USAID/Bangladesh Trade Facilitation Activity Quarterly Progress Report: January–March 2016 (FY16, Q2)

Trade transparency and access to trade information remain core elements of the program. Modifications have been made to the Enhanced Customs Website, and a URL has been granted by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB). However, the allocation of a server required for beta testing has been delayed, and it is now expected to begin in the early part of the next quarter. The project has continued to collaborate with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) of the GoB, with observable progress made in key program areas. The System for Advance Rulings (AR) was submitted to the NBR, and a final version is currently under consideration. It is expected that this can be concluded early in Q3, allowing the Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) to be included in the next budget cycle and passed into force on June 1, 2016. The Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) program has been concentrated on exports by the NBR. An AEO STTA has been approved for the role and will arrive in early Q3 to commence training and mentoring. Within the Supply Chain Security program, trainings on Post-Clearance Audits (PCA) will commence in the early part of Q3. An STTA Advisor has been approved for the role and will arrive in early Q3. Despite the delayed receipt of a contract amendment, the project has continued to implement existing key program areas. The recruitment of STTA advisors has been ramped up, and support from USAID/Bangladesh's Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) has been crucial. Meetings with private sector counterparts in the area of Courier Shipments have been fruitful, and their feedback has been positive. The project has also continued to support the Dhaka Women's Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DWCCI) through training sessions. The sessions were well received, and requests for further trainings have quickly followed. It is the intention of the project to continue to support this organization and to develop further technical trainings to support this group with their ambitions in the trade sector. The project has continued to engage with its counterparts in the NBR, with observable progress made in key program areas. The planning of the annual budget has commenced and will impact activities, with many senior NBR managers unavailable for meetings. To counter this, the delegation of responsibility to more junior staff has been promoted to maintain momentum. The project has made significant progress in the second quarter of Y3, with continued collaboration with the NBR and private sector counterparts. The recruitment of STTA advisors has been ramped up, and support from USAID/Bangladesh's COR has been crucial. The project has also continued to support the DWCCI through training sessions, and it is the intention of the project to continue to support this organization and to develop further technical trainings to support this group with their ambitions in the trade sector. The project has continued to work on the National Enquiry Point (NEP), which will begin in the early part of Q3 with the arrival of the STTA ICT Advisor. The project has also continued to work on the AEO program, which the NBR has decided to concentrate on exports. An AEO STTA has been approved for the role and will arrive in early Q3 to commence training and mentoring. The project has continued to work on the PCA program, which will commence in the early part of Q3. An STTA Advisor has been approved for the role and will arrive in early Q3. The project has also continued to work on the NEP, which will begin in the early part of Q3 with the arrival of the STTA ICT Advisor. The project has made significant progress in the second quarter of Y3, with continued collaboration with the NBR and private sector counterparts.