EIF- Regional Asian Workshop21-23 June 2010, Kathamandu,

Nepal

Maldives expereince

• Maldives a founding member of WTO• In 2002, the President established the National

WTO Committee (NWTOC) aimed at improving formulation and implementation of trade and trade-related policies. – The Committee had the mandate to discuss all

WTO-related legislations or regulatory measures. – NWTOC was proposed to improve the inter-sectoral

coordination in policy formulation in WTO-related issues.

Maldives and IF• Joined IF in 2003• Commenced the DTIS process in June 2005• UNDP acted as the lead agency • Govt. lead agency – Ministry of Economic

Development and Trade (MEDT)• IF focal point – high level civil servant from

MEDT

IF - Phase 1• Kicked off with inception meeting and

exchange of formal letters – June 2005• Expert team composing of 8 international and

3 national consultants undertook the DTIS• Commenced work on DTIS on Sep 2005 – took

6 months to complete the draft report• 7th National development Plan preparation

commenced in July 2005 – facilitated mainstreaming Trade into NDP

Phase 1- Timeline• June 2005 - Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies

(DTIS) preliminary mission started.• July 2005 – 7th NDP formulation began with sector

committees.• May 2006 – Trade policy framework developed with

EU support outlining trade policy agenda and measures for improving coordination

• Nov 2006 – DTIS- Action matrix nationally validated• Feb 2007 – EU appointed person to DF• April 2007 – 1st National Trade Policy Committee

conducted.

Trade policy coordination structure

IF – phase 2• Phase 2 projects approved by LPAC – consisted

of key members from the NTPC• Project submitted for Window II Funding in Sept

2007• Funding for 4 projects approved in Dec 2007 • Current status – out of 4 projects 1 completed

and remaining 3 projects will be competed by Dec 2010

Looking forward – accessing EIF

• Draft proposals ready for Tier 1 & Tier 2 funding

• Tier 1 proposal shared with ES and comments received

• Waiting EU to appoint a person to DF • As a graduating LDC – working with ES to

ensure EIF access post graduation

Key implementation challenges• Level of commitment and priority placed for

trade matters– Focus on tsunami recovery and reconstruction– Democratic transformations: introduction of political

parties, constitutional reform, multi-party elections etc.

– Nov 2008 Change of government, discontinued 7th NDP and new Strategic Plan prepared for 2009-2013

• Inter-sectoral coordination – bringing every one on borad

Key implementation challenges (cont..)• Project implementation – lack of presence of

implementing agencies affected speed of delivery of projects

• Lack of donor presence and limited donors supporting the trade sector