WORLD TRADE WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
24October 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-4679)
High-Level Meeting onIntegrated Initiatives for
Least-Developed Countries 'Trade Development
COUNTRY-SPECIFIC ROUND TABLES: DOCUMENTATION
Guinea
Addendum
Documentation fortheRound Table Meeting forGuinea.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page2
REPLY TOQUESTIONS
A. Trade policy
(a) What arethesectors thatyoubelieve haveunexploited orunderexploited export potential?
Reply: Guinea 'smain potential isintheruralsector, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, mining
andcrafts. These sectors havesubstantial potential, asreflected byfullydeveloped exports (bananas,
coffee, mangoes) andother products currently being promoted intheagricultural sector (cotton, fish
farming, etc.).
However,thispotentialhasscarcelybeentappedtodate,despitesubstantialexertions(700million
dollars invested overthepasttenyears).
Themain reason forthissituation isthelackofoutlets forproducts asaresult offailure to
define adynamic export policy andgiven thesmall sizeofthedomestic market.
Numerous other opportunities alsocurrently remain untapped, particularly inthefollowing
fields:
- Processed agricultural products (canned foods), processed hides (Wit-Bleu, leather
articles), specialized crafts.
Themain products ofthemining sector arethefollowing:
- Bauxite: 12,000,000 MTonaverage;
- alumina: 600,000 MTonaverage;
- precious metals: gold-4to5MTperyear; jewellery-trade andindustrial-grade
diamonds: 140,000 carats (60percentjewellery diamonds).
Mining products account for90percentoftotalexports, agricultural products for3to4per
centandmiscellaneous products for6to7percent.
Theeconomic development policy adopted byGuinea isaimed atincreasing theshare of
agricultural, industrial andcraftproducts inorder toreduce dependence onexternal tradeinthemining
sector.
Itshould bepointed out,however, thatthemining sector willrequire substantial investment
inorder tomaintain thelevelofGuinean exports.
(b) Could youplease define yourcountry 'sperspective ofthereasons foranychanges inthe
structure anddirection ofexports andimports?
Reply: Since 1984, Guinea hasmade thetransition fromastatetrading system based onbarter
andopen account arrangements withcountries oftheformer Soviet bloctoaliberal trade system
characterized bythewishfordiversification andintegration intotheinternational market.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page3
Inthisconnection, theStatehastransferred itsprerogatives totheprivate sector, andthelatter
hasmoved intoareas ofinterest from thestandpoint ofbothimports andexports.
There havebeennorealsubstantial changes inthestructure ofGuinean trade, owing tothe
factthat:
- Exports always involve rawmaterials andfewexported products areprocessed;
- petroleumproductsaccountforthebulkofimportsandproductsforprocessingrepresent
lessthan25percentoftotalimports.
Itwould appear, therefore, thatboththestructure andthedirection ofGuinea 'sforeign trade
aredictated byatradepolicy based onfreeenterprise anddriven bytheconduct ofeconomic operators.
(c) What have been theobjectives oftrade policy inthemost recent period, compared to,
say,twodecades ago?
Reply: Intheabsence ofaprecise definition ofitsmain guidelines orfieldofapplication,
Guinean trade policy pursues itsnatural aims ofdevelopment andtrade promotion. Anumber of
measures havebeentaken: reduction ofexport taxes ingeneral andincentives tothediversification
ofnon-traditional products.
However, itshould benoted that,since 1986, theobjectives oftheRepublic ofGuinea 'strade
policy havebeendirected mainly towards developing thetrade sector inorder tomake italeading
instrument ofsupport fortheproduction sector (industry, agriculture, crafts) andtoenable ittoplay
itsfullroleasanengine ofgrowth andeconomic development.
Tothatend,itisdeemedindispensabletoestablishanenvironmentfavourabletothedevelopment
ofcommercial activities. Inthisconnection, thefollowing measures havebeendecided:
- Transfer totheprivate sector ofallcommercial functions originally exercised bythe
State;
- creationofstructuresfortheorganizationandpromotionofallcomponentsoftheprivate
sector (chamber ofcommerce, employers 'groups, traders 'association);
- continued establishment ofappropriate infrastructure tofacilitate foreign trade
operations, sothatnational measures arebased onthethree linesofaction described
inthegeneral introduction tothebasic document, namely:
- Theintegration oftradeintotheproduction process, withactive private sector
participation;
- thedetermination andimprovement oftrade regulations;
- promotion offoreign trade, withbacking forexports.
With regard tothelastmentioned aspect, itshould bepointed outthatpriority willbegiven
toregaining theinternational market share onceheldbyGuinean products (bananas: 100,000 tonnes;
coffee: 45,000 tonnes; palm oil:150,000 tonnes, etc.).WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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Thefactis,however, thatitisurgently necessary todefine andimplement atrade strategy
andpolicy capable ofserving asatechnical andinstitutional medium tokick-start theengines ofGuinean
economic output: agriculture, fisheries, stockbreeding, forestry andtheirendproducts.
(d) What aretheMinistries incharge oftrade policy matters, including formulation,
implementation,enforcementandmonitoring?Howiscoordinationmade?Whataretherespective
rolesoftherelevant Ministries (giveparticular attention totariff policies andother policies directly
affecting exports andimports ofgoods andservices)?
Reply: TheMinistries incharge oftrade policies under existing legislation areshown inthe
following table: (cf.table).
Thefunctions ofallMinisterial Departments intheRepublic ofGuinea weredefined inDecree
No.96/111/PRG/SGG of29August 1996.
Inthisconnection, theMinistry forthePromotion oftheIndustrial andCommercial Private
Sector hasbeenentrusted withelaborating andimplementing Government policy forthepromotion
oftheprivate sector inthefields ofindustry andtrade, particularly asregards thefollowing matters:
Inthefieldofprivate sector promotion
- Elaboration oftheprivate sector development strategy;
- promotion ofprivate investment inGuinea;
- framing ofregulations fortheprivate sector;
- establishment ofprivate sector support mechanism.
Inthefieldofindustry
- Drafting andmonitoring ofregulations intheindustrial sector;
- implementation ofapolicy forthedevelopment ofindustry, crafts andcompetitiveness.
Inthetrade field
- Implementation andsupervision oftheenforcement ofregulations relating totradeand
craftindustries;
- promotion ofGuinean products athome andabroad;
- monitoring ofinstruments ofmeasurement andprotection oftrademarks;
- suppression offraud.
However, inthecontext oftrade policy implementation, theMinistry forthePromotion of
theIndustrial andCommercial Private Sector closely cooperates withtheother technical departments
concerned.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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Inpractice, however, andforavariety ofreasons including thefunctional defects inherent
inanill-controlled transitional context, tradepolicy isseentobefragmented among thevarious sectors
andMinisterial Departments, withnoguiding mechanism ofliaison, consultation andcoordination.
Forthisreason, machinery should beestablished toprovide necessary coordination forthe
rationalization ofeconomic andtrade policy activities andmeasures ofadaptation totheframework
forimplementation oftheWTO Agreements.
Suchmachinery iscurrently lacking buttheauthorities plantoestablish atechnical coordination
framework formeasures within thefields ofcompetence ofthetechnical ministries. Tothatend,they
arerequesting external technical assistance.
Asregards coordination andtherespective roles ofthecompetent ministries, adegree of
imbalance isobserved indecision-making powers, owing tothepriorities defined inGuinea 'sdifferent
structural adjustment programmes, which place emphasis ontwokeyfields: agriculture andfinance.
Asaresult, coordination mechanisms stillhavetobeorganized. Asfarastariff andother
policiesdirectlyaffectingimportsandexportsareconcerned,defactoresponsibilitylieswiththeMinistry
oftheEconomy andFinance.
(e) Howaretheprivate sector andacademic institutions associated withtheformulation and
conduct oftrade policy?
Reply: Thegroup structures connected withtheprivate sector areexperiencing dynamic growth
whichtheStateencourages.Thebusinessworldiscurrentlyrepresentedbythefollowinginterestgroups:
1. AGuinean chamber ofcommerce andindustry;
2. anembryonic chamber ofagriculture;
3. anational council ofemployers;
4. aGuinean association ofbusinessmen;
5. aGuinean association ofindustrialists;
6. aprofessional oilproducers 'group;
7. aprofessional banking association;
8. aunion ofwholesale fishmerchants;
9. anational confederation ofcoffee andcocoa producers andexporters;
10. aGuinean association ofwomen entrepreneurs;
11. aGuinean association ofbusinesswomen;
12. theGuinean fruitandvegetable exporters 'group.
Some ofthese institutions playanimportant role,thefollowing inparticular:WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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TheGuinean Chamber ofCommerce andIndustry, setupbyDecree D/95/275/PRG/SGG of
10October 1995. Itsmainpurpose istopromote trade, industrial andcraftproduction andassistance
withestablishing andimproving links between itsmembers andforeign countries. Onthisbasis, it
represents theinterests ofGuinean economic operators.
Itsmain functions are:
- Toensure thecollection anddissemination ofeconomic, commercial andtechnical
information among itsmembers;
- tocarry outallnecessary studies andpropose anyeconomic andregulatory measure
relating tothedevelopment ofeconomic activities inthesector;
- tosettle trade disputes bymeans ofarbitration.
TheGuinean National Council ofEmployers, whose charter wasadopted on13May1992.
Itismade upofassociations, federations, unions, professional andinter-professional trade groups,
banks andinsurance companies, public works andconstruction companies, service providers, andcraft,
industrial andagricultural groups.
Itsmain purpose istoprovide aframework forperiodic consultation, toparticipate inthe
formulation ofalleconomic andsocial policies capable ofpromoting corporate activity, tocarry out
studies onprofessional problems andtoorganize andmanage training andretraining centres.
TheGuinean Association ofBusinessmen groups together allcategories oftraders inGuinea;
import-export, wholesalers, semi-wholesalers andretailers.
Itsmain tasks aretoprovide arecognized consultation framework, torepresent anddefend
theinterests ofitsmembers, tocontribute totheelaboration ofeconomic andsocial policy related to
thedevelopment oftrade andemployment, toassist businessmen intheir dealings withfinancial
institutions andtheState, andtohelppromote Guinean products.
Thisrange ofprivate institutions, which maintain contacts andpursue consultations withthe
State inthefieldoftrade policy, willgradually come toconstitute aframework forconsultation and
forconcerted improvement inthepreparation andimplementation ofsuchtrade policy.
Contacts withtheuniversities arecurrently sporadic, butconsideration isbeing given toways
ofinvolving them intheelaboration oftrade policy andinpossible study andassessment procedures.
Thedifficulties ofinteraction withboththeprivate sector andtheuniversities stemmainly from
thechange inthinking thathastaken place onlyrecently (1986). Norealtradition ofconcerted action
hasasyetbeenestablished,fullyacceptedandputintopracticethroughtheadoptionofuniversitytraining
programmes andconsultations withtheprivate sector todealwiththeproblems thatareencountered.
Theestablishmentofapermanentframeworkforconsultationamongthedifferentsectors(private,
semi-public, training institutions, associations, independent professions, etc.)willlaystrong foundations
forsuchinteraction, which willbereflected inthecreation ofanenvironment favourable tothe
development ofthesector.
(f) What aretheinstitutions inyourcountry thatcanplayaroleinimplementation ofatrade-
related project atthelocal level? State their respective roles.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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Reply: Atthelevelofgovernment andsemi-public promotion agencies: theMinistry forthe
Promotion oftheIndustrial andCommercial Private Sector (MPSPIC), theMinistry oftheEconomy
andFinance (MEF), theMinistry ofAgriculture andForestry (MAEF) andtheMinistry ofFisheries
andStockbreeding (MPE).
Semi-public promotion agencies include thefollowing: thePCPEA, theFICA, theOPIP and
institutions representing thebusiness community, which havethefollowing roles.
AsfarastheTechnical Departments areconcerned: design anddefinition oftrade policy,
strategy, coordination, organization, follow-up andevaluation.
Thesemi-public promotion agencies takeaction inthetradesector andintheirrespective fields
ofcompetence:
- PCPEA: Promotion anddevelopment offruits, vegetables, andtherange of
agro-industrial products;
- OPIP: Establishment ofanexport-oriented investment strategy;
- FICA: Foundation forinvestment andagricultural marketing.
Theinstitutions representing thebusiness community havethefollowing functions: consultation
withgovernment institutions inliaison withtheprivate sector, information, training andassistance
toenterprises.
TheUmbrella Project forthePromotion ofAgricultural Exports (PCPEA) isbased onaloan
agreement signed andadopted inSeptember 1992. Theproject isbeing restructured andthenewversion
should besigned inmid-October 1997.
ThePCPEA isa$24million project financed bytheWorld BankandtheGuinean Government.
Itcomprises thefollowing components:
- Support fortrade associations;
- support forbuilding upoperational activities;
- assistance inestablishing partnership arrangements;
- support forbusiness operations;
- services specializing inextension/research activities andassistance withmanagement
atproducer level;
- assistance tosmall-scale planters andsmall andmedium-sized firms;
- promotion ofsupervision ofsmall-scale planters byproducers orexporters thatare
equipped togenerate critical mass;
- support forproductive investments;WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page8
- assistance withmeeting financial needs fortherevitalization ofagricultural exports;
- support forexport production.
Thisproject isbeing carried outinconjunction withotherprojects torevitalize thefruit-growing
sector, andthusserves astheinterface forpromotion ofagricultural exports.
TheOffice forthePromotion ofPrivate Investment (OPIP), aone-stop service forinvestors,
wasestablished byDecree No.D/97/174/PRG/SGG of12August 1997. Itsfunction istohelpproducers
andentrepreneurs toengineer, manage, revive ormaintain thegrowth oftheir companies ona
profit-oriented basis, without which there canbenosustainable development.
TheFoundation forAgricultural Investment andMarketing (FICA) isadevelopment NGO
withamembership ofmore than400private entrepreneurs intheagricultural andrelated activities
sector.
Itprovides thefollowing services:
- Preparation andassessment ofproject studies;
- collection anddissemination ofinformation onthedomestic andforeign markets;
- vocational training andretraining;
- assistance withaccess toloans;
- business activity anddispatch planning centre;
- efforts tofindoutlets andpartners.
(g) What arethemain lawsandregulations dealing withtrade policy -onexports andimports?
Please provide ashort description ofeach.
Reply: Intheabsence ofacommercial code, commercial activities aregoverned bytheCode
ofEconomic Activities, which laysdown theconditions forengaging incommercial andfinancial
operations intheRepublic ofGuinea.
Specific aspects ofimport andexport operations aregoverned by:
- Thecustoms codeandcustoms tariff;
- exchange control regulations;
- theDecreeonImportandExportProcedures(seeannexfordetailsoftheseRegulations);
- Order No.046/PRG/86 regulating banks andbanking operations;
- Order No.080/PRG/87 of22December 1987, regulating insurance companies;
- theTreaty of28May1975 instituting theECOWAS;WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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- Protocol A/PI/5/82 introducing anECOWAS "brown card" inrespect ofthirdparty
civilliability carinsurance;
- Convention A/P4/5/82 oninter-State roadtransit ofgoods.
Themaincomponents oftheservices sector arebanking andinsurance, transport, commercial
agencies andtoalesser extent tourism.
There isasubstantial deficit onthebalance offoreign trade inservices. Thelevelofimports
isonaverage sixtimes higher thanthatofexports:
Reference year1992
Services exports: US$30.5 million;
Services imports: US$189.8 million;
Balance: US$159.3 million.
Thetertiary sector accounts forroughly 55percentofthecountry 'seconomic activity and
isdominated bybanking andinsurance. Thetourism sector isnoticeably weakand,despite itspotential,
makes verylittlecontribution totheeconomic activity ofthecountry.
With regard totransport, itshould benoted that,having regard totheproblems associated
withtherehabilitation ofinfrastructure (railways, roads), thissector isnotmaking itsexpected
contribution toopening upproduction areas intheinterior.
Anyeconomic development programme willrequire substantial investment ininfrastructure.
Asregards Conakry Airport, additional equipment willberequired inrefrigeration, handling,
warehousing andorganization inorder toimprove thetransport oftradable goods under advantageous
conditions.
Itshould alsobementioned thattheRepublic ofGuinea isamember oftheAfrican Intellectual
PropertyOrganizationand,inthatcapacity,ithasestablishedalegalframeworktosafeguardtheinterests
ofindividuals inregard tointellectual property (Decree No.91/214/PRG/SGG of17October 1991).
Readjustments willbeneeded tobring therelevant domestic legislation intolinewiththeWTO
TRIPS Agreement. Assistance isrequired from WTO andWCO inthisregard.
(h) What arethemain instruments oftrade policy -onexports andimports? Please elaborate
(e.g.onimport restrictions, thequestions might be:onwhat products arethere anyimport bans;
onwhat products arethere quantitative import restrictions; licensing requirements etc;what
isthehighest tariff ratecurrently inuse;arethere anyexcise taxes, other "domestic" taxes that
areapplied differentially toimported goods, ortogoods ofatypethatareprincipally imported?).
Reply:AmongthemaintradepolicyinstrumentsappliedintheRepublicofGuinea,thefollowing
should bementioned inparticular:
- Thecustoms code;
- thecustoms tariff;
- theexchange control regulations.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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These three textsaresupplemented byasetoflegalinstruments:
- TheDecree ontheEstablishment oftheCustoms Receipts Security Programme
implemented bytheSociété Générale deSurveillance (SGS);
- theAgreement onimplementation ofthecustoms receipts security programme.
Infact,however, thecompetent authorities havetodatebeeninclined toadopt certain safeguard
measures byfitsandstarts onaccount ofrequirements pertaining totheeconomic situation. Byway
ofexample, itmaybenoted thatthebanonimports ofcement, though nolonger inforce, wasmaintained
forapproximately tenyears (1986-1994) andthat:
- There isabanonthere-export ofpetroleum products.
Asregards customs tariffs, thehighest ratecurrently applied inGuinea is30percent. Other
domestictaxesappliedatdifferentialratestoimportsorthemaintypesofimportedproductsaregoverned
byasystem ofconsumption surcharges which maybeashighas125percentandaffect so-called luxury
products (alcoholic beverages, perfumes, liqueurs).
Itshould benoted thatGuinea applies thesystem ofvaluation based ontheso-called Brussels
definition. Itslegislation istobeadapted totherulescontained intheAgreement oncustoms valuation
byJanuary 2000.
Assistance inthisfieldisrequired fromWTO andWCO forthepurpose ofadapting therelevant
domestic legislation andthetraining ofthecustoms staffconcerned.
Withregardtopre-shipmentinspection,theneedtosafeguardcustomsreceiptspromptedGuinea,
inthecontext ofitsInstitutional Adjustment Programme, toestablish asystem ofpreshipment inspection
withaspecialized company: theSociété Générale deSurveillance (SGS).
Thisinspection covers quantity, quality, priceandcustoms valuation forallimport transactions
valued atmore thanUS$5,000.
Itconcerns onlyimports viatheautonomous PortofConakry, thePortofKamsar andConakry
Airport. Imports effected vialandfrontier posts arenotconcerned bythisAgreement.
SGSservices areremunerated onthefollowing scale:
- Widely consumed products, 1.05percentofthef.o.b. value;
- petroleum products, 0.92percentofthef.o.b. value;
- rice,sugar, flour, milk, 0.72percentofthef.o.b. value.
(i) IncaseyouareaWTO Member orareintheprocess ofacceding, howisyour country
preparing itself tocomply withtheWTO Agreements?
Reply: TheRepublic ofGuinea became the110th original Member ofWTO on
25September 1995.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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Guinea iscurrently intheprocess ofrestructuring andstrengthening itsinstitutional capacity
inorder todischarge itsobligations vis-à-vis theWTO. Thecompetent authorities arelikewise
concentrating oncapacity building toensure tradepolicy implementation inaccordance withtherules
ofthemultilateral system andtheliberalization requirements which weareattempting tosubject to
asystem ofperiodic review.
Oureffortsareaimedatharmonizingmultilateralcommitmentswiththeobjectivesofourregional
andsubregional obligations (ECOWAS, Mano River, ACP, etc.), while upholding theglobal objective
ofensuring thatallourtrade policies areliberal andtransparent.
Initscapacity asanoriginal Member oftheWTO, theRepublic ofGuinea hasmade the
notifications listed intheAnnex. However, assistance isrequired fromtheWTO inthisfield, inorder
tostrengthen itscapacity forparticipation intrade negotiations within thecontext oftheWTO
Agreements.
(j) What isthestate offamiliarity withtheWTO framework:
- Among Government andgovernment related agencies;
- intheprivate sector?
Reply: TheWTO framework continues tobeassociated withtherather restrictive ideaofa
global agreement, withclauses andmechanisms governing international trade. Infact,onlyafewhigh-
level officials whohavebeenrequired toundertake responsibilities inthenegotiations canclaim to
befamiliar withtheWTO framework. Asregards theprivate sector, oratleastitsrepresentative bodies,
itcannot besaidthatthere isagenuine andclearunderstanding andknowledge oftheframework or
oftheimplications ofWTO rules.
Given thelackofaWTO interministerial commission, theOrganization 'sframework isnot
wellknown among government andsemi-public institutions. Theprivate sector isalsounfamiliar with
theWTO Agreements.
Awide-ranging information andconsciousness-raising programme willhavetobeundertaken
among alltheabove-mentioned institutions, involving theestablishment ofinformation andreference
services andtheorganization ofappropriate seminars inthefollowing fields:
- WTO rules;
- goods evaluation forcustoms purposes;
- theagreements onagriculture andindustry;
- technical barriers totrade;
- sanitary andphytosanitary measures;
- international dispute settlement;
- safeguard measures, countervailing duties andanti-dumping duties;
- regional integration.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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TheMinistry forthePromotion oftheIndustrial andCommercial Private Sector onlyrecently
setupadivision answerable totheDirectorate forRelations between theRepublic ofGuinea andthe
WTO.
ThisDivision should beequipped withtelematic facilities inorder toprovide theservice of
aWTO resource centre.
(k) What areyour technical assistance requirements withregard toyour compliance with
theWTO Agreements?
Reply: Thetechnical assistance required inthisfieldofcritical importance forthefuture of
Guinea 'strade should beprovided onthebasis ofthefollowing priority linesofapproach:
I. ATTHE STRUCTURAL LEVEL
1. Contributions totheestablishment andfunctioning, within theMPSPIC, ofaresource centre
onallaspects oftheWTO/Uruguay Round.
2. Equipping thecentre withthenecessary telematic facilities forreal-time information retrieval
fromautomatic linkswiththeWTO andpossibly withspecialized databases andprivate servers inthis
field.
3. Systematic supply ofbasic documentation forconsultation andpossible dissemination, which
would make theresource centre anational clearing house onallaspects ofmultilateral trade.
Atthelevelofhuman resources
4. Training ofnational experts inthisfield, under aconsolidated programme forgrooming national
specialists withthecompetence andscope toliaisewithassociations ofbusinessmen andevenenterprises
atthedifferent levels ofthegovernment andinterministerial hierarchies.
5. Drafting atraining plantopublicize thecontent oftheWTO textsandtheirimplications for
themultilateral trading system, directed atthefollowing target groups:
(a) Senior officials inthetechnical ministries, including customs officials;
(b) high-level staff andexecutives ofthepublic andsemi-public trade promotion
bodies/agencies;
(c) permanent staffworking inthetradeorganizations/associations, chamber ofcommerce,
etc;
(d) decision-makers ininternational trading firms andbusinessmen interested ininvesting
intheexport andimport trade;
(e) executives anddecision-makers atdifferent levels oftheforeign tradesupport services:
commercial banking, logistics, transport/transit, insurance.
Incooperationwiththeshort-cycle(technicalcolleges)andlong-cyclehighereducationinstitutions
(commercialandmanagementfacultiesandcolleges),systematicadjustmentofcoursestoincludemodernWT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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syllabuses andmethods designed tomeettheneeds oftheeconomy andtherequirements ofmultilateral
trade procedures andrules (seepoint (e)).
(l) Inwhich specific areas oftheWTO Agreements doyouhave technical assistance needs
(e.g.market access, agriculture, rules (anti-dumping, subsidies, import licensing, rules oforigin,
safeguards, etc.), TBT andSPS, services, TRIPS)?
Reply: Asthings stand atpresent withregard totheeconomic reforms undertaken inGuinea
overthelastdecade andtheirimpact ontrade policies andpractices, technical assistance needs are
feltinallfields, andinthefollowing inparticular:
- Market access;
- agriculture;
- rules oforigin;
- TBTandSPS;
- trade-related investments;
- preshipment inspection;
- government procurement;
- legalaspects offoreign trade.
Allthesefields showevidence ofinadequacies affecting thelevelofcompetitiveness ofGuinea 's
foreign trade, which continues tobecharacterized toasignificant extent bymethods andpractices more
inkeeping withthetrading customs ofthepastthanwithmodern international marketing.
(m) What isyourassessment ofyour existing trade analysis andnegotiating capacities, both
multilateralandbilateral,inareasalreadycoveredbytheWTOAgreementsandothertrade-related
areas, e.g.competition policy andtrade andenvironment?
Reply: Asfarastrade analysis isconcerned, there isarealfundofskills andexperience,
although theyremain underutilized toaconsiderable extent, labouring under theweight ofold-fashioned
routine andprocedural constraints. Thefactremains, however, thatselective supervision intheform
ofhigh-level evaluation andconsultation would bewelcome intheshort andmedium-term.
Inbothmultilateral andbilateral negotiations requiring stronger capabilities atthepreparation
aswellasthefinalization stage, thecompetition policy which, toourmind, iscentral totheentire
philosophy ofinternational trade should beunderstood byallthegroups concerned, including
decision-makers, politicians andeconomic operators.
Since Guinea isatropical country and,furthermore, anLDC where theinteraction between
trade andtheenvironment isamajor concern andanessential matter forthepurposes ofsustainable
development:WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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- Extraction oftropical timber, andfragile ecosystems ofGuinea 'srainforest;
- industrialinvestmentandpromotionofanenvironmentally-friendlymanufacturingand/or
sub-contracting sector;
- introduction andstrengthening ofinterministerial andnational inter-agency technical
assistancecapableofdefiningandmonitoringtheapplicationofnationalandinternational
standards andspecifications, more particularly forimports.
B. Obstacles totrade expansion
(a) What arethemain bottlenecks inhibiting thedevelopment ofsustained export capacity
ofgoods andservices (e.g.customs facilitation, freight charges, quality management, elimination
ofcumbersomelegalandadministrativeprocedures,paucityofhumanskills,accessatinternational
prices toimported inputs, orinadequate telecommunication, portandtransport facilities etc.)?
Reply: Themajor constraints onexport supply andonthecreation ofsustainable export
capacities include:
Paucity ofsupply inquantity andinquality asaresult ofadevelopment policy geared chiefly
tofoodsecurity andwithlowexport targets. Moreover, thesituation ismade worse bydeficiencies
inthesupply ofinputs interms ofquantity andquality within therequisite time-frames andatcompetitive
prices.
Again, thesupply isaffected byanotoriously inadequate production financing andinvestment
sector (nolong-term credit, verylittle forthemedium term andshort-term credit goesonlyfor
speculation onimports). Thescarce credits thataremade available totheproduction sector areat
prohibitive ratesranging from 24to30percent.
What ismore, export logistics inGuinea aremarkedly inadequate interms ofcapacity, and
prices actasadisincentive toanyoperator andmake export operations non-competitive.
Lastly, thelawsandregulations, liketheinstitutional framework fortheexport sector, are
inadequate andleadtoadministrative delays.
Asindicatedaboveinthegeneralintroductionandinregardtoservicemanagement,rehabilitation
andstrengthening ofinfrastructures areessential tothecountry 'seconomic development.
Inthisconnection, investment inenergy andlower operating costs would make iteasier to
setupprojects tobuild uptheproduction andnetexport base.
Asfarasfactor costsareconcerned, itisessential tocontrol electricity costsinorder toattract
investment. Inthiscontext, theaimoftheGarafiri project istoinstall afurther 75MWcapacity with
ahydroelectric dam.
Inaddition, thebuilding ofthedamwillmake itpossible toirrigate alarge areaduring the
development phase andanadditional areaforricegrowing andforcashcrops.
Theproject istobetiedinwiththerehabilitation ofroadinfrastructures toroutexport products.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
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(b) Arethere anyinstitutional bottlenecks which mayimpede theofficial conduct ofyour
country 'spolicies? Provide details. Forexample, whataretheproblems perceived bythedifferent
actors, e.g.exporters, producers, service providers (banks, insurance companies, quality control,
transporters etc.), professional associations andministries? Areproblems mainly perceived in
theareaof:
(i) Human resources;
(ii) management oftheinstitution;
(iii) financial andmaterial resources;
(iv) communication.
Reply: While theprerogatives andthefields ofaction ofthecompetent public bodies areclearly
defined, those incharge ofimplementation aresuffering theeffects oftheeconomic reforms which,
intheshape ofState disengagement, haveledtoweaker institutions.
Inthislifeless institutional environment, even economic agents andrepresentative bodies
experience difficulties infinding andplaying aproper role.
These weaknesses haveadireimpact onexport trade support services: credit, logistics, etc.
Inthisregard, seethereply toitems (k)and(l).
Indeed, problems havearisen inthefollowing areas:
- Human resources, atalllevels, stand inneedoftraining andretraining;
- management depends ontheinstitution 'sroleinthecontext ofaliberal trade system;
- thefinancial andmaterial resources arestillinadequate;
- thecommunications system which isbeing expanded andimproved failstoadapt to
theactual national andinternational trade situation.
Hence itisapparent thatGuinea 'seconomic situation ingeneral anditsexport tradeinparticular
donotmake fortheemergence ofasustained capacity toexport goods andservices, despite thecountry 's
great potentials, which arerecognized worldwide.
(c) What arethemain bottlenecks toexport diversification?
Reply: Thebottlenecks toexport diversification lieinproduction, which isnotyetcapable
oflargeexportable surpluses despite aproved potential of60products (annexed list)andahighnumber
ofoperators.
Thereasons forthissituation aretobefound inthesectoral policies andthefactor andfunding
costs, which donotprovide anycapacity overthelongandmedium term.
Other obstacles toexport diversification aretheabsence ofexport incentives, namely:
- Theintroduction oftaxincentives;WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page16
- easier procedures;
- flexible andprompt credit system;
- export promotion body;
- ignorance ofexternal markets;
- ignorance ofinternational trade practices;
- poortransport facilities tothetarget markets.
(d) Ifinvestment intheproduction ofgoods andservices isinadequate, what arethemain
reasons? Please elaborate them (e.g. structural constraints, difficulties inattracting foreign
investment, limited enterprise development, financing, lackofappropriate technology, etc.).
Reply: Themain reasons forinadequate investment intheproduction ofgoods andservices
are:
- Theinterest rateandnature ofinvestment credit;
- thelackofinvestment-oriented credits;
- fewcomparative advantages asaresult ofhighfactor cost(costofborrowing, logistics,
inputs);
- inappropriate choices oftechnology;
- low-level savings;
- theabove-mentioned structural constraints.
(e) Isthere anational policy toencourage export-related investment opportunities? Please
elaborate. What arrangements areinplace forreviewing, drafting andnegotiating contractual
arrangements withforeign investors?
Reply: Theinvestment codeencourages export-related investment. Inpractice, however, the
sector isstillunattractive. Onlythemining sector andsome commodities manage tomobilize investors.
Inthecaseofforeign investors wishing toobtain advantages overandabove those inthe
investment code, agreements arereached andthescope andcontent vary, depending ontheactivity
concerned.
Thesystem setupbytheRepublic ofGuinea withtheadoption oftheinvestment code, the
creation ofOPIP asaone-stop service forinvestors tofacilitate theestablishment offirms, along with
theOffice established tocutdown export times andprocedures constitute regulations andtechniques
thatfoster theactivities ofeconomic operators.
Inthisregard, theRepublic ofGuinea hasbenefited fromtechnical assistance fromtheWorld
Bank andtheCaisse FrançaisedeDéveloppement.
Nevertheless, domestic andforeign investment isinsufficient, despite theopportunities afforded
byGuinea, thereason being:
- Inadequate promotion;
- poorinfrastructure asregards industrial estates (lackofindustrial estates withfacilities);WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page17
- poorcommunications;
- comparatively highfactor costs (electric power, water, telephone, fax);
- unskilled labour.
(f) What arethemain obstacles tothetransfer, development andacquisition oftechnology?
Isthere anynational policy/strategy inthisarea? Please elaborate.
Reply: Themain obstacles tothetransfer, development andacquisition oftechnology liein
theabsence oftechnological choice and,consequently, ofanational policy andstrategy inthisarea.
Transfer oftechnology ismade easier byproperly attracting investment, particularly foreign
investment.
Failing agenuine national policy forthetransfer oftechnology, onlythesectors inreceipt of
international aidhavemanaged totransfer technology, chiefly inagriculture andfisheries.
Nevertheless, therehabilitation ofsomeagricultural activities, suchasessential oils,andcashew
nutsrequire appropriate technology.
(g) What areyour technical assistance orother assistance needs with respect tosupply
constraints?
Reply: Tooffset supply constraints, assistance should cover thefollowing fields:
- Elaboration ofsectoral substrategies forexport supplies ofproducts inwhich Guinea
undeniably enjoys natural advantages (agriculture, fisheries, stockbreeding, forestry,
crafts andmining);
- improvement oftechniques forthesupply ofvarious inputs andequipment, notably
bythetraining national managers inprocurement andmanagement techniques for
imported supplies;
- research, development andextension programmes aimed atexport targets.
Trade promotion andtrade support services
(h) Doyour enterprises, especially small andmedium enterprises, experience difficulties in
expanding their exports? What arethese problems inthemajor export sectors?
Reply:Smallandmediumenterprises(SMEs)inGuineaencountermanydifficultiesinexpanding
exports. These difficulties aretiedinwiththefollowing:
- Production andsteadiness ofoutput because ofacollection andpricing system that
doesnotprovide anyproduction incentives;
- selection ofproducts interms ofexport demand, failure ofthepackaging and
phytosanitary treatment system interms ofmarket requirements;
- inadequate andexcessively costly financing;WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page18
- inadequate andexcessively costly logistics;
- lackofprofessionalism among operators;
- small-size operators nottrained forthistaskandtheadministrative constraints that
Guinea isendeavouring toremove withtheone-stop service.
Agri-business
- Linkbetween production andprocessing;
- collection ofexportable products;
- logistics interms ofinfrastructure andcosts thathave animpact onproduct
competitiveness;
- quality control;
- financing mechanism;
- ignorance ofmarkets andfailure toseize opportunities.
Fisheries
- Logistics;
- packaging;
- compliance withthestandards ofthemain consumer markets (European Union);
- reduced delivery capacity because ofoverfishing byforeign fleets asaresult ofGuinea 's
difficulties inprotecting itsfishing resources.
Forest products
- Logistics;
- lackoforganization andpoorapplication oftheforestry regulations;
- non-development offorest products;
- needtotakeaccount ofenvironmental standards inforestry.
Crafts
- International marketing;
- scale ofproduction;
- insufficient equipment suitable forfinishing certain categories ofproducts.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page19
(i) Whataretheproblemsforyourenterprisesinobtainingreliableandup-to-dateinformation
onexport/import business opportunities?
Reply: Day-to-day business management issuchthattraining ineconomics andtradeingeneral
isonlyrarely usedindecision-making. Where theneeddoesarise, thereisaninability totracesuitable
sources ofinformation andnouseofinstitutional orindividual memory when:
- Nouseismade ofexisting communications within theenterprise forthepurpose of
business information;
- suitable information forinterested operators iswithheld.
(j) Canyour enterprises offer products ofinternationally acceptable design, quality and
packaging toforeign buyers? Ifnot,what aretheproblems?
Reply: Intheagro-food (tropical fruit) crafts andfishery sectors, some Guinean enterprises
havemanaged toenter foreign markets, butunder unfavourable conditions because ofpoorproduct
design, packaging andselection.
(k) What problems, other thaninterms oftrade policy, doyouanticipate indeveloping the
export ofservices (e.g.computer software, tourism)?
Reply: InthecaseofGuinea, tourism isaservice sector withamajor potential, i.e.open-air
tourism, seaside resorts, eco-tourism andthepossibility ofintegrating Guinea insubregional tourist
circuits andasacountry between twoareas withatourist tradition, Senegal andCôted'Ivoire.
Withreference totrade support services, Guinea 'sstrategic position could beputtogooduse
fortransshipment operations toneighbouring countries andparticularly land-locked countries inthe
Sahel.
(l) What arethetechnical/professional problems encountered bytrade support institutions
(e.g.trade promotion council, chamber ofcommerce, exporters association, etc.)inyourcountry
inproviding their services toexport/import enterprises?
Reply: Trade support institutions: theChamber ofCommerce andIndustry ofGuinea, the
Guinean National Council ofEmployers, theGuinean Association ofBusinessmen, theAssociation
ofWomen Entrepreneurs, theGuinean Association ofBusinesswomen, theGuinean National Federation
ofArtisans, andtheREFLEG dofacetechnical andprofessional problems:
- Lack ofmaterial, financial andhuman resources;
- lackofmotivation oftarget/member groups;
- inadequate management andlackoftraining andinformation;
- atthestrictly institutional level, noclearly defined platform forliaison andconcerted
action withthecompetent public authority.
(m) What problems anddeficiencies areexperienced byenterprises intheir international
purchasing andinventory management?WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page20
Reply: Ininternational purchasing management Guinean enterprises facevarious problems,
more particularly:
- Poorinformation;
- distance from sources ofinformation;
- travel difficulties forbusinessmen (visas andother constraints);
- highpassenger andgoods transport costs;
- ignorance ofsupply markets, often leading toasingle channel: (traders, unavoidable
sources);
- ignorance ofinternational trade rules andpractices.
Itshould benoted inconnection withinventory management thatremote sources ofsupply
involve lengthy time-frames andthisleads totheneedtokeepandmanage stocks atcomparatively
highcost,something thatGuinean operators havenotmastered.
Allofthese factors involve losses andextra costs thathaveanimpact onthemanagement of
enterprises inGuinea.
(n) What arethepresent availability andarrangements fortrade finance facilities (e.g.export
credit guarantees, etc.)? Arethere anyperceived deficiencies inthisarea?
Reply: Asforforeign trade finance, withtheexception ofimports financed bybanks athigh
interest rates (24to30percent), there isatthepresent timenoexport financing orexport credit
guarantee system. There isamajor deficiency inthisarea.
(o) What arethemain problems inthewayofimproving export/import management skills
ofyour business enterprises? Doyouhave training programmes inthecountry? What arethe
deficiencies?
Reply:Promotionbodies(chamberofcommerce,privatesectorassociations)intendedtoprovide
stafftraining donotprovide anybecause ofthelackofhuman, financial andmaterial resources.
Atthehigher level, onlytheFaculty ofEconomics oftheUniversity ofConakry offers training
inbusiness management.
Thedeficiencies arefeltabove allinmid-level training andon-the-job training capable of
responding better toenterprises 'needs.
(p) Does your trade representation service actively promote your trade? What arethe
weaknesses?
Reply: Thetrade representation services donotmanage topromote Guinea 'sforeign trade
effectively. They appear tofulfil amore diplomatic thaneconomic function. Itshould benoted that
there areonlytwoposts forTrade Attachés.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page21
TheMinistry ofForeign Affairs hassetupaResearch andEconomic Studies Unittodesign
andlaunch anactive development diplomacy thatwillbebased onanetwork oftrade representations
withtherequisite promotion skills.
(q) Briefly describe yourtechnical assistance needs intheareas oftrade promotion andsupport
services.
Reply: Technical assistance needs intrade promotion andsupport services:
- Strengthening ofprivate sector promotion institutions;
- trade information;
- training;
- support forenterprises;
- support forthecountry indevising anexport policy follow-up strategy;
- making good twomajor deficiencies inregard totheinstitutional framework
andthelegalandregulatory framework;
- institutional framework: define theroleofState, entrepreneurs andpublic and
private institutions operating inthisarea, specifying eachone'sfunctions;
- legalandregulatory framework: setthiswithin theframework oftheRepublic
ofGuinea 'saccession totheWTO, establish therights andduties of
entrepreneurs, encourage exports, draftandpublicize allrelevant procedures;
- helptoremove major constraints, more particularly:
- economic information;
- professional training foroperators andofficials;
- improvement oflogistics toprovide reliable andcompetitive supports for
exports;
- improvement ofthetrade operations financing system, particularly exports,
toplace itunder competitive conditions andcosts;
- support torationalize imported supplies asasource ofcompetitiveness;
- contribution totheintroduction ofstandardization andquality control,
particularly forexport firms;
- development ofaidforexport support andincentives. They would include:
- Improved management oftemporary (customs) admission andthe
introduction ofdrawback (seeAnnex);
- introduction ofasystematic development approach toexports (OPE);WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page22
- development ofexport diagnosis andmarket study capacities (OPE
andCCIG);
- examination ofways andmeans todevelop credit insurance;
- promotion andapplication ofincentives.
These support needs willbeworked outafteradopting theabove-mentioned strategy.
Market access
(r) What areyour main market access problems?
Reply: Themarket access problems arealready listed above inquestions B(a), (c),(e),(h)
and(j).
Themain problems encountered inconnection withtheEuropean Union concern:
- Compliance byGuinean products withthestandards foraccess totheEuropean Union
markets (e.g.compliance withtheEuropean Union Directive ofJuly1991onimports
offishery products);
- strong competition fromlikeproducts supplied byother countries withbetter control
overdistribution channels, thecomparatively highcostofinternational transport and
freight facilities from Guinea;
- apoor, non-diversified export basewhich doesnotplace Guinea inaposition toact
asaregular supplier, notably inthecaseofsome agricultural products.
(s) What specific problems onbarriers, andinwhich countries, aremost troublesome for
your exporters?
Reply: Withregard tosubregional trade, poorinfrastructures forproduction financing aswell
astechnical barriers totrade (formalities andprocedures, numerous controls), areamark ofthe
difficultiesindevelopingtrade,togetherwiththestrongimpactofimportsfromnon-ECOWAScountries.
Regional integration should leadtomuch more fluidtrade.
More generally, theproblems andobstacles troublesome toexporters are:
- Market management;
- product adaptation tospecific markets;
- compliance withtheparticular quality standards andrequirements ofeachmarket;
- trade contacts andbusiness travel hindered byrestrictions onbusinessmen entering
countries/markets.
Furthermore, inviewofthefactthatexport production consists essentially ofprimary products
frommining orplant oranimal products withlittleprocessing, thecostlargely depends onthetrade
practices ofthemain industrial users whoprocess them inthedeveloped countries.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page23
Theprice movements overthepast20years forthemain commodities arepartly explained
bythepre-eminence ofcertain large international groups which influence international trade flows in
suchproducts.
Thepartacountry likeGuinea could playinupgrading itsproducts byprocessing, along with
itspotential, could wellbethekeytomore effective integration inworld trade.
Compliance withtheparticular quality standards andrequirements ofeachmarket.
Trade contacts andbusiness travel hindered byrestrictions onbusinessmen entering
countries/target markets.
(t) Regional andsubregional trading arrangements (RTAs): please listRTAs towhich your
country belongs. Areyousatisfied withtheperformance withthese RTAs? Please state the
problems ofeach. Doyouhave suggestions onhowtosolve these?
Reply: Guinea isamember ofthefollowing regional andsubregional groups:
- Economic Community ofWest African States (ECOWAS);
- Mano River Union (MRU);
- Lomé Convention (ACP/EU).
ECOWAS suffers fromtheunstable geopolitical situation inthesubregion. Accordingly, its
roleasaneconomic integration bodytakessecond place inviewofthesubregion 'sconcern forstability
andthemaintenance ofpeace. ThisisalsotrueoftheMRU. Itisessential foreconomic priorities
toreturn totheforefront inthesubregion. Tothisend,Guinea hasbeenreaffirming itspolitical will
torevitalize these subregional groups andtheirroles asintegration bodies.
(u) Arethere anyproblems inutilizing theexisting market access preferences, suchasGSB,
GSTP? Please state thenature ofproblems relating toeachofthese.
Reply: Withregard tothepreference systems withwhich Guinea isassociated, problems have
beenencountered intraining operators tounderstand andusetheadvantages afforded bytheGSP:
- Centralization, distribution ofinformation togroups concerned bytheGSP;
- follow-up andcoordination ofthesystem ofpreferences atthenational level, which
areaffected by:
- Theextreme mobility ofthegovernment officials concerned;
- lackofpermanence among company staffandamong entrepreneurs
themselves.
(v) What areyour technical assistance needs withrespect tomarket access?
Reply: Thetechnical assistance needs withrespect tomarket access are:
- Market information andintelligence interms ofcompetition andgrowth;WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page24
- support formarket penetration capacity andtraining ofcommercial attachés andagents;
- production ofcatalogues, folders, CD-ROMs andregisters ofenterprises;
- useofinternational communications networks intheform ofaWebsitetopublicize
Guinean products andGuinea 'sexport potential inthevarious sectors.
C. Technical assistance
(a) Totheextent thiskindofinformation iseasily available, could youplease briefly describe
what trade-related assistance youhave received over thepastfiveyears from bilateral and
multilateral sources andwhatprojects/programmes arepresently under consideration inthisarea?
Reply:
1. Bilateral
- FICA (Foundation forAgricultural Investment andMarketing) project, started in1992
withUSAID funding, under implementation.
- RC2Project(Revitalizationofcoffee-growing)withFrenchassistancesince1988,under
implementation.
- DERIK (Kissidougou Integrated Development) Project, withtheaidoftheGovernment
oftheFRG toimprove coffee quality, under implementation.
2. Multilateral
- Sydonia withUNDP funding andUNCTAD execution.
- Umbrella Project forthePromotion ofAgricultural Exports (PCTEA), withWorld
Bank funding, under implementation.
- NationalSeminar,organizedbytheWTOontheUruguayRoundAgreements,Conakry,
April 1995;
- Regional Seminar ontheImpact oftheWTO Agreements ontheWest African
Economies, Abidjan, September 1996, sponsored bytheWTO withtheparticipation
oftheITCandfinanced bytheEuropean Union/ACP.
- Study oftheservices sector conducted in1992, withfinancing byUNCTAD 'sCAPAS
Programme;
- Seminar onCertain Trade Policy Instruments (anti-dumping, subsidies, countervailing
measures, safeguards andnotifications), Dakar, Senegal, May1997;
- ITCprogramming mission fortheformulation ofanaidproject forGuinean foreign
trade, inJune-July 1997.
(b) Please summarize yourtechnical assistance needs aswellastheneeds asreflected inthis
check-list. Please rank them interms ofpriority.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page25
Reply: Guinea 'sassistance needs may, interms ofpriority, belisted asfollows:
Firstly, Guinea needs aidindevising anexport strategy. Itmust include anumber
ofsubstrategies todevelop thesupply ofexportable products, improve export financing and
conditions, raisethestandard ofexportable products andcreate product promotion conditions
onforeign markets, aswellasdiversify export products andmarkets. Thestrategy should
atthesame timeattach importance tostructuring, tomanaging thecountry 'scomparative
advantage andtoenhancing human, financial andmaterial resources toimplement thestrategy.
Forthepurpose ofestablishing conditions foroptimum implementation, the
organizational, institutional, legalandregulatory framework forthedevelopment ofGuinea 's
foreign trade should bereviewed. Thiswould bedonetoovercome thepresent confusion in
thissector andsubstantially helptoguide thesector. Consideration should therefore begiven
totheneed forsupport tostreamline theorganization ofthesector, specify thefields of
competence ateachlevel: specify theduties ofeachinstitution, define theroleoftheState,
ofpublic andsemi-public institutions, ofprivate institutions andentrepreneurs, make minor
changes tothelawsandregulations, withclearly defined rights andduties forentrepreneurs,
introduce overall coordination ofthesystem andfavour synergies.
Contribute totheremoval ofthemajor constraints ondeveloping exportable products
andproduct promotion onforeign markets, notably by:
- Marked improvements inexport financing withthebestpossible coverage ofexport
activitiesundercompetitiveconditionsandatcompetitivecost,soastoreassurefinancial
institutions;
- amarked improvement inexport andimport logistics bycompetitive supply interms
ofvolume, price, delivery periods andsafety, along withanimproved legalframework;
- introducing databases forforeign trade support organizations.
IntheMinistry forthePromotion oftheIndustrial andCommercial Private Sector
(MPSPIC):databasesonpolicies,procedures,legalaspects,supplementedbya"resourcecentre"
andnational "clearing house" formultilateral trade systems.
IntheGuinean Chamber ofCommerce andIndustry: databases chiefly on
microeconomic aspects (documents, statistical base, basic filesonnational enterprises, files
onsuppliers, customers, etc.);
- Link-up withinternational networks andinternational trade databases/servers;
- training, management oftrade information systems, forthevarious categories of
personnel;
- trainbusiness personnel tousemarket intelligence insupport ofimport andexport
decision-making;
- helpGuinea todevise anoccupational training system directed towards foreign trade,
particularly theexport sector, acting inconjunction withtheexisting university training
system inGuinea;WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page26
- contribute totheintroduction ofsupport forsupply planning, notably imported supplies,
soastoensure low-cost supply under optimum conditions fortheGuinean economy.
Similarly, action should bedirected towards government procurement;
- support forthestandardization andquality control thatGuinea isnowtrying tointroduce
butforwhich itlacks know-how andadequate facilities;
- helpGuinea todevelop, attheinstitutional level, export support andincentive capacities
bysuchaction as:
- streamlining management oftemporary admission bydefining clear andproperly
publicized procedures;
- introducingdrawbackunderaclearprocedureandstraightforwardsystemofapplication.
Operators willbeacquainted withtheprocedure andthesystem;
- contributing totheintroduction ofasystematic development approach toexports;
- helping tocreate expertise inenterprises toassist entrepreneurs; thiswillbelinked
inwiththetraining side;
- helping theGovernment tosetupasupport andincentive system forexport promotion;
- contributing tothetraining ofcommercial attachés andtrade officials abroad;
- helpentrepreneurs toimprove theirforeign market penetration capacity;
- supporting theexport promotion bodytodevelop, inconjunction withenterprises, an
information policy aimed atexternal markets, andtodosowiththeuseofnew
technologies andmodern methods (Internet).
These needs maybesetoutinthree priority categories:
(i) Training, including training oftrainers, information ontrade issues ingeneral andon
allmatters relating tobetter integration ofGuinea inworld trade, withmore active
participation innegotiations togainthegreatest advantage fromtheopportunities that
emerge intheimplementation oftheWTO Agreements, bystrengthening thecountry 's
economic andexport base;
(ii) study oftheimpact oftheWTO Agreements onGuinea 'seconomy andforeign trade
andidentification oftherequisite framework forstrengthening Guinea 'sforeign trade
environment. Thelawsandregulations willalsoneedtobeadapted andanappropriate
institutional arrangement willneedtobesetup.
(iii) rehabilitation andstrengthening ofinfrastructures, more particularly inhelping to
enhance product competitiveness formore active participation inworld trade.
(c) Inthelight oftheinformation youhave been abletoprovide sofarinresponse tothe
questions inthischeck-list, what types ofinformation are,inyour view, stillmissing orcould
beimproved upon? Inorder toassist youinproviding thismissing information, would youneed
technical assistance?WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page27
Reply: Toourmind, theinformation wehaveprovided sketches outtheproblems ofGuinea 's
foreign trade. Theannexed documents supplement some ofthepoints developed inthispaper.
However, asanLDC ill-equipped towithstand international competition, wewould haveliked
tolearnofthemeasures theWTO wasthinking oftaking, soastoavoid thepitfalls ofmarginalization:
- Arrangement oftransitional phases withsafeguard clauses fortheLDCs;
- establishment within theWTO ofworking groups ontheLDCs 'capacity towithstand
competition.
Thisshould bedone toprovide them withthemachinery andresources tobenefit from the
multilateral trading system rather thansimply suffer itsconstraints.
(d) Does your country have thetechnological capacity andhuman resources tomake useof
thenewinformation/communication technology toolssuchasCD-ROM, theInternet etc?What
assistance would youneedtoenable yourcountry tousethese toolsinthecontext oftraining and,
more generally, inthecontext oftrade development?
Reply: Since June 1997 Guinea hasbeen linked upwithInternet through theGuinean
Telecommunications Company (SOTELGUI) andthecountry thushassome technological andhuman
capacity tousethiscommunication tool.
Again, Guinea hasafairly largenumber ofmicro-computers, including some latest generation
computers withCD-ROM, multimedia, etc.
However, theMinistry ofForeign Trade, likemany enterprises andinstitutions, doesnothave
enough trained human resources inthisareatoutilize thesenewinformation andcommunication tools.
Accordingly, theRepublic ofGuinea would needassistance intraining andfamiliarization with
these toolsandtechnologies soastoconsider using them intheservice oftrade development andin
communication andinformation. Such assistance could involve training (establishing acorebody):
- Seminars, publicization anddissemination;
- creation ofanInternet site.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page28
Integrated Response
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion A(k):
Technical assistance forcompliance
withtheWTO Agreements
Contributions totheestablishment and
functioning, within theMPSPIC, ofa
resource centre onallaspects ofthe
WTO/Uruguay RoundWTO TheWTO willprovide assistance
forthefunctioning ofaresource
centre onallaspects ofthe
multilateral trading system. Such
support willconsist inparticular in
providing theunitwithequipment,
including computer equipment;
documentation onthemultilateral
trading system (1998-2000).
Equipping thecentre withthenecessary
telematic facilities forreal-time
information retrieval from automatic
links withtheWTO andpossibly with
specialized databases andprivate
servers inthisfieldWTO SeeC(d).
Systematic supply ofbasic
documentation forconsultation and
possible dissemination, which would
make theresource centre anational
clearing house onallaspects of
multilateral tradeUNCTAD Supply oftheTrade Analysis and
Information System (TRAINS).
CD-ROM.
WTO Seeabove response.
Training ofnational experts inthis
field, under aconsolidated programme
forgrooming national specialists with
thecompetence andscope toliaise with
associations ofbusinessmen andeven
enterprises atthedifferent levels ofthe
government andinterministerial
hierarchiesUNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE: Review of
trade training needs hasbeen
undertaken. Follow-up under
discussion.*
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page29
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(k)(cont'd):
WTO National experts willbetrained in
thefollowing types ofactivity:
-Athree-week trade policy
training course willbe
organized forfrancophone least
developed countries, including
Guinea (1998 and1999).
-TheWTO willorganize a
national seminar ontheWTO in
Guinea onthemultilateral
trading system, in1998.
-Specialized regional seminars
willbeorganized for
francophone leastdeveloped
countries in1998 and1999.
Drafting atraining plantopublicize the
content oftheWTO textsandtheir
implications forthemultilateral trading
system, directed atthefollowing target
groups:
(a)Senior officials inthetechnical
ministries, including customs
officials;
(b)high-level staffandexecutives of
thepublic andsemi-public trade
promotion bodies/agencies;
(c)permanent staffworking inthe
trade organizations/associations,
chamber ofcommerce, etc.;
(d)decision-makers ininternational
trading firms andbusinessmen
interested ininvesting intheexport
andimport trade;
(e)executives anddecision-makers at
different levels oftheforeign trade
support services: commercial
banking, logistics, transport/transit,
insurance.UNCTAD Seeabove (TRAINFORTRADE).*
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page30
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(k)(cont'd):
[Incooperation withshort-cycle
(technical colleges) andlong-cycle
(higher education institutions
(commercial andmanagement faculties
incolleges), systematic adjustment of
courses toinclude modern syllabuses
andmethods designed tomeetthe
needs oftheeconomy andthe
requirements ofmultilateral trade
procedures andrules (seepoint (e).]
UNDP/
UNCTAD/
UNIDOUnder theprivate sector support
programme nowbeing formulated,
UNDP could finance partofthe
training activities inconnection with
thisrequest.
UNDP/
UNCTADInaddition, UNCTAD willfinance
through theregional programme
RAF/96/001 some training activities
(attheregional level) inwhich
Guinean executives willbeableto
participate.
WTO SeeA(k)above.
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page31
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion A(l):
Technical assistance inthespecific
areas oftheWTO Agreements+
Market access
WTO Seeregional seminars-response to
question A(k).
Agriculture WTO Idem.
Rules oforigin WTO Idem.
TBTandSPS WTO Idem.
Trade-related investments WTO Idem.
Preshipment inspection
WB SGShandles preshipment inspection
inGuinea.
WTO Idem.
Government procurement WTO Idem.
Legal aspects offoreign trade
ITC TheGovernment willbeprovided
withthe"Juris" database onthe
legalaspects offoreign trade.
WTO TheWTO willprovide specific aid
toenable theGovernment to
implement theWTO Agreements
andtakebetter advantage ofthem
(1998-2000).
+Allthese fields show evidence ofinadequacies affecting thelevel ofcompetitiveness ofGuinea 'sforeign
trade, which continues tobecharacterized toasignificant extent bymethods andpractices more inkeeping with
thetrading customs ofthepastthanwithmodern international marketing.
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page32
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion A(m):
Assessment oftrade analysis and
negotiating capacities
Asfarastrade analysis isconcerned,
there isarealfundofskills and
experience, although theyremain
underutilized toaconsiderable extent,
labouring under theweight ofold-
fashioned routine andprocedural
constraints. Thefactremains,
however, thatselective supervision in
theform ofhigh-level evaluation and
consultation would bewelcome inthe
short andmedium term.
UNDP Theprivate sector support
programme UNDP isnowhelping
theGuinean Government to
formulate should takeoverpartof
theactivities connected withthis
need.
Inbothmultilateral andbilateral
negotiations, requiring stronger
capabilities atthepreparation aswellas
thefinalization stage, thecompetition
policy which, toourmind, iscentral to
theentire philosophy ofinternational
trade, should beunderstood byall
groups concerned, including
decision-makers, politicians and
economic operators.UNDP Theprivate sector support
programme UNDP isnowhelping
theGuinean Government to
formulate should takeoverpartof
theactivities connected withthis
need.
WB TheWorld Bank wishes tocover
these aspects inthecontext ofthe
forthcoming CAS.
WTO Intheshort trade policy training
courses (seeA(k)), atraining
module willbeincluded inthe
programme soastofamiliarize
participants withtrade negotiations.
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page33
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(m) (cont'd):
Since Guinea isatropical country and,
furthermore, anLDC where the
interaction between trade andthe
environment isofmajor concern andan
essential matter forthepurposes of
sustainable development:UNDP Under theIndustrialization
Guidelines, UNDP hasalready
helped theGovernment toidentify
priority sectors andconduct studies
toanalyse competitiveness in
12sectors, including timber,
building materials, fisheries,
textiles. Under theprivate sector
support programme nowbeing
formulated, UNDP could finance
additional studies iftheyprove
necessary.
-extraction oftropical timber, and
fragile ecosystems ofGuinea 's
rainforest;
-industrial investment andpromotion
ofanenvironmentally-friendly
manufacturing and/or sub-
contracting sector;
-introduction andstrengthening of
interministerial andnational
interagency technical assistance
capable ofdefining andmonitoring
theapplication ofnational and
international standards and
specifications, more particularly for
imports.UNDP Under theprivate sector support
programme nowbeing formulated,
UNDP intends toenhance the
capacity oftheInstitute of
Standardization andMetrology to
turnitintoagenuine quality control
centre.
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page34
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(g):
Technical assistance needs withrespect
tosupply constraints
Elaboration ofsectoral substrategies for
export supplies ofproducts inwhich
Guinea undeniably enjoys natural
advantages, (agriculture, fisheries,
stockbreeding, forestry, crafts and
mining)ITC Amission wassentinJuly1997 to
identify project components aspart
ofthenational SME support
programme forexport development,
nowbeing worked outwithUNDP.
Theexport promotion project will
include thefollowing components:
-Sectoral strategies forexports
-product promotion and
development
-Streamlining andimprovement
ofprocurement techniques.
UNDP Under theabove projects, UNDP
hasalready being assisting the
Government toelaborate sectoral
strategies foragriculture, fisheries,
stockbreeding, forestry, crafts and
mining. Cf.GUI/92/008 Industrial
Guidelines Management or
Agricultural Development Policy
Letter.
WB TheWorld Bank hasanagricultural
exports promotion project.
Improvement oftechniques forthe
supply ofvarious inputs and
equipment, notably bytraining national
managers inprocurement and
management techniques forimported
suppliesITC Seeabove.
WB Technical assistance bytheJapanese
Government.
Research, development andextension
programmes aimed atexport targetsITC Seeabove.
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page35
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(q):
Technical assistance needs intheareas
oftrade promotion andsupport services
Strengthening ofprivate sector
promotion institutionsITC Refer toB(g).
UNDP Under theintegrated SME assistance
programme, UNDP isalready
helping theSME Promotion Office
(OPIP). Institutional enhancement
activities arealsoscheduled for
private sector support facilities in
thecontext ofthenewprivate sector
support programme being
formulated.
Trade information ITC Aspecific module isbeing
developed withthepossibility of
financing byISDB andFrench
cooperatives (assistance tothe
Chamber ofCommerce).
Moreover, theTOPS business
opportunities database forECOWAS
member countries willbemade
available totheGovernment
(February 1998).
UNCTAD Supply ofTrade Analysis and
Information System (TRAINS).
SeealsoB(v)-Trade Point.
Training UNCTAD SeeA(k)-TRAINFORTRADE.
ITC SeeB(g).
WTO Seeresponses A(k)andA(l).
Support forenterprises ITC SeeB(g).
Support forthecountry indevising an
export policy strategy andinthe
follow-upITC SeeB(g).
Making good twomajor deficiencies in
regard totheinstitutional framework
andthelegalandregulatory
framework +
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page36
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(q)(cont'd):
+Institutional framework: define the
roleoftheState, entrepreneurs and
public andprivate institutions operating
inthisarea, specifying eachone's
functionsITC SeeB(g).
+Legal andregulatory framework:
setthiswithin theframework ofthe
Republic ofGuinea 'saccession tothe
WTO, establish therights andduties of
entrepreneurs, encourage exports, draft
andpublicize allrelevant procedures
UNDP Theframework private sector
programme willtakeoverpartof
theactivities relating tothisneed.
Follow-up financing required.
Help toremove major constraints,
more particularly:
-Economic information
-professional training foroperators
andofficials
ITC SeeB(g)andabove.
WTO Seeresponses A(k), A(l)andA(m).
Improvement oflogistics toprovide
reliable andcompetitive support for
exportsITC Refer toB(g)
UNCTAD ASYCUDA being installed.
Improvement ofthetrade, particularly
export, operations financing system,
withcompetitive conditions andcosts,
inother words, comparable tothose of
competitorsITC Refer toB(g).
(Support torationalize imported
supplies asasource ofcompetitiveness)
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page37
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(q)(cont'd):
Contribution totheintroduction of
standardization andquality control,
particularly forexport firms.ITC Refer toB(g).
Development ofcapacity forexport
support andincentives, including:
-improved management of
temporary (customs) admission and
theintroduction ofdrawback;
-introduction ofasystematic
development approach toexports
(OPE);
-development ofexport diagnosis of
market study capacities (OPE and
CCIG);
-examination ofways andmeans to
develop credit insurance;
-promotion andapplication of
incentives.
(These support needwillbeworked
afteradopting theabove-mentioned
strategy)
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page38
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(v):
Technical assistance needs withrespect
tomarket access
Market information andintelligence in
terms ofcompetition andgrowthITC SeeB(g)andB(q).
Support formarket penetration capacity ITC SeeB(g)andB(q).
Training ofcommercial attaches and
agents
Production ofcatalogues, folders,
CD-ROMS andregisters ofenterpriseITC SeeB(q).
Useofinternational communications
networks intheform ofaWEB siteto
publicize Guinean products and
Guinea 'sexport potential inthevarious
sectorsUNCTAD/
ITCCreation ofaTrade Point tobe
accompanied bytraining activities
onthetools tolinkGuinea upwith
theWorld Trade Points Network.*
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page39
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion C(b):
Summary oftechnical assistance needs
interms ofpriority
(Inthree priority categories):
Training, including training oftrainers,
information ontrade issues ingeneral
andonallmatters relating tobetter
integration ofGuinea inworld trade,
withmore active participation in
negotiations togainthegreatest
advantage from theopportunities that
emerge intheimplementation ofthe
WTO Agreements, bystrengthening the
country 'seconomic andexport base.
ITC/
UNCTADStrengthening ofinternational trade
training institutions iscovered by
project RAF/96/001.
UNCTAD SeeA(k)-TRAINFORTRADE:
Review oftrade training needs.
Follow-up isunder way.*
WTO Seeresponses toA(k), A(l)and
A(m).
Study oftheimpact ofthe
WTO Agreements onGuinea 's
economy andforeign trade and
identification oftherequisite
framework forstrengthening Guinea 's
foreign trade environment. Thelaws
andregulations willalsoneedtobe
adapted andanappropriate institutional
arrangement willneedtobesetup.UNCTAD Anevaluation oftheimpact ofthe
WTO Agreements onGuinea 's
foreign trade anditsoverall
economic situation isplanned.*
Rehabilitation andstrengthening of
infrastructures, more particularly in
helping toenhance product
competitiveness formore active
participation inworld trade.ITC SeeB(g)andB(q).
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page40
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion C(d):
Technological capacity andhuman
resources tomake useofthenew
information technology tools
Since June1997, Guinea hasbeen
linked withInternet through the
Guinean Telecommunications Company
(SOTELGUI) andthecountry thushas
some technological andhuman capacity
tousethiscommunication tool
Again, Guinea hasafairly large
number ofmicro-computers, including
some latest generation computers with
CD-ROM, multimedia, etc.However,
theMinistry ofTrade, likemany
enterprises andinstitutions, doesnot
haveenough trained human resources
inthisareatoutilize these new
information andcommunication tools.UNDP TheInternet Project oftheUNDP
Regional Bureau forAfrica
(RAF/96/002 andRAF/96/001)
willtakeoverpartoftheactivities
related tothisrequest.
Accordingly, theRepublic ofGuinea
would needassistance intraining and
familiarization withthese tools and
technologies soastoconsider using
them intheservice oftrade
development andincommunication and
information. Such assistance could
involve training (establishing acore
body):
-Seminars, publicization and
dissemination;
-creation ofanInternet site.WB/WTO Internet linkwithWCO possible in
thecontext ofthejointWB-WTO
project.
WTO TheWTO willbeabletoprovide a
computer andalaserprinter forthe
Government 'sfocal point for
multilateral trading system issues.
(1998)
TheWTO willalsobeabletomake
thenecessary link-up ofthefocal
point withInternet andprovide
Guinea withCD-ROMs. Itwill
alsoprovide training intheuseof
computer andelectronic equipment.
(1998)
*Financing toberequested.WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
Page41
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Response
UNCTAD/
ITCSeeB(v)-Trade Point.
*Financing toberequested.