Consultant - TIR Networking Forum

Background:

DAI, through this seven years’ initiative – Pakistan Regional Economic Integration Activity (PREIA) works to increase Pakistan’s access to regional and international markets and is a key economic growth project that stands to benefit numerous Pakistani businesses. This project has two components: improve Pakistan’s business enabling environment so that policies, laws, and regulations are adaptable and more reflective of on-the-ground needs; and improve Pakistan’s capacity to access regional markets by identifying bottlenecks and practical solutions for increasing export efficiency.

The Activity is a key component of USAID Pakistan’s overall economic development program and supports achievement of Development Objective #3 “Increased Private-sector Led Inclusive Economic Growth” of USAID/Pakistan’s Mission Strategy. The primary purpose of PREIA is to increase access to international and regional markets to enhance Pakistan’s economic integration in the region. Focusing primarily on trade promotion and facilitation, USAID PREIA aims improve the international trade environment, resulting in increased trade and transit volumes.

The Transports Internationaux Routiers or the International Road Transport (TIR) Convention is a United Nations (UN) Convention signed in 1975 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The Convention provides transit facility with exemption from import duty and taxes to goods and transport units moving by road through the territories of contracting parties.

Pakistan acceded to the TIR Convention on July 24, 2015 and notified the rules for operationalizing it on October 20, 2017. Under the rules, and in compliance of TIR procedures, “Pakistan National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce” (PNC-ICC) was notified as the Carnet Issuing Authority, and a “National Authorization Committee” (NAC) was created under Pakistan Customs’ leadership to regulate the licensing of the transport operators wishing to become carriers under the TIR Convention. Pakistan was subsequently declared as a TIR operational country by the International Road Union (IRU) on April 19, 2018. The successful implementation of the TIR system will introduce efficient customs procedures for managing traffic in transit with provisions of international guarantee. This would also simplify and harmonize custom formalities across the region.

All neighboring and regional countries of Pakistan are members of the TIR Convention. Fully activated, TIR has immense potential for reviving and revitalizing trade between the landlocked Central Asian Republics (CARs), China, Europe, and the Indian sub-continent. In line with its efforts to expedite TIR implementation in Pakistan, USAID PREIA is organizing a “*Private Sector Networking Forum on TIR implementation in Pakistan and CARs*” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan during January/February 2022.

The purpose of the Forum is to bring together key logistics service players from CARs and Pakistan in one place and facilitate introduction with each other, encouraging them to develop partnerships for cost effective and operationally sustainable cross border logistics.

To this end, the main objectives of the Forum will be as follows:

1. Enhancing technical understanding of TIR implementation among logistic and freight forwarding companies of Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

2. Providing networking prospects to service providers for exploring joint venture collaborations in the implementation of TIR

3. Developing an all-encompassing guideline with end to end information on logistics planning, for regional stakeholders operating under TIR

4. Discussing and documenting the views of service providers on potential areas for reducing the cost of transportation & transit, and how to improve trade volumes in the region

5. Advocating for effective collaboration between public and private sectors in the implementation of TIR, including possible areas for future collaboration

Objective:

DAI / PREIA is seeking the services of a competent Consultant/Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) to coordinate with PREIA team to ensure that relevant logistic stakeholders including transportation companies attend the forum to share their experience and company profiles, and to explore regional partnerships for transit of goods between Pakistan and CARs.

Tasks (Performance Requirements):

1. Preparatory Work:

• Support and coordinate with USAID PREIA in organizing the TIR Networking Forum to ensure that the initiative can effectively meet its objectives, as described above,
• Identify target attendees, advice for RSVP and invitation logistics for 100 companies including TIR licenses/operators, logistics and transport companies, and freight service providers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These companies should be legally registered and member of chamber of commerce and industry or/and sector association in their respective countries and having experience of not less than 10 years in transport and freight business. Maximum companies to be identified from each country should NOT be more than 20.
• Compile and submit database of these identified/shortlisted companies including company profile, relevant information, and original documentation, as per format recommended by USAID PREIA.
• Participants Management: Administer and compile list of participants by securing firm commitments from these identified companies to attend the forum.
• Gather complete documentation (company and person specific) for stakeholders selected to participate in the TIR Networking Forum, as communicated by USAID PREIA. This will include, but is not limited to, verified company registration documents, company profiles (facilities, services offered, regional presence etc.), chamber/association certificates, passports, national identity cards, vaccination documents etc.**
• Send out participation invitations and follow-up on invitations. USAID PREIA will provide travel and accommodation to 30 companies based on their company profile. These 30 companies should be from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.**

2. During Event:

Assist in operating interactive engagement of participants and monitor discussions;

• In coordination with USAID PREIA technical team, oversee the flow of and management of the event including transitions between program elements in the agenda;

3. Post Event:

Submit a report consisting:

• Summary of event impact;
• Summary of the note-taking of all sessions;
• List of companies attended the event**
• Regulatory information about TIR in CARs countries and feedback follow up (to be designed in consultation with USAID PREIA) after the forum.**

Deliverables:

1. Identify relevant transporters, logistics operators and freight service providers from Central Asian Republics (20 each from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan). These will be identified on the following criteria:

2. Preference should be given to TIR registered operators/TIR licensees of each country

3. Relevant experience in international / regional transportation and logistics

4. Must have offices in relevant countries (CARs, Pakistan, and countries of transit to/from the region)

5. Must possess valid and verified company registration documents, issued by authorized government departments and chambers/associations

6. Willingness and capacity to invest in market opportunities and enter partnerships with regional counterparts

7. Commitment and willingness to fulfil PREIA’s follow-up requirements and provide specific information on contracts [e.g. nature of partnership, copies of original documentation (MoU, JV and other contracts signed between parties) company details, dates of visits post TIR Forum conclusion] finalized as a direct result of the TIR Forum activity

8. Gather complete documentation (company and person specific) for stakeholders selected to participate in the TIR Networking Forum, as communicated by USAID PREIA. This will include, but is not limited to, verified company registration documents, company profiles (facilities, services offered, regional presence etc.), chamber/association certificates, passports, national identity cards, vaccination documents etc.

9. Compile and submit database of company information and original documentation, as per format approved by USAID PREIA.

10. Secure commitment from counterpart businesses from CAR countries to attend the forum, as identified and selected in coordination with USAID PREIA

11. Ensure the participation of selected stakeholders from CARs throughout the 2-day TIR Networking event

12. Extend assistance for B2B meetings, and facilitate discussions among TIR stakeholders attending from various CAR countries

13. The follow up would capture the following information, at minimum:

14. Feedback on the TIR Forum (profile of participants, aspects of event organization, ability to meet objectives, others as finalized in consultation with PREIA)

15. Opportunities identified for enhancing bilateral partnerships on international transportation and logistics vis a vis TIR Convention

16. Follow up visits conducted by participants after the TIR Networking Forum

17. Estimates for potential value of partnership agreements

18. Others as proposed by Consultant/STTA

19. Submit follow up report to USAID PREIA for approval. Table of Contents to be finalized/decided in consultation with USAID PREIA team.

Qualifications:

The consultant must fulfil the following criteria:

• Relevant prior work experience in transport and freight services;
• Demonstrated ability to identify and communicate with logistic service provider in CARs.
• Preferably have a documented experience of working and collaborating with Public and Private sector stakeholders involved in the logistics sector in CARs.

How to apply:

Please use the following link:

https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf04/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=DAINC&cws=1&rid=6647