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UNECE helps Greece improve its trade competitiveness

In 2012 UNECE participated in the Task Force set up by the European Union to help Greece design a holistic national Trade Facilitation Strategy. In October 2012 the Greek Government approved the Trade Facilitation Roadmap 2013-2015, which aims at helping the country develop sustainable exports. Subsequently, UNECE supported the Greek Government in implementing this important reform programme.


After approval by the Government, the implementation of the Roadmap became part of the financial agreements between Greece and the Troika (European Central Bank, European Commission, and International Monetary Fund). The delivery on this reform programme, which is measured via Key Performance Indicators, is seen as a crucial milestone to re-establish trust in the Greek economy and restore sustainable economic growth.


As a result of these efforts, Greece has made important progress in the implementation of the trade facilitation reform programme: With UNECE’s support, export procedures were analysed and simplified; Customs procedures were simplified, an automated risk management system was implemented, a modern electronic Customs data management was put into place and legislation simplified.


In delivering this project, UNECE closely works with the World Customs Organization (WCO), which provides highly specialised customs expertise, and the Task Force for Greece (TFGR) of the European Commission, that liaises with experts of the Commission and member country administrations.


Through the reform programme, in less than two years Greece has significantly improved its international ranking in trade facilitation and trade competitiveness, as evidenced by international studies published in the first quarter of 2014.


  • Since 2012, Greece has improved its ranking in the World Bank Doing Business study by 28 positions from position100 to 72*.
  • The competitive position of Greece in the Logistic Performance Index has improved by 25 positions. The concrete results for Customs are overwhelming with an improvement by 52 positions, from 94 to 42.
  • The time to export and import has been reduced by 20% and 40% respectively.
  • The cost to export and import has gone down by approximately 10%

Table 1 - Greece’s position in the World Bank’s Doing Business Index

Doing Business

2012

2013

2014

Doing business*

100

78

72

Trading across borders*

84

62

52

Time to export (days)

20

19

16

Cost to export
(US$ per container)

1153

1115

1040

Time to import (days)

25

15

15

Cost to import
(US$ per container)

1265

1135

1135


Source: UNECE with data from World Bank Doing Business Report, www.doingbusiness.org
Table 2 - Greece’s position in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index

World Bank Logistics Performance Indicators (LPI)

2012

2014

LPI*

69

44

 

 

 

Customs*

94

42

Logistics**

73

40


Source: UNECE with data from World Bank Logistics Performance Index, http://lpi.worldbank.org/
*International Ranking (smaller is better)

UNECE will continue to support the trade facilitation reform process in Greece. Preparation for a Single Window Pilot Implementation in Greece has already started. UNECE is also working with Greek ministries on a proposal for a Smarter Food from Greece Concept, using modern information technologies to create export opportunities in high value markets for Greek smallholders.


For more information please contact: [email protected], tel. +41 (0)22 9172016
UNECE Trade Facilitation Implementation Guide: http://tfig.unece.org/
Note to editors

UNECE has been developing trade facilitation recommendations and tools for over 50 years. Trade facilitation can bring huge benefits to countries in terms of: reduced costs both for governments and for trade; increased efficiency and predictability; and enhanced transparency.


Recommendations and standards drawn up by the UNECE’s Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) will play a significant role in the implementation of global trade facilitation following the World Trade Organization’s Bali Agreement on Trade Facilitation in December 2013.

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United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Information Unit

Tel.: +41 (0) 22 917 12 34

Email: [email protected]

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