral meeting BULPRO - ROMPRO (Mmay 28.), followed by a promotional phase of beta-testing that will take place until September, 30, 2003 to fine-tune the site's functionalitiesy. A
Parallel to it, a set of user interfaces is being developed to proposed to facilitate information input by different service providers - Governments, NGO and businesses wishing to offer their – to let them offer their services in the entire region.
The second phase of development of the TTFSE website includes the development of business to business and business to administration platforms, and the attraction of content providers, software vendors and other companies offering value-added services, along with the classic service providers such as food, lodging and gas sales points.
As part of the B2A effort, there are ongoing discussions to integrate UneDocs in the website on a regional basis. The service engine concept for the TTFSE website is well suited to facilitate the implementation of UNeDocs in the region. If integrated into the TTFSE website, the UNeDocs would provide a
G Government-supported,
universal,
ttransparent,
multilingual
service to businesses in eight countries, with the option to spread the efforts also to other Balkan countries.
The initial pilot phase would take place in Bulgaria. The country has favourable conditions: traditions in document alignment (BULPRO was founded in 1990); Digital signature act allowing authentication, and clear efforts towards eGovernment, part of which is giving priority to the implementation of CEFACT recommendations 25 and 26.
The rollout of UneDocs to other countries would build on the existing website team the support of the TTFSE countries' Governments, as well as on other partnership and networks in the region. For example, synergies may be achieved with the Association of Balkan Chambers.
Beyond the UNeDocs implementation, the TTFSE Website would need an estimated US$400,000 over the next two years to build new partnerships, further develop data integration and integrate new tools (XML platform translation for B2B B2A, more interactive maps, consolidated administrative interface between border agencies and traders …). The modest cost of this effort can be explained by the extensive reliance on local experts to manage the website and the unique high quality, low price software development possibilities in Bulgaria.
We are seeking your support in the form of grants for US$400,000,you’re your and for new partnership offers.
We propose the pilot phase to start in Bulgaria. The country has favourable conditions: traditions in document alignment (BULPRO was founded in 1990); Digital signature act allowing authentication, and clear efforts towards eGovernment, part of which is giving priority to the implementation of CEFACT recommendations 25 and 26.
BULPRO is prepared to use synergies with current and former projects and activities of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and industry (EAN barcoding, electronic ATA-Carnets and cross-border services, digital signatures, one-stop-shops for administrative services, training and public outreach) all over the country, with focus on over 2000 BCCI members of the transport and freight forwarding branch and in close co-operation with the leading transport and forwarders' associations participating in the committee.
In parallel to the website, The multiplication of the project would rely on the existing team maintaining the website now, the support of the TTFSE countries' Governments, as well as on other partnership networks in the region. For example, synergies may be achieved with the Association of Balkan Chambers.
Ttraining and know-how exchange are playing a major part in the TTFSE effort. for Government and business on the regional level Under the TTFSE Program and under the umbrella of the Global Facilitation Partnership for Transportation and Trade, a distance learning initiative has been launched ( This initiative builds particularly on the supportcan be provided by of the National Centre for Vocational Training within BCCI via the GFP-DLI website and other regional projects. Support would be needed to build training curricula, facilitating the introduction of e-business tools in SEE.
Our present experience has also convinced us that the TTFSE website approach could be easily and usefully extended to other countries such as Turkey and CEE countries in the framework of regional partnerships. We would welcome such partnership arrangements.
(annotation to narrative slide "What we are looking for today" - to be prepared jointly)
We would like to use this forum to look for partners and donors - both for supplying additional value-added services and UNeDocs implementation.
The UNeDocs implementation itself would cost $400 000 and include … (please add what has been talked about, or let me know it's my part)
•In contrast to the intensive networking on the Balkans, the interest of other CEE countries is more moderate. We hope to find partners outside the region, as well, in order to further empower the TTFSE engine.
The speakers:
Gerald Ollivier(Add CV)is a Transport Specialist in the World Bank. He is the TTFSE Regional Trade Facilitation Coordinator and Team Leader for the TTFSE projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro.
Kremena Gotcheva has studied Microelectronics and Finance. Prior to joining the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, she gathered experience as a computer specialist and foreign trade consultant. Within BULPRO, she is responsible for the co-ordination of the TTFSE website and monitoring of XML-based technology developments in trade facilitation.
[1] The Global Facilitation Partnership-Distance Learning Initiative aims at developing high quality program for professionals active in trade, transport and logistics. We encourage you to visit its website at
[2] For complete information on the TTFSE Program visit
[3] On a scale of 10 (serious problem), all but one of the countries were above 7.5
[4] Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, fYR of Macedonia, Romania.
[5] Serbia and Montenegro, Moldova.