March, 15 th Cambodian CSOs Engagement in Trade Issues Ros Khemara Economic Institute of Cambodia (EIC) March 15 th, 2007 Nairobi, Kenya

March, 15 th Content Cambodia’s Overview Cambodian Export Profile CSOs engagement: The constraints Case Study: TEDN

March, 15 th Cambodia’s Overview Population: 13.9 Million in 2005 Economic growth: 6~7% per annum Poverty rate: 35% in 2004 Least Developed Country (LDC) –GDP/capita: US$ 390 in 2005 –Receiving GSP schemes from developed/developing countries Member of ASEAN since 1999 Member of WTO since 2004

March, 15 th Cambodian Export Profile (1) Source: EIC, Compiled from various government and international organisation primary data Import of goods (%GDP) 24.3%47.7%61%65.3% Export of goods (%GDP) 6.4%35.9%48.3%50.7% Trade balance (%GDP) -17.3%-11.8%-12.7%-14.6%

March, 15 th Cambodian Export Profile (2) Total recorded merchandise exports: US$ 1.1 billion in 2000 and US$ 2.4 billion in 2005 Cambodian merchandise exports are limited in terms of Export Directions…….. Sources: Ministry of Economy and Finance

March, 15 th Cambodian Export Profile (3) ……….And in terms of Export Products Source: Ministry of Economy and Finance Informal exports of agricultural products are significant

March, 15 th CSOs Engagement : The Constraints (1) Lack of awareness –Lack of access to information. –Inadequate discussion forum Lack of Research/Study –Lack of donor interest/fund

March, 15 th CSOs Engagement : The Constraints (2) Lack of Capacity on Trade Policies –ASEAN –WTO –ASEAN + 3 –GMS –Bilateral

March, 15 th Trade and Economic Development Network (TEDN) Initiated by Trade and Economic Development Project, NGO Forum on Cambodia 13 NGOs members A member of Trade Facilitation and Export Promotion Sub-steering Committee (MoC) A member of WTO Think Tank Constraints –Lack of Capacity –Lack of common interest –Has yet to identify Trade Issues to work on

March, 15 th Thanks for Your Attention!