The arrival of our new Board at the beginning of the year coincided with a time of intense activity for SITPRO. As well as introducing the Board into the work of SITPRO, during the last two months we have organised a successful Boksburg Group meeting in Senegal; published a Guide to the WTO trade facilitation negotiations (pdf 375KB 
); agreed a new Licensee Agreement to come into effect in July; taken work forward on two studies - on trade facilitation and security (with Chatham House) and on customs reform in Africa (as part of the follow-up to the Commission for Africa initiative); reformed our policy advisory groups; and set up a new high-level Advisory Council. Credit goes to the whole SITPRO staff for keeping so many balls in the air.
A domestic highlight was our Stakeholder Evening at the Skinners Hall, at which we were able to introduce our new Board members. We were delighted that Ian Pearson MP attended as guest of honour and that he was able to stay so long and meet with so many of our key contacts, and pleased that he acknowledged the importance of trade facilitation and SITPRO's role in promoting it. This was a highly successful and enjoyable event that we intend to repeat.
As we now prepare to leave Oxford House for Kingsgate House, we are also actively planning our business activity for 2006/07. Each year we face tougher budgetary constraints, and next year promises to be no different. It is ironic that we are facing this at a time when trade facilitation has never been higher on the international trade agenda. The DTI grant that funds our activities will fall by another £100k to £850k. This will require us to focus even more on our six key priorities and limit our ability to spread ourselves into discretionary work. At the same time, we intend to raise our game in the UK, to make sure traders are better aware of SITPRO and what we can do to help them. All this will mean us working leaner and meaner - and smarter. It seems inevitable that we will need to start looking for other sources of funding, including perhaps through sponsorship or chargeable services.
Return to SITPRO News: Issue 56, Spring 2006
