Public Sector Services

We provide a comprehensive array of customs modernisation and customs reform consultancy services. Our primary focus is on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of Customs and other border administrations. We have practical experience of implementing customs modernisation and reform programmes at the highest possible level.

Our customs modernisation and trade facilitation consultancy services are used by both governments and international donors. We focus on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Customs administrations and other border agencies in line with internationally recognised benchmarks such as the World Bank’s Trading Across Borders Index, or the World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index, or the OECD’s Trade Facilitation Indicators. Our services deliver significant dividends for governments and donors alike and allow developing countries to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the expanding global trading system. We have performed customs modernisation and trade facilitation assignments in over 60 countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa. Clients include the European Union, UNDP, ADB and the World Bank.

We assist public and private sector organisations in transition economies worldwide which are facing a range of development challenges associated with the globalisation of trade. For instance, amongst the most pressing issue is the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The TFA contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area. Assistance is required to implement other international agreements, such as the WCO SAFE Package; Single Window; and the plethora of other procedural adjustments associated with WCO and WTO harmonisation and approximation. Our consultancy services deliver significant dividends for governments and donors alike by enabling developing countries to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the expanding global trading system. Many of our assignments also aim to improve the Ease of Doing Business in a country.

We have proven in-depth experience and expertise in the provision of customs modernisation and trade facilitation consultancy services. We are happy to work with clients directly, in partnership with other development and consulting firms, and/or through international donors. We have delivered customs modernisation and trade facilitation consultancy services in over 60 countries. The regions covered include Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa. Our clients include governments, international project management companies, and key donors such as the European Union, UNDP, ADB and the World Bank. We are delighted to provide references for all of our work.

We believe that effective development work is characterised by the generation of client ownership and self-sustainability. Whilst we are always happy to solve problems for our clients, we also aim to develop their capacity to diagnose and deal with subsequent, similar issues by themselves. In this way, their dependence on external assistance progressively decreases, whilst a Beneficiaries capability, self-confidence and self-esteem all rise.

Our consulting and training styles are therefore collaborative. We try to understand issues from the Beneficiaries point of view, and from their organisational, cultural and social contexts; we provide solutions that are tailored to those contexts, whilst still addressing broader requirements such as international minimum standards. Above all, we concentrate on helping the Beneficiaries to understand, accept, take ownership of, and become able to implement the solutions we devise.

We have provided customs modernisation and capacity building services in the following countries: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Aruba, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Curaçao, Dubai, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Niue, Palau, Philippines, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, UAE (Federal), Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam.