WORLD TRADE WT/COMTD/IF/8*
24November 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-5144)
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
NEPAL
*Aprevious version ofthisdocument wascirculated asWT/LDC/HL/12/Add.8.
1Thefirstpartofthisdocument, which includes theneeds-assessment fortrade-related technical assistance,
prepared byNepal, iscontained indocument WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.8 andisnotreproduced inthisdocument.WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page2
INTEGRATED RESPONSE BYIMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, WORLD BANK AND WTO
TOTHE NEEDS-ASSESSMENT OFNEPAL
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion A(k):
Technical assistance requirements as
regards compliance withWTO
Agreements
Expertise services onsubstantial and
procedural aspects related toWTOUNDP UNDP iscurrently assisting HMG of
Nepal toinitiate thepreparatory work
(review ofpolicy andlegal framework) for
theaccession toWTO.
WTO Assistance willbeprovided toNepal inthe
course ofitsaccession process tothe
WTO.
Training toenhance thehuman and
institutional capacities inboth
government andprivate sectorsIMF Inaddition toneeds identified, assistance
willbeneeded toimprove balance of
payments statistics. AFund expert will
soon begin asixmonth assignment in
Katmandu toassist theauthorities in
improving thequality andcoverage of
balance ofpayments statistics, including
trade account items.
UNCTAD UNCTAD toprovide technical assistance
toNepal inthefollowing areas:
(i)preparation ofbackground and
assessment studies
(ii)consultancy andadvisory missions on
specific issues
(iii)capacity-building fornational trade
experts andtrade officials intheform of
individual orgroup training activities.*
UNDP UNDP hasjustformulated aproject
designed to:1)develop institutional and
human resource capacity intheareaof
trade policy formulation, and2)improve
technical capacities ofHMG ofNepal to
conduct multilateral trade negotiations and
participate effectively intheWTO
membership.
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page3
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(k) (cont.): WTO -Athree-week trade policy course for
English-speaking Least-developed
countries willbeheld(1998 and1999).
-National seminars ontheWTO system
willbeorganized (1998) inselected Least-
Developed countries including Nepal.
-Seminars and/or workshops onWTO
provisions willbeorganized (1998 and
1999) forAsia andPacific region.
National capacity build up WTO Please refer toWTO response aboveWT/COMTD/IF/8
Page4
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion A(l):
Technical assistance needs asregards
specific WTO Agreements
Agriculture WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
Rules WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
TRIPs WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
TRIMs WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
Dispute settlement WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
Textiles ITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)below
WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
Services UNCTAD/
UNDPUNCTAD toprovide assistance todevelop
endogenous national policy-making
capacity inareas ofdomestic service
sector policy andmultilateral negotiations
onservices.*
WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
Multilateral trade negotiations UNCTAD Please refer tosection A(k) above
UNDP Please refer tosection A(k) above
WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
Bilateral trade negotiations
TBT ITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)
below.
WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
SPS ITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)
below.
WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
above
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page5
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(l)(cont.):
Competition policy WTO Information anddocumentation willbe
provided relating tothework being
undertaken inaccordance withthe
Singapore Ministerial Decision.WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page6
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion A(m):
Assessment oftheexisting trade
analysis andnegotiating capacities
Some capacity exists, however,
orientation programmes have tobe
launched tomake thecapacity stronger,
andperfect from theWTO Agreements
perspective.ITC Nepal willbenefit from theSAARC
regional project where alsoissues pertinent
tothenewmultilateral trading systems
willbedealt with.
UNCTAD Please refer tosection A(k) above.
UNDP UNDP alsointends toassist Nepalese
officials inelaborating optimal approaches
intheWTO accession process, particularly
inmaking aninventory ofrelevant
problems tobesolved bothofinternal and
external nature. Inaddition, UNDP will
strengthen knowledge ofNepalese official
ofmultilateral trade negotiations ’
techniques andtactics inorder toimprove
their negotiating capacity, provide advice
intrade policy formulation, particularly
relating totheWTO accession, and
support theNepalese negotiating team.
WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k)
aboveWT/COMTD/IF/8
Page7
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion B(g):
Technical assistance needs asregards
supply constraintsWorld Bank In1998 theForeign Investment Advisory
Service (FIAS) willconduct analysis and
prepare recommendations onthe
framework forforeign investment in
electric power production.
Improved technology forproduction
increase anddiversification andquality
developmentITC ITCprogramme design andadvisory
mission requested byGovernment of
Nepal andplanned forearly 1998. Areas
ofintervention already identified include
product adaptation anddevelopment and
strengthening oftrade promotion bodies.
UNDP Agricultural sector:
UNDP hasrecently started itswork on
sericulture development, andisdeveloping
anagriculture diversification programme.
Thesericulture project covers abroad
range ofsupports having capacity
enhancement anditsmain component, with
theendgoalofincreasing theproduction
ofsilkfabric, andmarketing iteffectively
tomeet some oftheglobal demand for
silk. Theagriculture diversification
programme istargeting highvalue andlow
volume crops, such asagro-seeds, cut
flower, herbs, andmedicinal plants, for
thehillsandtheremote region ofNepal.
Inforestry:
UNDP iscurrently working increating
andmaintaining asustainable buffer zone
around aNational Park, andpreserving
thebio-diversity ofaconservation area.
Under trade diversification:
There aresome programmes which
indirectly mayleadtosuch ascenario.
Forexample, therural/urban partnership
programme envisages tofacilitate market
integration between therural andurban
areas, andthemicro enterprise
Development programme envisages to
build successful entrepreneurs and
enterprises which would meet thedemands
ofthelocal aswellaswider markets.WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page8
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question B(g)(cont.):
World Bank Agricultural sector:
Current activities support increased
production andproductivity inagriculture
through thefollowing:
(a)Irrigation project
(b)Road maintenance andrehabilitation
project
(c)Agricultural research andextension
project
(d)Rural infrastructure project.
Improved communication facilities and
system (information technology)ITC/
UNDPNepal tobenefit from aregional trade
development project, where trade
information willalsobeincorporated.
Additionally ITCinitiated anetwork of
TPOs intheSAARC member countries,
which will, inter alia, include exchanging
trade information.
World Bank Acurrent Telecommunications project will
provide telephone service across the
country including rural areas; also
support totheregulatory agency.
Alternative transportation mode and
routeUNCTAD UNCTAD toassist inreviewing this
particular problem (taking intoaccount the
World Bank project).*
World Bank Multimodal transit andTrade Facilitation
Project: (initiated May 1997)
(a)build atBirgunj aninland freight
terminal facility forrailandroadtransport
(b)build atBiratnagar andatBhairawa
ITFforroad transport
(c)procure essential equipment forthe
ITF, including acontain tracking and
information system
(d)technical assistance fortherelevant
ministries
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page9
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion B(q):
Technical assistance needs inthearea
oftrade promotion andsupport servicesWorld Bank Please refer toWorld Bank response to
B(g)
UNDP Please refer toUNDP response toB(g)
Training ofhuman resources inareas
such asexport promotion, trade
information, product designing, export
marketing, quality standards, price,
export incentives, andsoonITC Please refer toB(g).
Inaddition, anadvisory mission and
training event onquality management for
export willbeheldearly 1998.
UNDP Please refer toUNDP response toB(g)
World Bank Please refer toWorld Bank response to
B(g)
Information technology facilities UNDP Through itsMechanism forExchange of
Technology Information (RAS/94/060)
UNDP istoestablish aviable and
responsive region-wide interactive network
tofacilitate information dissemination on
environmentally friendly technologies
among small andmedium scale enterprises
(SMEs).
Regular supply ofup-to-date
informationUNCTAD UNCTAD Data Base onTrade Control
Measures andthedissemination of
information through CD-ROM (TRAINS)
willcontinue tobeprovided.
UNDP UNDP hasdesigned aregional programme
whose objective istoaccelerate economic
reform, international trade and
technological advancement inAsia andthe
Pacific through modernisation ofnational
intellectual property rights systems,
fostering technology acquisition anduse,
indigenous technology development, trade
promotion anddevelopment ofmarkets.
Measures toreduce transportation cost UNCTAD UNCTAD toassist inreviewing this
particular problem (taking intoaccount the
World Bank project).*
World Bank Please refer toWorld Bank response to
B(g)
Quality improvement ITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)and
above
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page10
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question B(q)(cont.):
Market promotion ITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)
UNDP Please refer toUNDP response toB(g)WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page11
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion B(v):
Technical assistance asregards market
access
Rules oforigin UNDP Please refer toUNDP answer toA(k)
WTO Please refer toWTO answer toA(l)
Technical Barriers toTrade (TBT) ITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)
UNDP Please refer toUNDP answer toA(k)
WTO Please refer toWTO answer toA(l)
Sanitary andPhyto-sanitary Standard
(SPS)ITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)
UNDP Please refer toUNDP answer toA(k)
WTO Please refer toWTO answer toA(l)
Generalized System ofPreference
(GSP)UNCTAD UNCTAD technical assistance activities on
GSP tobeextended toNepal.*
UNDP Please refer toUNDP answer toA(k)
Anti-Dumping UNDP Please refer toUNDP answer toA(k)
WTO Please refer toWTO answer toA(l)
Subsidies UNDP Please refer toUNDP answer toA(k)
WTO Please refer toWTO answer toA(l)
Safeguards WTO Please refer toWTO answer toA(l)
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page12
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion C(b):
Summary oftechnical assistance needs
according topriorityIMF Please refer toIMF response toA(k)
Improved technology toincrease
production anddevelop quality
exportable agriculture products,
carpets, textiles, andexport-oriented
industriesITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)
Nepal willalsobenefit from aSAARC
sub-regional programme ontrade
development, which willinclude detailed
studies onagricultural products and
textiles.
UNDP Please refer toUNDP response toB(g)
Training forhuman resource and
institutional developmentITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)
UNCTAD Please refer toUNCTAD response toA(k)
UNDP Please refer toUNDP responses toA(m)
andB(g)
WTO -Athree-week trade policy course for
English-speaking Least-developed
countries willbeheld(1998 and1999).
-National seminars ontheWTO system
willbeorganized (1998) inselected Least-
Developed countries including Nepal.
-Seminars and/or workshops onWTO
provisions willbeorganized (1998 and
1999) forAsia andPacific region.
Improved communication facilities and
systems (Information Technology)ITC Please refer toITCresponse toB(g)
UNDP Please refer toUNDP response toB(q)
World Bank Please refer toWorld Bank response to
B(g)
Expertise services onsubstance and
procedural aspects related toWTOUNCTAD UNCTAD toprovide assistance todevelop
endogenous national policy-making
capacity inareas ofdomestic service
sector policy andmultilateral negotiations
onservices.*
*Funds arerequested.WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page13
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question C(b) (cont.):
UNDP Please refer toUNDP response toA(k)
WTO Please refer toWTO response toA(k) and
A(l)
Market research andstudies forthe
exportable productsITC Please refer toITCresponse under B(g)
andB(q)
UNDP Please refer toUNDP response toA(k)
andB(g)
Improved technology andmanagement
system inservices sectorUNDP Please refer toUNDP response toA(k),
B(g)andB(q)
Management information system UNCTAD Please refer toUNCTAD response toB(q)
UNDP Please refer toUNDP response toB(q)
Identify alternative transport mode and
routeUNCTAD Please refer toUNCTAD response toB(g)
World Bank Please refer toWorld Bank response to
B(g)WT/COMTD/IF/8
Page14
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inreply toquestion C(d):
Technical assistance needs inthearea
ofinformation technology including
training ofhuman resources
Training forskilled manpower
development through seminars,
workshops, exposures andsoonITC SeeITCresponse toB(g)
UNDP Please refer toUNDP response toA(k)
andB(g)
Establishment ofmodern information
technologyITC SeeITCresponse toB(g)
WTO Training willbemade onaccess anduse
ofinternet resource. CD-Roms willalso
beprovided. Onecomputer andaprinter
willbeprovided bytheWTO tothe
Ministry ofTrade andIndustry. This
includes alinktoInternet. (1998)
Other agencies indicated awillingness to
cooperate withtheGovernment toidentify
specific needs inoperational terms and
establish priorities. Further consultations
withtheGovernment willbenecessary to
develop specific projects andprogrammes
andtoexplore funding.
Infrastructure development Agencies indicated awillingness to
cooperate withtheGovernment toidentify
specific needs inoperational terms and
establish priorities. Further consultations
withtheGovernment willbenecessary to
develop specific projects andprogrammes
andtoexplore funding.