National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs) have become essential pillars of national trade governance. Established under Article 23.2 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), they were initially created to coordinate and support the implementation of trade facilitation reforms through cooperation between government agencies and the private sector. Nearly a decade after the TFA entered into force, however, their role has evolved significantly.
In a global environment shaped by supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, digital transformation, climate-related challenges, and regional integration initiatives, NTFCs are emerging as strategic platforms that extend beyond traditional trade facilitation. Their multi-stakeholder structure enables them to foster public-private dialogue, improve policy coordination, support crisis preparedness, strengthen supply chain resilience, and contribute to broader trade and competitiveness objectives.
At the same time, many NTFCs continue to face challenges related to sustainability, resource mobilization, stakeholder engagement, and visibility. This session will explore how NTFCs can adapt to emerging challenges, strengthen stakeholder collaboration, and continue serving as key drivers of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable trade and supply chain governance.
Since she joined UNCTAD in 2012, Arantzazu Sanchez has significantly contributed to enhancing National Trade Facilitation Committees (NTFCs).
Passionate about innovation and driving change, she had had leading roles in key initiatives like the Empowerment Programme for NTFCs, the UNCTAD Reform Tracker, the UNCTAD Database for NTFCs, and the Trade Facilitation e-Learning Platform, having also a major hand in crafting its curriculum.
Her academic credentials include studies in Political Sciences across Spain and Germany, topped with a Postgraduate Master from the College of Europe in Belgium. A Spanish national, she fluently speaks English, French, German, and Portuguese.
Her prolific output includes a vast array of publications on NTFCs.
Khetsiwe Dlamini is the Senior Trade Policy Analyst in the International Trade Department, under the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Trade.
Ms Dlamini is part of the Secretariat that serves the National Trade Facilitation Committee in the Kingdom of Eswatini. She has been part of the coordination of the work on Trade Facilitation in Eswatini since the conclusion of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. She participated in the establishment of the National Trade Facilitation Committee by Government Gazette, managing the development of Eswatini Trade Information Portal. She has also seen the development of two Trade Facilitation Roadmaps the latest of which was developed with support from UNCTAD.
Ms Dlamini has represented Eswatini during the negotiations of the Agreement establishing the AfCFT and has represented the country in negotiations of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
Ms Dlamini holds a Masters in International Trade and Development obtained from the Adelaide University in Australia.
Patricia R. Francis is a global leader in international trade, investment and development, with more than three decades of experience working across government, the private sector and international organisations to strengthen competitiveness, connectivity and economic development.
She is currently a Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center’s Caribbean Initiative. Her current work focuses on strengthening Caribbean maritime, ports and trade connectivity. Earlier this year, she helped launch the US-Caribbean Maritime & Ports Forum 2026, bringing together policymakers, port and shipping leaders, financial institutions and regional experts to address maritime infrastructure, investment, technology and resilience. She has also supported regional analysis of the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Caribbean trade and supply chains.
Patricia is also Chair of the Government of Jamaica’s Trade Facilitation Working Group overseeing implementation of WTO TFA Measures. She is also consulting with the World Bank to provide expert advisory support in the preparation of the Caribbean Regional Connectivity and Logistics Program (Caribbean RE-Connect), an initiative focused on strengthen connectivity, logistics, competitiveness and resilience across the Caribbean.
Previously, Patricia served as Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, and prior to that was President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), leading Jamaica’s efforts to promote trade, investment and international business.
Her international experience also includes heading the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment and serving as Special Adviser to the Executive Director of UN Women.
Patricia brings a distinctive perspective on how trade, infrastructure, logistics, digitalisation and connectivity can strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of small and trade-dependent economies in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
