WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/IF/23
3 March 1998
(98-0814)
Committee on Trade and Development
Integrated Framework for Trade-RelatedTechnical AssistanceOriginal:  French
TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS
ASSESSMENT SUBMITTED BY MAURITANIA
INTEGRATED RESPONSES BY THE WORLD BANK,
ITC, UNCTAD, IMF, WTO AND UNDP1
MAURITANIA
                                                     
1 Published in accordance with the provisions of para graph 5(e) of the integrated framework for trade-
related technical assistance (WT/LDC/HL/1/Rev.1).WT/COMTD/IF/23
Page 2
TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS
ASSESSMENT SUBMITTED BY MAURITANIA
MAURITANIA
Description of technical assistance Beneficiary Possible source Priority
Study to assess the impact of the WTO Agreements on Mauritania
and definition of adjustment measures and strategies.DCE WB
WTOUNCTAD
ITC1
Establishment of a Trade Point:
1. Training of human resources;
2. purchase of equipment;
3. Internet access.DCE
Trade Point
CIMDETWTO
UNCTAD
ITC2
Assistance with the implementation of the WTO Agreements. DCE
CustomsWTO
UNCTAD
ITC3
Definition and establishment of an export finance and guarantee
body (EXIMBANK type).Banking and
financial sectorFADES
ADBIDB
IFC4
Assistance with training:
1. In international trade;
2. in international trade negotiations and;
3. in export management.CGEM
Customs
DCE
CCIAILO
WTO5
Financing of a coordination and monitoring unit for the
implementation of the WTO Agreements.DCEWTO
UNDPIDB6
Training in new information technologies and the Internet. All sectorsWB
UNCTAD 7WT/COMTD/IF/23
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Description of technical assistance Beneficiary Possible source Priority
Aid for livestock farming:
1. Development of intensive livestock farming;
2. installation of a slaughtering and conservation production
line;
3. assistance with the exploitation of by-products.MDRE
CGEM
Industry andcommerceWB
IDB
ADBFAOUNIDOITC8
Assistance with the competitiveness of enterprises (management and
quality).CGEM
CCIAISO
UNIDO
ITC9
Assistance with notifications. DCE WTO
UNCTAD
ITC10
Definition and establishment of an investment guarantee fund. BCM FADES
ADBIFC
.....11
Assistance with the establishment of an industrial free-point regime. CGEM
Plan, industryWTO
UNIDO12
Assistance with the single investment window (equipment, training)
(under way) consolidation.Plan WB 13
Training of economic trend and foreign market analysts. CGEM
DCE
CCIA
ONSBCMWTO
ITC14
Collection and dissemination of economic and trade information,
including regulations:
1. For the countries of the subregion;
2. for other countries.DCE
CIMDET
CCIA
CGEMWTO
ECOWAS
AMU
WAEMUIDBADB
UNCTAD
ITC15
Consolidation of the simplification of customs tariff procedures:
assistance with the introduction of the harmonized system.Customs
CGEM
CCIAWCO 16WT/COMTD/IF/23
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Description of technical assistance Beneficiary Possible source Priority
Study and establishment of a tr ade arbitration body. Justice UNDP
WB17
Assistance with the establishment of a competition policy in keeping
with the WTO Agreements.DAC
DCE
IndustryWTO
UNCTAD
ITC18
Import quality control. Customs
DCEITC 19
Assistance with the implementation of the General Agreement on
Trade in Services.MCAT
CGEM
BCMWTO 20
Strengthening of the conformity assessment infrastructure (various
laboratories).Health sector,
fisheries, animal
husbandry,
agriculture, tradeand industryWTO 21
Logistical support for customs. Customs WTO
WCO22
Assistance with protection of inte llectual property rights. Industry
DCEWTO
WIPO
AIPO23
All these requests for technical assistance can be subdivided according to whether they relate
to the integration of the Mauritanian economy into international trade or to its integration into the
WTO (compliance with WTO rules, alignment of legislation, etc.).
The following requests correspond to alignment of the legislation on the WTO rules:Nos.: 3, 6, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 23.
The requests for assistance to improve the integration of the Mauritanian economy into
international trade are as follows:
Nos.:  1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 19.
Some requests appear under both these headings, specifically requests 7, 13 and 15.The satisfaction of these technical assistance needs of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
would make it possible to comply with the Worl d Trade Organization Agreements and improve the
integration of the Mauritanian economy into the world economy and regional and international trade.WT/COMTD/IF/23
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INTEGRATED RESPONSES BY THE WORLD BANK,
ITC, UNCTAD, IMF, WTO AND UNDP
MAURITANIA
Technical assistance needs identified in the
questionnaireOrganization Response
Technical assistance needs determined by the
Islamic Republic of Mauritania as regards
improved participation in the WTO and
international trade, in order of priority:
1. Study to assess the impact of the WTO
Agreements on Mauritania and definition of
adjustment measures and strategies.UNCTAD/
UNDPUNCTAD will assist with the assessment and
determination of the general impact of
globalization and liberalization on the country
with a view to facilitating the alignment of tradepolicy on the various WTO Agreements.
*
The UNDP could absorb part of the cost of thisstudy through the regional project RAF/96/001.Additional financing required.
2. Establishment of a Trade Point:
(a) Training of human resources;
(b) purchase of equipment;
(c) Internet access.ITC/
UNCTADTraining and Internet access activities are being
discussed in the context of the jointUNCTAD/ITC/ECOWAS trade informationproject.
ITC The TOPS database on trade opportunities for
ECOWAS member countries will be madeavailable to the Ministry of Trade.
UNCTAD In this context, a Trade Point will be installed,
together with the necessary equipment and thetraining required to operate it, including
connection to the Internet.  (Additional financing
requested.)
                                                     
* Financing to be requested.WT/COMTD/IF/23
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Technical assistance needs identified in the
questionnaireOrganization Response
Technical assistance needs in order of priority
(cont'd):
3. Assistance with the implementation of WTO
Agreements.WTO The WTO is ready to provide Mauritania with
assistance in aligning its national laws and
regulations on the WTO Agreements.
An evaluation mission will be programmed in
1998 to determine the necessary adjustments.
4. Definition and establishment of an export
finance and guarantee body (EXIMBANK type).
5. Assistance with training:
(a) In international trade;
(b) in international trade negotiations;
(c) in export management.WTO - A national seminar will be organized in
1998.
- Participation of Mauritanian representatives
in the specialized seminars organized in 1998
and 1999 for French-speaking LDCs.
- A three-week trade policy training course
will be organized in 1998 and 1999 for
French-speaking LDCs.  Part of this course
will be devoted to multilateral tradenegotiation simulations.
UNDP The UNDP will take responsibility for part of this
request under the regional project RAF/96/001.
6. Financing of a coordination and monitoringunit for the implementation of the WTOAgreements.
7. Training in new information technologies andthe Internet.ITC/
UNCTADSee item 2.
UNDP The Internet project defined by the UNDP
Regional Office for Africa (RAF/96/021) willhelp the Government to define an Internet access
policy.WT/COMTD/IF/23
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Technical assistance needs identified in the
questionnaireOrganization Response
Technical assistance needs in order of priority
(cont'd):
WTO In 1998, the WTO will make a computer and a
laser printer available to the Ministry of Trade.
The WTO will also make the necessaryconnections between the focal point and theInternet and will provide instructional CD-Roms.
8. Aid for livestock farming:
(a) Development of intensive livestock farming;
(b) installation of a slaughtering and conservation
production line;
(c) assistance with the exploitation of by-
products.World Bank The World Bank and FAO will help the
Government to define a long-terms rural
development strategy in the context of the study
"Rural Development Strategy" which will beready by January 1998 at the latest.
9. Assistance with the competitiveness ofenterprises (management and quality).World Bank The World Bank will assist the Government to
define a public services strategy through a study
submitted in July 1997 which will help to solve
the problems identified in the context of theSectoral Investment Programme SIP (1997) inpreparation.
ITC A mission to identify needs in the areas of
business management and quality control will be
organized at the end of 1998.  Following this
mission, a technical cooperation project will beformulated in the areas identified.
*
10. Assistance with notifications. WTO The WTO will provide assistance in the form of a
special session on the seven rules of notification.
This session will take place in conjunction with
the other assistance activities planned for 1998.
                                                     
* Financing to be requested.WT/COMTD/IF/23
Page 8
Technical assistance needs identified in the
questionnaireOrganization Response
Technical assistance needs in order of priority
(cont'd):
11. Definition and establishment of an
investment guarantee fund.
12. Assistance with the establishment of anindustrial free-point regime.World Bank Private sector technical assistance will make
recommendations on the establishment of an
industrial free-point regime.
13. Assistance with the single investmentwindow (equipment, training) (under way)consolidation.UNDP The UNDP will assist the Government to establish
a single investment window.  The modalities forthe implementation of this assistance to bedetermined in due course with the Government.
UNCTAD UNCTAD has already undertaken activities
(mission) in the investment field in Mauritania.Efforts are continuing to modernize theinstitutions in the investment field.
*
14.  Training of economic trend and foreignmarket analysts.
15. Collection and dissemination of economicand trade information, including regulations:
(a) For the countries of the subregion;
(b) for other countries.ITC/
UNCTADSee item 2.
Moreover, UNCTAD will continue to provide the
elements of the trade analysis and information
system (TRAINS) on CD-Rom.
16. Consolidation of the simplification of
customs tariff procedures:  assistance with the
introduction of the harmonized system.IMF In recent years, TA has been provided to reform
the exchange rate system and import tariff.  While
substantial progress has been achieved, additionalTA is required to further improve the functioningof the foreign exchange market and rationalize the
tariff structure in such a way as to reduce the
taxation of raw materials and intermediate goods.(Commitment in principle 1998/99)
                                                     
* Financing to be requested.WT/COMTD/IF/23
Page 9
Technical assistance needs identified in the
questionnaireOrganization Response
Technical assistance needs in order of priority
(cont'd):
IMF/
World BankIMF/World Bank will provide the Government
with technical assistance to put in place tariff
reforms financed by the World Bank public
resource management support facility (1996-1998).
UNCTAD/
UNDPThe current ASYCUDA project could meet this
need.  Additional financing requested.
17. Study and establishment of a trade arbitrationbody.World Bank Private sector technical assistance will provide
recommendations on the setting up of a tradearbitration body.
18. Assistance with the establishment of acompetition policy in keeping with the WTOAgreements.
19. Import quality control. ITC See item 9.
World Bank The World Bank is supporting the current
supervisory and training activities of the SGS(Société Générale de Surveillance).
20.  Assistance with the implementation of theGeneral Agreement on Trade in Services.
21. Strengthening of the conformity assessmentinfrastructure (various laboratories).ITC See item 9.
22. Logistical support for customs. IMF/
World BankSee item 16.
23. Assistance with protection of intellectual
property rights.UNDP (WIPO) In 1998, the UNDP will organize a regional
seminar in which two or three Mauritanianofficials could participate (RAF/96/001).WT/COMTD/IF/23
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Technical assistance needs identified in the
questionnaireOrganization Response
Technical assistance needs in order of priority
(cont'd):
WTO (WIPO) In accordance with the Technical Cooperation
Agreement between the WTO and WIPO,
assistance with the training of Mauritanian
personnel will be provided in the form ofdissemination of information at specializedseminars to be held in 1998 and 1999.  Teachingmaterials relating to this Agreement will also be
supplied.
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