EIF- Regional Asian Workshop 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 7 th National development Plan preparation commenced in July 2005 – facilitated mainstreaming Trade into NDP

Phase 1- Timeline June Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies (DTIS) preliminary mission started. July 2005 – 7 th 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 validatedAction matrix 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 7 th NDP and new Strategic Plan prepared for 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