The World Bank’s Trade Facilitation Support Program: What is it and how can it advance an economic growth agenda?

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Launched in 2014, the World Bank’s Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP) assists developing countries to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA). Active in approximately 55 countries, this program is designed to provide practical and demand-driven assistance. The TFSP supports client countries with identifying existing constraints and bottlenecks to cross-border trade, designing and planning for the implementation of reforms, and increasing the predictability, transparency, and harmonization of systems and procedures in line with international standards covering import, export, and transit activities. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was a founding member of the TFSP, and continues to collaborate with the program on projects around the world.

On Wednesday, April 26, 2023William “Bill” Gain, Global Product Specialist for Trade Facilitation and Border Management within the World Bank’s Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice, provided an overview of the work being carried out by the TFSP, outlined collaboration with USAID, and discussed the future of the TFSP initiative. Paul Fekete, Senior International Trade Advisor within the USAID Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation’s Center for Economics and Market Development served as moderator and provided introductory remarks outlining USAID’s relationship with TFSP. 

Moderator

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Paul Fekete

Paul Fekete, Senior International Trade Advisor, USAID Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation’s Center for Economics and Market Development

Paul Fekete is the Senior International Trade Advisor at USAID. He primarily focuses on the development of trade-related technical assistance programs to support USAID Missions in building public and private sector trade capacity and promote developing countries’ participation in the international trade system. Prior to joining USAID in 2010, he worked for over 25 years as a consultant providing trade advisory services, technical assistance, training, and institutional strengthening and capacity building for various entities such as USAID, WTO, WCO, and the World Bank. He holds an MA in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University’s Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a BA from Bates College. He is also an adjunct assistant professor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School where he teaches graduate courses on international economics, U.S. trade policy, and policy formulation.

Speaker

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William “Bill” Gain

William “Bill” Gain, Global Product Specialist for Trade Facilitation and Border Management, World Bank Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice 

William Gain is the Global Product Specialist for Trade Facilitation and Border Management within the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice of the World Bank. In this role,  Bill leads the implementation of trade facilitation and border management reform in over 55 countries.  He has over 34 years of experience in undertaking management and leadership roles with a focus on trade logistics, trade facilitation, border management and private sector development reform implementation in developing and conflict affected countries. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, he was Associate Director and Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific at the Centre for Customs and Excise Studies at the University of Canberra. Bill holds an MA in Public Policy from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business (HR & Change Management), from the University of Auckland, New Zealand.