These considerations from the demand side of the logistics sector need more
attention in the existing literature and policy making agenda. Emphasis has always
been placed on government provision of efficient customs services, infrastructure, and
connectivity in order to address the needs of logistics suppliers and providers. There
has been a lack of attention to the demand-side perspective, which caters to linking the
needs of logistics services users to suppliers and providers.
Challenge 4: difficulties relating to cross-border cooperation
The need for cross-border cooperation in the area of trade logistics stands out
particularly strongly in the case of landlocked countries (see Challenge 6), which
depend on infrastructure and transit arrangements with third countries in order to
integrate with world markets. However, cross-border cooperation is also an issue more
broadly for the logistics agenda, as many aspects of logistics processes – particularly transport and border clearance – depend to some extent on compatibility of rules and
procedures, as well as the development of appropriate structures to facilitate
international and regional trade. Concretely, cross-border cooperation in logistics (when
appropriate) typically covers areas such as infrastructure, border procedures, and
regulation