WORLD TRADE WT/COMTD/IF/11*
26November 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-5207)
Committee onTrade andDevelopment
Integrated Framework forTrade-Related
Technical Assistance
TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS-ASSESSMENT AND
INTEGRATED RESPONSES BYIMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, WORLD BANK AND WTO1
VANUATU
*Aprevious version ofthisdocument wascirculated asWT/LDC/HL/12/Add.11
1Thefirstpartofthisdocument, which includes theneeds-assessment fortrade-related technical assistance,
prepared byVanuatu, iscontained indocument WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.11 andisnotreproduced inthisdocument.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page2
INTEGRATED RESPONSE BYIMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, WORLD BANK AND WTO
TOTHE NEEDS-ASSESSMENT OFVANUATU
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion A(k):
Technical requirements asregards
compliance withWTO Agreements
TheGovernment ofVanuatu needs
technical assistance tocomplete the
process ofacceding toWTO. This
involves, inter alia, support ininformal
bilateral consultations withAustralia and
New Zealand onVanuatu 'sapplication to
jointheWTO, andfurther assistance in
amending Vanuatu 'smarket access
commitments asaresult ofthese bilateral
consultationsWTO -Assistance atthetechnical level will
beprovided toVanuatu inits
accession process totheWTO. The
timing willbeinlight ofprogress in
theaccession process.
UNCTAD UNCTAD willassist inthisregard
(with theassistance oftheForum
Secretariat) through studies, advisory
services andtraining*.
Once ithasbecome aWTO member
Vanuatu willneed helpinimplementing
itsobligations withrespect tonotification
procedures.WTO Assistance willbeprovided to
Vanuatu forthereview andreform of
itsregulatory system inconformity to
theWTO rules.
There willbealsoamajor need for
training officials dealing withtrade policy
ingeneral andincustoms matters in
particular.
Training seminars willneed tobe
empirical (based onnumerous examples)
fortrade andplanning officials, andmore
technical forcustoms officials and
government lawyers dealing with
intellectual property rights andother legal
subjects.IMF FAD willprovide assistance in
(1)reviewing andupdating customs
legislation andregulations toassure
efficient collection ofrevenues;
(2)reforming theimport tariff; and(3)
advising oncomputerization issues.
(1998: Commitment inprinciple)
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page3
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(k) (cont.):
UNCTAD UNCTAD toundertake training
seminars torespond tothisrequest.*
WTO Anational seminar onthemultilateral
trading system willbeundertaken
(1998)
-Specialized regional seminars and/or
workshops onWTO provisions will
beorganized (1998 and1999) for
Asia andPacific region.
-athree-week trade policy course for
English-speaking Least-developed
countries willbeheld(1998 and
1999).
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page4
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion A(l):
Specific technical assistance needs:
-Vanuatu willneed technical assistance to
amend theImport Duties Actin
accordance withcustoms-related
commitments andwiththeview to
maintaining orimproving government
revenue levels.IMF SeeA(k)
UNCTAD UNCTAD toassist theGovernment of
Vanuatu insimulating thefiscal and
trade policy implications of
commitments fortariff changes, and
accordingly, advise ontherevision of
Vanuatu 'stariff schedules inthelight
ofthese commitments.*
-Vanuatu willalsoneed technical
assistance toincorporate intodomestic
laws itsobligations under theWTO
Agreement onimplementation ofArticle
VIIoftheGATT 1994.WTO Assistance willbeprovided to
Vanuatu Customs andExcise
Department foraligning itscustoms
valuation legislation withtheWTO
Agreement. Thetiming willbein
light ofprogress intheaccession
process.
Vanuatu hasalready approached the
WIPO fortechnical assistance torevise
andimprove domestic legislation toallow
compliance withtheprovisions ofthe
Agreement onTRIPs. Vanuatu Laws in
thisregard willbeWTO-consistent within
3years ofthecountry 'saccessionWTO Assistance willbeextended to
Vanuatu inaccordance withthe
cooperation Agreement withWIPO
andWTO providing forWIPO legal-
technical assistance relating toTRIPS
Agreement. Thetiming willbeinthe
light ofprogress intheaccession
process.
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page5
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion A(m):
Assessment oftheexisting trade analysis
andnegotiating capacities
Thetrade analysis capacity inWTO-
related areas isrelatively limited, but
could increase overtimeifconsistent
efforts arepursued totrain andsensitize
relevant officials intheDepartments of
Trade andcustoms, theReserve Bank of
Vanuatu, andthenational Planning
Office.UNCTAD Capacity-building relevant totrade
analysis willbeincorporated inthe
national training programme (trade
policy component), mentioned in
A(k).*
WTO Thetrade policy course (seeA(k)
above) willcontain ageneral training
forenhancing negotiating skills for
participation inmultilateral trade
negotiations.
Thenegotiating capacity ofni-Vanuatu
officials hasalready toacertain extent
been tested since thebeginning ofthe
accession process. Intheabsence ofa
corps ofcommercial diplomats, Vanuatu
however relies onasmall number of
officials whoarefamiliar enough withthe
multilateral trade framework totakepart
intrade negotiations.This implies that
substantial external support intheform of
advisory services willberequired before
aswellasafter accession.UNCTAD UNCTAD toprovide advisory
services.*
WTO Please refer toWTO response
immediately above.
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page6
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(m) (cont.)
Innewareas ofanalysis ofnegotiations
such ascompetition policy ortrade and
environment, thenational capacity isvery
limited andNi-Vanuatu officials willneed
thecooperation ofUNCTAD in
sensitization andresearch activities. It
must benoted thatthesubject oftrade
andtheenvironment isofparticular
interest toVanuatu, considering the
potential ofthecountry withrespect to
theexportation of"green" products facing
environment-related standards inlarge
importing counties, andthecommitment
topromote sustainable development in
Vanuatu.UNCTAD UNCTAD torespond tothese
individual requests through, inter alia,
studies andworkshops.*
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page7
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion B(g):
Technical assistance needs asregards to
supply constraints
World Bank TheForeign Investment Advisory
Service (FIAS) willcomplete inlate
1997 thefirststage ofassistance on
strengthening theinvestment
promotion agency. Follow-up
assistance isscheduled for1998.
There isageneral need fortechnical
assistance forimproving the
microeconomic trading environment and
increasing trade efficiency inallparts of
thecountry. Thisincludes:Agencies indicated awillingness to
cooperate withthegovernment to
identify specific needs inoperational
terms andestablish priorities. Further
consultations withthegovernment will
benecessary todevelop specific
projects andprogrammes andto
explore funding.
-introducing aninter-island cargo
planning system thatwillincrease the
reliability ofdomestic maritime transport
andcontribute tothegeneral
competitiveness ofthemost remote parts
ofthecountry
-introducing UNCTAD 'sAutomated
System forCustoms Data (ASYCUDA)
withtheview ofincreasing theefficiency
ofcustoms services forthebenefit of
traders aswellasGovernmentUNCTAD Pipeline project tobeimplemented
regionally through theForum
Secretariat.
-studying thepossibility ofdeveloping
(orstrengthening) micro-credit facilities
forthebenefit ofsmall enterprises,
particularly inrural areasUNDP UNDP iscurrently designing a
programme whose objective istoset
upamicro-credit scheme forwomen
inorder toprovide them withsmall
credit andmicro-entrepreneurial skills
tomanage income generating
activities, andtohelpthem generate
savings.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page8
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question B(g)(cont):
Supporting themove toestablish acredit
guarantee scheme.UNDP Seeimmediately above.
-establishing aTrade point inPort-Vila
toenhance trader 'saccess totheglobal
network ofinformation thatwillallow
cost-efficient promotion ofproducts and
trading opportunities.ITC/
UNCTADTheestablishment ofaTradepoint will
beincorporated inanational program
oftechnical cooperation under which
ITCwillprovide specific components
intrade information management.
-amulti-subject programme oftraining
andsensibilization forenterprises and
national trade-support organizations will
benecessary toallow afullunderstanding
oftheabove-listed facilities.ITC/
UNCTADSeeimmediately above.
Anational training programme
including training ofbusinessmen will
beincorporated inthefuture National
Trade Development Programme.*
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page9
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion B(q):
Technical assistance needs intrade
promotion andsupport servicesAgencies indicated awillingness to
cooperate withthegovernment to
identify specific needs inoperational
terms andestablish priorities. Further
consultations withthegovernment will
benecessary todevelop specific
projects andprogrammes andto
explore funding.
Consider theutmost importance of
training andsensitization activities to
enhance business management and
vocational skills andimprove trade
promotion andsupport services,there isa
need formulti-faceted technical
assistance, atleast through theprovision
ofperiodic advisory services, andideally
through theassignment ofaresident
adviser foraperiod oftwoyears.
Aresident adviser could carry outthree
types oftechnical cooperation activities to
promote andsupport trade development
andcould assist allforeign exchange-
earning sectors except tourism and
offshore services:
-training andadvisory services inthe
establishment andmanagement of
businesses (including theareaofimport
management)
-establishment andoperation ofaTrade
Point,with relevant training togroups of
potential users
-attracting newinvestors byapromotion
campaign regionally andinternationally.
(The same resident adviser could provide
assistance intrade policy matters inthe
context ofaccession ofWTO)ITC ITCispresently implementing a
regional project inimport management
which benefits Vanuatu.
Thisprogramme willbeextended if
requested.*
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page10
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion B(v):
Technical assistance inmarket access
Abetter knowledge ofthegeneralized
System ofpreferences andtheconditions
attached toitsfunctioning (rules oforigin
inparticular) isdesirable andimplies the
provision oftechnical assistance inthe
form ofadvisory services and
training/sensitization seminarsUNCTAD UNCTAD torespond inthecontext of
itsRegional Programme forAsia and
thePacific.*
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page11
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion C(b):
Summary oftechnical assistance needs
according topriority
Technical assistance needs inconnection
withVanuatu 'strade development canbe
summarized intothree areas of
intervention:
Advisory services :withregard to
accession toWTO, changes tolaws and
regulations inthelight ofobligations,
bilateral andmultilateral trade
negotiations (including intheEU/ACP
framework)IMF FAD willprovide assistance in
(1)reviewing andupdating customs
legislation andregulations toassure
efficient collection ofrevenues;
(2)reforming theimport tariff; and(3)
advising oncomputerization issues.
(1998: Commitment inprinciple)
UNCTAD UNCTAD willassist inthisregard
(with theassistance oftheForum
Secretariat) through studies, advisory
services andtraining.*
WTO Assistance atthetechnical level will
beprovided toVanuatu inits
accession process totheWTO. The
timing willbeinlight ofprogress in
theaccession process.
Assistance willbeprovided to
Vanuatu forthereview andreform of
itsregulatory system inconformity to
WTO rules.
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page12
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question C(b) (cont.):
WTO Anational seminar onthemultilateral
trading system willbeundertaken.
(1998)
-Specialized regional seminars
and/or workshops onWTO
provisions willbeorganized (1998
and1999) forAsia andthePacific
region.
-Athree-week trade-policy course
forEnglish-speaking least-
developed countries willbeheld
(1998 and1999). Thistrade-policy
course willcontain ageneral
training forenhancing negotiating
skills forparticipation in
multilateral trade negotiations.
Assistance willbeprovided to
Vanuatu Customs andExcise
Department foraligning itscustoms
valuation legislation withtheWTO
Agreement. Thetiming willbeinthe
light ofprogress intheaccession
process.
Assistance asnecessary willbe
extended toVanuatu inaccordance
withthecooperation Agreement with
WIPO andWTO providing forWIPO
legal-technical assistance relating to
TRIPS Agreement. Thetiming willbe
inthelight ofprogress inthe
accession process.*
Technical assistance :forthe
establishment ofatrade point, the
improvement oftrade efficiency (maritime
transport, customs, micro-finance), the
promotion offoreign investmentITC/
UNCTADTheestablishment ofaTradepoint will
beincorporated inanational program
oftechnical cooperation under which
ITCwillprovide specific components
intrade information management.
Anational training programme
including training ofbusinessmen will
beincorporated inthefuture National
Trade Development Programme.*
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page13
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question C(b) (cont.):
UNCTAD Fortheintroduction ofUNCTAD 's
Automated System forCustoms Data
(ASYCUDA) withtheview of
increasing theefficiency ofcustoms
services forthebenefit oftraders as
wellasgovernment, there isapipeline
project tobeimplemented regionally
through theForum Secretariat.
Training: intrade policy, trade efficiency
(including theuseoftrade information
technology), andbusiness development
matters.UNCTAD Please refer toanswer immediately
above (under "Advisory services").
Capacity-building relevant totrade
analysis willbeincorporated inthe
national training programme (trade
policy component), mentioned inA(k),
above.*
WTO Please refer toanswer immediately
above (under "Advisory services").
Thetrade policy course willinclude a
general training forenhancing
negotiating skills forparticipation in
multilateral trade negotiations.
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/11
Page14
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion C(d):
Technology capacity andhuman resources
Internet isavailable inVanuatu, butfew
inVanuatu areyetfamiliar withitand
abletooperate Internet applications. In
thecontext oftheestablishment ofa
Trade point, thenecessary training would
beconducted inorder toenable relevant
officials inthepublic andprivate sectors
tooperate thetrade information
component ofthetrade PointWTO TheWTO willprovide onecomputer
totheDepartment ofIndustry, Trade
andCommerce. Thiswillinclude a
link-up totheInternet. (1998)
Training onaccess anduseofInternet
resources andofCD-Roms willbe
provided. (1998)
ITC/
UNCTADPlease refer tothetworesponses to
B(g).