G/TFA/N/MDG/3  
24 February  2021 
(21-1526)  Page: 1/6 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF ARRANGEMENTS AND PROGRESS IN THE PROVISION OF  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT  
OF CATEGORY C DESIGNATIONS  
COMMUNICATION FROM MADAGASCAR  
The foll owing communication, dated 22  February  2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Madagascar.  
 
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Madagascar hereby notifies information on the arrangements concluded and progress made in the 
provision of technical assistance and capacity building support of the following cat egory  C 
designations, in response to Article  16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
Provision  Heading/D escription  Category Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1. 1 and  
1.2 Publication and Availability of 
Information  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donor : African Development Bank (AfDB)  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
Under the project to develop corridors and trade facilitation , which  it finances, the African Development Bank  
(AfDB)  included a trade facilitation component . In this connection , the National Trade Facilitation Committee 
(NTFC) of Madagascar was consulted in  2019 with regard to  the component 's strategic direction  and identifying 
the activities of the NTFC road map to be included  in it. The strategic priorities adopted  include the 
establishment of a trade information portal . 
The AfDB  is therefore providing  technical assistance for the recruitment of two consultancy firms to carry out 
the following missions : 
  
Mission Assistance à la Maîtrise d 'Ouvrage , AMOA  (Project Management Assistance Mission) : 
- Compilation and spe cification of the comprehensive require ments  for the creation and establishment  of the 
Portail d 'Information Commerciale , PIC (Trade Information Portal);   
– Specification of the operational requirements and description of the overall  operational process of the PIC ; 
– Collection, collation and authentication  of the relevant documents and resources ; 
– Management and monitoring of deliverables /successful execution of the technical mission.  
 
Mission Maître d'œuvre , MOE, (Project Management Mission ): 
- Definition and guarantee of the technical design of the PIC in line with what has been identified by the AMOA. 
The MOE will provide the function architecture document and the technical architecture document. It is 
basically responsible for the development of the PIC ; 
-Planning , design and construction/ setting up of the website  (PIC); 
-Digitization of documents and optimiz ation of the document filing system ; 
-Technical support for solution  deployment and assistance /guarante e (Tierce Maintenance Applicative , TMA 
(Third -Party Application Maintenance )). 
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1.3  Enquiry P oints C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors  to 
implement the provisions of Article 1.3. The notified requirements th erefore still apply . 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1.4  Notification  C 31 December 2021  To be determined  
Donors: To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and 
Information before Entry into 
Force  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 2 .2  Consultations  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 3  Advance Rulings  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donor : Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF)  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
In September 2020, the  Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation carried out a scoping mission of the NTFC priority 
projects in order to decide on the projects it would support . At the end of this mission , the project for the 
implementation of advance rulings was adopted . 
 
Advanced rulings  will allow operators, prior to import, to be certain of the taxes and f ees they will have to pay 
and the regulations to which they will be subject, depending on whether the decision is binding in terms of 
tariff classification or origin.   
 
The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation provides assistance in the following areas:  
Legislation and regulations  
Processes and procedures  
Internal organization  
Information systems  
Training and support for change  
Communications  
Project management  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 5.1  Notifications for enhanced 
controls or inspections  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees 
and Charges Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation 
and Exportation  C 31 December  2025 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees 
and Charges for Customs 
Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation 
and Exportation  C 31 December  2025 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined   
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from 
Final Determination of 
Customs Duties, Taxes, Fees 
and Charges  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined   
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donor : African Development Bank (AfDB ) 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
In September 2019, the African Development Bank (AfDB) carried out a mission to  define  the strategic 
direction  and detailed activities of the trade facilitation component of the project to develop corridors and trade 
facilitation . This mission was an oppor tunity to consult with the NTFC  as part of the implementation of the 
Trade Facilitation Agreement  at the national level . Following these consultation s, introducing the strategi c 
direction of the component and  identifying the priority activities on the NTFC  road map, the modernization of 
customs systems is one of the strategic priorities set for execution of the component . 
The customs administration will theref ore need to build capacities risk management . 
The AfDB  provides technical assistance in training and support for customs risk analysis and management and 
gap analysis.   
 
This technical assistance relates to the following areas : 
-Gap analysis  of customs risk management  
-Training of customs officials in customs risk analysis  
-Designing a data warehouse  for risk -based customs control  
-Econometric modelling and exploration of Big Data  
- Introduction of automatic and dynamic selectivity, based on econometric models of risk analysis, integrated 
into ASYCUDA  
-Identifying information technology equipment requirements  
 
Assistance from development partners is thus required for the acquisition of computer equipment and materials 
from the gap analysis study.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures 
for Authorized Operators  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined   
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.9  Perishable Goods  C 31 December 2023  To be determined  
Donors: To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donor s: European Union  – Southern African Development Community (SADC) – Trade Related Facility (TRF)  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
Between August 2019 and April 2020, the National Trade Facilitation Committee obtained support from the TRF 
in the analysi s of Madagascar's gaps in border management.  
 
This study resulted in the production of a report on the status of cooperation between border agencies in 
Madagascar and the formulation of recommendations to be implemented for alignment  with TRF provisions.   
 
The assistance of development partners is therefore required to implement these recommendations, in 
particular on the following points :  
Support for updating regulatory and procedural instruments  
Alignment of national regulations with international standards and good practices  
New information and communications technologies (N ICT) equipment and infrastructures  
 
Capacity building in monitoring, safety and security, trade facilitation  
 
Benchmarking to assess best practices in coordinated border management - Alignment of national regulations 
with international standards and good practices - Establishment of the necessary tec hnical infrastructure – 
Awareness -raising for the strategic actors concerned.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 10.1  Formalities and 
Documentation Requirements  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined   
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of Copies  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined   
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 10.3  Use of International 
Standards  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determine d 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
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  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures 
and Uniform Documentation 
Requirements  C 31 December  2023 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 11  Freedom of T ransit  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donors : To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
Capacity building of custom officers on  transit management and monitoring . 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  C 31 December  2021 To be determined  
Donors : To be de termine d 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support : 
To date, Madagascar has not received any technical assistance or capacity building support from donors . 
 
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