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Description / Overview:
This project will build on the results of the Preparatory Assistance for Trade Policy Reform and WTO Pre-Accession Project implemented by UNDP from 2006 to 2008. However, its focus will not only be on the WTO accession, but also on trade policy reform and negotiation of Trade Agreements at large.
Objectives:
This project aims to strengthen the capacities of the Syrian Ministry of Economy and Trade and other mandated government institutions to negotiate, interpret and implement trade agreements (bilateral, regional and multilateral) and to formulate appropriate policy responses to the challenges of integration with the global economy.
Further, while work on the harmonization of Syria’s legal and regulatory framework in the areas of trade, investment and economic governance with international best practices and standards will continue, more emphasis will be placed on enhancing the capacities of the MoET to analyze the potential implications of deeper integration with the global economy and to formulate a trade strategy consistent with Syrian development goals.
Target Beneficiaries:
- Ministry of Economy and Trade (WTO Directorate)
- Inter- Ministerial Taskforce
- State Planning Commission
- Private Sector
Implementation Strategy:
- Provide technical support for the revision of current legal framework related to trade and trade policy reform through establishing a Research Unit within the MoET.
- - Develop the capacity of the new Task Force for WTO Pre-Accession in the area of international economic agreements (such as GATT, WTO and other bilateral and regional agreements), trade policies, negotiating strategies and WTO accession requirements.
- - Undertake an analysis of the current situation of export promotion and then to develop a proposal to support the Export Promotion Agency
Achievements / Current Status:
- Awareness on the importance of trade reform and WTO accession raised.
- Numerous laws in cooperation with UNCTAD and ESCWA such as Investment, Trade, Competition and Disputes Settlement Laws in accordance with WTO Rules and Regulations revised.
- Draft laws in a special workshop ‘Towards Harmonisation between Syrian Domestic Laws and WTO Rules and Regulations’ discussed.
- Support the establishment of WTO Directorate within the Ministry of Economy and Trade supported through drafting the TOR of National Committee and
- WTO Directorate furnished and equipped with all IT equipment and fully active.
- Trainings on drafting the Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime, Trade Intelligence, Market Analysis Tools and Trade information Sources to the Inter- Ministerial Committee and Private Sector conducted.
- 2 Trainings for 20 officials in UNCTAD Geneva on WTO Rules and Regulations.
- Two workshops for parliamentarians and journalists on WTO Rules and Regulations held.
- Important recommendations to support the Syrian Government were issued during the Third Arab Conference on WTO in cooperation with the Arab Administrative Development Organisation.
- Establishing a Research Unit within the MoET that is currently working on the following:
- Guide on WTO Rules and Regulations
- Sectorial studies and Analysis of Trade Agreements.
- Training the national team on WTO conventions.
Partnerships:
- Ministry of Economy and Trade
- State Planning Commission
- Line ministries
- Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCWA)
- UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Project Documents Link:
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