The third meeting of Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) of LDCs held in Geneva also sought cooperation from WTO to pressurize donors in prioritizing the policy of facilitating least developed countries in enhancing their trade.[break]
“WTO officials have assured us that they would direct donors to boost their assistance for building capacity of LDCs,” said Chandra Kumar Ghimire, joint secretary at Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS). He also informed Republica that participating LDCs have also expressed commitment to include the policy of enhance trade in their policy.
A total of 47 LDCs across the country are associated with WTO - the multilateral trade system.
Under the WTO´s EIF, a total of 15 LDCs have been selected for Tier-1 facilities under which the countries get assistance for building capacity in research, training and market analysis to enhance access of their products to international market.
“After EIF Tier 1, we are now entering the Tier 2 framework under which we can get support from donors on infrastructure development to strengthen our capacity to expand trade in international market. So, we are in the process of selecting projects under Tier 2,” Ghimire added.
In a recent meeting with representatives of donor community, the government had formally expressed its commitment to put trade in its planning and policies so as to boost external assistance for trade enhancement.
“We are committed to prioritize trade development in our national program. We also want donor communities to express their commitment to enhance Nepal´s access in international trade,” Ghimire added.
Nepal has already launched ´Nepal Trade Integration Strategy´ with the commitment of enhancing the country´s access to global trade regime. “We have urged the donor communities to support us in setting up a mechanism to narrow down resource gap to fulfill our commitment on trade development,” he added.
During the Geneva meeting, EIF board also approved its five-year strategic plan. In the meeting, Nepali representatives strongly demanded that Nepalis be appointed as staff in WTO offices in a bid to make the multilateral trade system´s human resource structure more inclusive.
“As of now, not a single Nepali is working at WTO offices. We have strongly demanded WTO officials to employ Nepali staff so as to enhance Nepal´s ownership of the global trade regime,” he added.
WTO´s DDG to come Nepal
Harsh V Singh, deputy director general of World Trade Organization (WTO), is visiting Nepal in the near future to participate in an interaction to facilitate Nepal´s integration in global trading system.
Though the dates for the program have not been fixed, officials at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) said the program will be organized within February, 2011.
“Singh´s visit signifies encouraging progress made by Nepal in implementing WTO rules,” Chandra Kumar Ghimire, joint secretary at MoCS, said. Nepali business community, trade experts and top officials, among others are also participating in the interaction.
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