WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/IF/15
18 February 1998
(98-0583)
Committee on Trade and Development
Integrated Framework for Trade-RelatedTechnical AssistanceOriginal:  French
TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS ASSESSMENT
SUBMITTED BY BURUNDI
INTEGRATED RESPONSES BY WORLD BANK,
ITC, UNCTAD, IMF, WTO and UNDP1
BURUNDI
                                                     
1 Published in accordance with paragraph 5(e) of  the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related
Technical Assistance (WT/LDC/HL/1/Rev.1).WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 2
TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS
ASSESSMENT SUBMITTED BY BURUNDI
A. Trade Policy
(a) What are the sectors that you believe have unexploited or underexploited export
potential?
Sectors having unexploited or underexploited export potential:
- Horticultural and fruit-growing sector;
- textiles and clothing;
-l e a t h e r ;
- apicultural products;
- jewellery;
- mining;
- services;- certain agricultural sectors (palm oil, sugar cane, cotton, cereals, leguminous crops).
(b) Could you please define your country's pers pective of the reasons for any changes in the
structure and direction of exports and imports?
- Policy of economic liberalization, especially as regards imports;
- simplification of business-related administrative procedures;- foreseeable international economic environment;
- liberalization of business.
(c) What have been the objectives of trade po licy in the most recent period, compared to,
say, two decades ago?
- Introduction of competition policy;
- tariff stabilization and removal of quantitative restrictions.
(d) What are the Ministries in charge of trade policy matters, including formulation,
implementation, enforcement and monitoring?  How is coordination made?  What are the
respective roles of the relevant Ministries (give particular attention to tariff policies and other
policies directly affecting exports and imports of goods and services)?
- Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism;
- Ministry of Finance (customs tariff, foreign exchange controls);
- Ministry of Agriculture (food trade).
(e) How are the private sector and academic in stitutions associated with the formulation
and conduct of trade policy?
The private sector is consulted, through the Chamber of Commerce, whenever reform
measures are planned.  The public sector/private sector parity committee provides another framework
for collaboration with business.
The academic institutions are not formally associated with the formulation and conduct of
trade policy.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 3
(f) What are the institutions in your country that can play role in implementation of a
trade-related project at the local level?  State their respective roles.
- Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism:  responsible for trade policy and acts as
coordinator;
- Ministry of Finance:  responsible for tariff management;
- Bank of the Republic of Burundi (Central Bank):  in charge of all monetary matters;- Chamber of Trade, Industry, Agriculture and Crafts (CCIB):  represents the economic
operators;
- Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (AP EE):  in charge of trade promotion;
- Burundi Standardization Bureau (BBN):  in charge of quality standards and
inspection.
(g) What are the main laws and regulations de aling with trade policy - on exports and
imports?  Please provide a short description of each.
Exports
- Law on the promotion of exports:  gives tax and customs concessions to exporters of
non-traditional products;
- law on the free zone regime:  gives additional concessions to exclusive exporters;
- foreign exchange regulations:  lay down the procedures to be followed for all export
operations;
- customs tariff:  determines the tariffs applicable at exportation.
Imports
- Law on the occupation of importer:  determines the requirements for being an
importer;
- foreign exchange regulations:  lay down the procedures to be followed for all import
operations;
- customs tariff:  determines the tariffs applicable at importation;- certain sanitary regulations:  very few and serve to establish quality standards for
certain imported goods.
(h) What are the main instruments of trade policy - on exports and imports?  Please
elaborate (e.g. on import restrictions, the questions might be:  on what products are there any
import bans;  on what products are there quantitative import restrictions;  licensing
requirements, etc.;  what is the highest tariff ra te currently in use;  are there any excise taxes,
other "domestic" taxes that are applied differenti ally to imported goods, or to goods of a type
that are principally imported)?
- Traditionally, the instruments of trade policy are the customs tariff, the quota and
the exchange rate;WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 4
- in Burundi only the customs tariff is used.  There are no quantitative import
restrictions;
- import licences are issued almost automatically;- the exchange rate is used much more as an instrument of macroeconomic policy than
as an instrument of trade policy;
- the highest tariff rate is 100 per cent at importation.  Other duties and taxes are
applied to all imports without distinction and do not exceed 30 per cent;
- there are some products which may not be imported.  These are products trade in
which is prohibited by international conventions (ivory, drugs).
(i) In case you are a WTO Member or are in the process of acceding, how is your country
preparing itself to comply with WTO Agreements?
Burundi has been a Member of the WTO since July 1995.  The arrangements made to comply
with the Agreement on the WTO include, in particular, the establishment of a Working Party on the
WTO.  This working party , which comprises representatives of all the institutions affected by theAgreement, has been set up to study and propose measures for implementing the Agreement.
However, technical assistance would no doubt help to improve the quality of the working party's
output.
(j) What is the state of familiarity with the WTO framework:
- Among government and government-related agencies?- in the private sector?
The WTO framework is unfamiliar both to government and government-related agencies and
to the private sector.
(k) What are your technical assistance require ments with regard to your compliance with
the WTO Agreements?
In general, the technical assistance requirements cover every aspect of trade promotion,
including the implementation of the Agreement on the WTO.  Specifically, three types of assistance
are required:
- Assistance with strengthening human capacities;- assistance with institution building;
- assistance with expanding exports (for details see the attached document BDI-
WTO/9/97-2).
(l) In which specific areas of the WTO Agreements do you have technical assistance needs
(e.g. market access, agriculture, rules (anti-dumpin g, subsidies, import licensing, rules of origin,
safeguards, etc.), TBT and SPS, services, TRIPS)?
More specifically, technical assistance would include the following aspects covered by the
Agreement on the WTO:
- Market access;
- rules:
- anti-dumping;
- subsidies;WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 5
-T B T ;
- SPS;
- services;
- TRIPS;
- dispute settlement;
- safeguards.
(m) What is your assessment of your existing trade analysis and negotiating capacities, both
multilateral and bilateral, in areas already co vered by the WTO Agreements and other trade-
related areas, e.g. competition policy and trade and environment?
National capacities for trade analysis and negotiation in the areas covered by the Agreement
on the WTO are limited.
B. Obstacles to Trade Expansion
Obstacles to trade encompassing problems in export markets, infrastructure, human
capacities, institutional bottlenecks, trade financing problems and gaps in trade information can
inhibit a least developed country from taking full advantage of trading opportunities.
Supply constraints, including institutional bottlenecks
(a) What are the main bottlenecks inhibiting the development of sustained export capacity
of goods and services (e.g. customs facilitation, freight charges, quality management,elimination of cumbersome legal and administrative procedures, paucity of human skills, access
at international prices to imported inputs, or inadequate telecommunication, port and transport
facilities, etc.)?
- Land-locked countries may face addition al problems, such as having to ship
using costly or unreliable transport and ports systems.  In case this applies toyour country, please indicate such problems.  What kind of technical assistance
would help you work out these problems?
The obstacles to the development of a sustained export capacity are:
- Freight charges;
- quality management;- paucity of human skills;
- difficult access to imported inputs at international prices;
- the land-locked situation of the country which makes freight transport services too
expensive;
- difficult access to technology;- lack of trade information.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 6
(b) Are there any institutional bottlenecks whic h may impede the efficient conduct of your
country's trade policies?  Provide details.  For example, what are the problems perceived by the
different actors, e.g. exporters, producers, service providers (banks, insurance companies,
quality control, transports, etc.), professional associations and ministries?  Are problems mainly
perceived in the areas of:
(i) Human resources;
(ii) management of the institution;
(iii) financial and material resources;
(iv) communication.
The institutional bottlenecks include:
- Inadequate human resources;
- weaknesses in the management of the trade supervision and promotion institutions;
- inadequacy of financial and material resources;- weakness of communication systems.
In fact, the obstacles mentioned under item (a) also apply to item (b).
(c) What are the main bottlenecks to export diversification?
The main bottlenecks to export diversification are:
- The almost total lack of expo rt-oriented private investment;
- the lack of a banking and financial mechanism to encourage the production of
exportables;
- the high cost of international transport due to the land-locked nature of the country;
- ignorance of export possibilities;
- institutional problems (see items (b) and (a)).
(d) If investment in the production of goods a nd services is inadequate, what are the main
reasons?  Please elaborate them (e.g. structural constraints, difficulties in attracting foreign
investment, limited enterprise development, fi nancing, lack of appropriate technology, etc.).
The main reasons for inadequate investment in the production of goods and services are:
- The unfavourable business environment (socio-political crisis);- the lack of a programme for attracting foreign investment;
- the limited development of enterprises;
- the narrowness of the domestic market;
- technological dependency;WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 7
- the lack of trade and industrial information;
- the ineffectiveness of development financing policy.
(e) Is there a national policy to encourage export-related investment opportunities?  Please
elaborate.  What arrangements are in place for viewing, drafting and negotiating contractual
arrangements with foreign investors?
There is no national policy for promoting export-related investment.  However, there is a
legislative framework for granting concessions to exporters.
(f) What are the main obstacles to the transfer, development and acquisition of technology?
Is there any national policy/strategy in this area?  Please elaborate.
There is no technology acquisition policy or strategy.  However, there is legislation on
industrial property, which also needs updating.
(g) What are your technical assistance or oth er assistance needs with respect to supply
constraints?
See document BDI-WTO/9/97-2.
Trade promotion and trade support services
Trade promotion comprises an integrated set of technical and financial services to enhance the
global competitiveness of enterprises and thus facilitate their entry and increasing participation in
international trade.
(h) Do your enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises, experience difficulties in
expanding their exports?  What are these problems in the major export sectors?
Export enterprises face the following problems:
- Problems with quality standards;
- packaging problems;- problems with obtaining information on market access;
- problems associated with the high cost of international transport;
- lack of capacity building in these enterprises;
- financial problems.
(i) What are the problems for your enterprises in obtaining reliable and up-to-date
information on export/import business opportunities?
The problems encountered by enterprises in obtaining reliable and up-to-date information on
export/import opportunities are linked with the lack, at national level, of a genuine modern
commercial and industrial information and documentation centre.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 8
(j) Can your enterprises offer products of in ternationally accepted design, quality and
packaging to foreign buyers?  If not, what are the problems?
Yes for some products, no for others.  In the latter case, the problems encountered are:
- Packaging;
- out-of-date technologies;
- lack of information on the nature of the demand.
(k) What problems, other than in terms of tr ade policy, do you anticipate in developing
exports of services (e.g computer software, tourism)?
Apart from the problems relating to trade policy, exports of services could be held back by:
- Lack of qualified personnel (software);
- remoteness of the country (tourism);
(l) What are the technical/professional problems encountered by trade support institutions
(e.g. trade promotion council ,  chamber of commerce, exporters' association, etc.) in your
country in providing those services to export/import enterprises?
The problems encountered are:
- Inadequate knowledge of international trade;
- lack of a modern trade information system;
- lack of financial resources.
(m) What problems and deficiencies are experi enced by enterprises in  their international
purchasing and inventory management?
The problems experienced by enterprises are:
- Quality problems;
- storage problems;- multinational transport problems;
- cost-price calculation problems.
(n) What are the present availability and arrangements for trade finance facilities (e.g.
export credit guarantees, etc.)?  Are there any perceived deficiencies in this area?
There are no special arrangements for trade finance facilities.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 9
(o) What are the main problems in the way of  improving export/import management skills
of your business enterprises?  Do you have trai ning programmes in the country?  What are the
deficiencies?
The following problems have been noted:
- Lack of a programme offering training in international trade;
- lack of foreign training programmes in international trade;- difficult access to foreign training programmes for individual operators.
(p) Does your trade representation service actively promote your trade?  What are the
weaknesses?
There is no trade representation service abroad.
(q) Briefly describe your technical assistance needs in the area of trade promotion and
support services.
See document BDI-WTO/9/97-2.
Market access
(r) What are your main market access problems?
The main market access problems are:
- Lack of information on market characteristics;
- product quality and packaging problems;- high cost of international transport;
- lack of trade representation;
- competitiveness of our products in relation to other like or similar products.
(s) What specific problems or barriers, and in which countries, are most troublesome for
your exporters?
The specific barriers most troublesome for our exporters are almost the same as in the reply to
the previous question.  To these, however, should be added the persistence of non-tariff barriers in
those neighbouring countries which are members of subregional integration organizations.
With respect to non-African countries, there are problems with restrictions on the movements
of our businessmen.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 10
(t) Regional and subregional trading arrangemen t s  ( R T A s ) :   P l e a s e  l i s t  R T A s  t o  w h i c h
your country belongs.  Are you satisfied with the performance of these RTAs?  Please state the
problems of each.  Do you have suggestions on how to solve these?
Burundi is a member of three regional integration organizations, namely the Common Market
for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA, former ZEP), the Economic Community of the Great
Lakes Countries (CEPGL), and the Economic Comm unity of Central African States (ECOCAS).
COMESA's integration programme is slow in ma terializing and our exports continue to face
non-tariff barriers (foreign exchange allocation system, taxes equivalent in effect to customs duties,
which are normally reduced).
As regards the CEPGL, preferential arrangements concerning trade in raw materials and
manufactured goods have been concluded.  However, these arrangements must be effectively applied
by each member country.
Finally, ECOCAS is almost non-existent.
(u) Are there any problems in utilizing the exis ting market access preferences, such as GSP,
GSTP?  Please state the nature of problems relating to each of these.
Problems encountered in utilizing GSP and GSTP are almost the same as those listed under
item (r).  To these there should be added the restrictedness of the export offer.
(v) What are your technical assistance needs with respect to market access?
See document BDI - WTO/9/97-2.
C. Technical Assistance
Technical assistance is normally provided to developing and least-developed countries to
build or enhance their human resources and inst itutional capacities, provide trade information and
trade related legal support, as well as improve their supply capabilities in order to make them moreactive players in the field of multilateral trade.
See document BDI - WTO/9/97-2.WT/COMTD/IF/15
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BURUNDI:  TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
(Document BDI - WTO/9/97-2)
1. There are three main constraints on the development of Burundi's trade, namely the lack of
qualified human resources, institutional weakness and the restricted range and volume of goods
available for export.  The objective of the technical assistance requested will therefore be to remove or
at least ease these constraints.
2. This request for technical assistance makes specific proposals for:
Expanding Burundi's exports
The proposals contained in this document are based on the national potential to develop
export production.  Burundi attaches great importance to this aspect, the promotion of which will
result in the expansion of its exports.
Enhancing human capacities
For a trade development programme to be successful qualified personnel are indispensable.
The training programme proposed will provide the country with personnel skilled in matters
of international trade.
Institution building
As the trade development programme will be implemented within a well-defined institutional
framework, it is important that these institutions should be as efficient as possible.  This is the reasonfor the proposal to improve the existing framework.
3. This document addresses all Burundi's trade-related technical assistance needs.  Although it
does not follow the order of the secretariat questionnaire, all the questions asked are answered.
4. The question of expanding exports deserves special attention because of its importance.  The
sectors for which technical assistance is requested are those already identified as having a high exportpotential.  These sectors are presented only from the standpoint of an assessment of technical
assistance needs.  Final projects can be presented after the financing has been agreed in principle.
5. The request for technical assistance is submitted in the form of a global Burundian foreign
trade promotion project.  This project involves all the stages of promotion from production to
marketing.  Viewed narrowly, production might be considered to lie outside the limits of trade-relatedtechnical assistance.  However, it is clear that any technical assistance programme that did not address
the question of expanding exports through the production of exportables would not produce the
desired results.
6. Burundi's technical assistance needs are as follows:
A. Expansion of Exports
Technical assistance is requested to develop certain sectors with an unexploited or
underexploited export potential.  These sectors are:
- The horticultural and fruit-growing sector;
- the made-up clothing sector;WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 12
- the leather sector;
- the services sector.
The assistance needs are outlined below sector by sector.
1. Horticultural and fruit-growing sector
1.1 Burundi has a huge potential in horticulture and fruit-growing.
The products for promotion are passion fruit, French beans, peppers and avocados.
1.2 The development stages for these products are listed below:
- The applied research stage of plant propagation with varieties adapted to both
production and consumption;
- the development stage involving the provision of advisory services and production of
the varieties adapted;
- the technological stage of improving the conditions of storage, packaging, possible
processing and transport of the crops;
- the export support stage for facilitating market access.
1.3 The identified needs for implementing this  horticultural and fruit-growing development
programme are as follows:
∙ Personnel:  4 foreign experts, namely:
- A senior technical assistant specialising in tropical agronomic research in
fruit and vegetables (applied research stage);
- a senior technical assistant specialising in tropical plant production (advisory
stage);
- an engineer technologist specialising in food processing and preservation
(technological stage);
- a specialist in international trade in fruit and vegetables.
The foreign personnel would be supported by local staff.
∙ Equipment, seed and plant materials:
- Fertilisers and phytosanitary products;
- teaching and office equipment;
- additional laboratory equipment;
- transport for supervisory staff.
∙ Training, local and foreign.
1.4 The initial length of the project is three years.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 13
2. Clothing sector
2.1 Burundi exports cotton, cotton fabric and loincloths.  There is thus a considerable clothing
export potential.
2.2 The assistance requested consists of support for the manufacture of finished textile exports.
These products include:  loincloths, shirts, T-shir ts, underclothing, socks, towels, bags, knitwear and
sportswear.
2.3 The sector could be developed in three stages:
- Support for improving the quality of the fabrics currently produced.  This would
include advice on how to produce fabrics for use in making clothing that would be
competitive on the export markets;
- support for the development of made-up clothing exports.  The assistance would
create favourable conditions for the establishment of production units manufacturing
the above-mentioned products;
- assistance with market access;
- local and foreign training to strengthen national capacities in the clothing sector.
2.4 The assistance needs can be estimated as follows:
∙ Personnel:  four specialists, including:
- A textiles engineer to support the manufacture of quality fabrics;- a designer to help the manufacturing units manufacture products for
export;
- a clothing trade specialist responsible for the apprenticeship
programmes and for training in making-up;
- a specialist in the international textile trade to deal with market
access.
∙ Equipment;
- Teaching and office equipment;
- dress-making apprenticeship and training centre;
- transport for supervisory staff.
∙ Foreign training.
2.5 The initial length of the project is three years.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 14
3. Apicultural products
3.1 Bee-keeping is practised by individual peasant farmers and organized agricultural centres.
However, these activities rely on rudimentary honey producing and extracting techniques.  The
production potential is huge.
3.2 The technical assistance requested would be designed to improve honey production for
export.  The export products would be:  honey-based syrups and beeswax.
3.3 The assistance would embrace the following aspects:
- Development of modern hives;
- preservation and diversification of the plants on which bees feed;
- improvement and provision of apiary equipment;
- improvement and provision of bee-keeper's equipment;
- processing and packaging of apicultural products;
- export markets for these products;- local and foreign training.
3.4 The assistance needs are estimated as follows:
∙ Personnel:  three specialists in the field, including:
- A specialist in apiculture;
- a specialist in honey-based syrup manufacture and wax processing;- a specialist in international trade in apicultural products.
The foreign personnel would be supported by local staff.
∙ Equipment:
- Teaching and office equipment;
- laboratory equipment;- transport for supervisory staff.
3.5 The initial length of the project is three years.
4. Leather and leather goods sector
4.1 Burundi exports raw hides, specifically cow, goat and sheep hides.  There is also a useful
potential for crocodile hides.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 15
4.2 The assistance requested involves help with the processing of the hides into finished products
for export.  These products include:  shoes, bags, bracelets, balls, briefcases, belts, etc.
4.3 The sector will be developed in three stages:
- Assistance with the manufacture of the finished leather.  This will involve giving
technical advice to potential investors and helping with the establishment of
enterprises for processing hides into finished leather;
- support for the development of the leather goods industry.  This would involve
creating favourable conditions for the establishment of leather goods units
manufacturing the above-mentioned products;
- assistance with market access.
Local and foreign training should be envisaged as a means of strengthening national
capacities in the sector.
4.4 The assistance needs are estimated as follows:
∙ Personnel:  three specialists, including:
- A tanning specialist to support the producers of finished leather;
- a leather technology specialist to help the craftsmen and SMEs convert the
leather into products that can be directly exported;
- a specialist in international trade in leather goods to deal with market access.
The foreign personnel would be supported by local staff.
∙ Local and foreign training.
∙ Equipment:
- Teaching and office equipment;
- leather technology apprenticeship and training centre;- transport for supervisory staff.
4.5 The initial length of the project is three years.
5. Services sector
5.1 Even though land-locked, Burundi is at the centre of a large region with an inadequate supply
of services for which demand is strong.  The de mand could be satisfied by developing service-
providing centres in Burundi.  These services would include:  distribution, tourism, financial services,
cultural and recreational services and communications services.
5.2 The assistance requested consists in identifying ways and means of developing the supply of
services for consumers.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 16
5.3 The assistance would involve the following aspects which affect the development of the
above-mentioned services:
- Evaluate the existing potential of each services sub-sector mentioned under 5.1;
- define policies and programmes to be initiated for the purpose of developing them;
- determine strategies to be deployed in order to implement these policies and
programmes;
- identify the resources and the institutions to be mobilized for this purpose.
5.4 The assistance would be provided by a body of multidisciplinary experts specializing in the
production and marketing of services.
5.5 The initial length of the project is one year.
B. Strengthening of Human Capacities
1. Actual experience shows that there is a shortage of human resources skilled in international
trade.  This is reflected in the existing types of training which make little or no provision forinstruction in foreign trade.
2. To remedy this situation, Burundi is requesting assistance with the establishment of a local
organization for providing training in basic foreign trade techniques.
3. This would be a permanent organization but not necessarily one of the classical type.  The
training provided should place more stress on the practical than on the academic aspects.
4. It would be aimed at the following groups:
- Government officials and managers of the public and private services involved in
supervising and promoting trade;
- exporters and importers;
- the support services (banks, insurance companies, carriers, forwarding agents);- tourism;
- associations of producers of export goods, particularly women.
5. In order to provide a lasting basis for training, stress should be placed on the training of
national trainers.
6. Taking priority needs into account, the training programme should cover the following
aspects:
- Basic concept of export marketing and identification of foreign market penetration
objectives;
- development and adaptation of exports;
- strategy for the commercial promotion of Burundian products abroad;WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 17
- export financing;
- standardization and quality control;
- export packaging;
- trade fairs and exhibitions;
- systems of trade preferences;
- legal aspects of foreign trade;- forwarding and freight services;
- aspects of international monetary problems;
- languages, information technology.
This programme is only illustrative and could be added to as new needs are identified.
C. Institution Building
There are three aspects to the technical assistance requested in connection with institution
building:
∙ The institutions would be strengthened primarily as a result of strengthening human
capacities.
Thus, the training envisaged would affect the units working in the institutions
responsible for supervising and promoting trade.
∙ The assistance would also provide support for the existing institutions in order to
improve their level of organization and increase their capacity for action.  In this
respect, two types of measures would be envisaged.  On the one hand, the institutions
would be provided with effective working tools such as trade and industrial
information networks (CD-RO M, Internet) and, on the other hand, with instruments
for the supervision and promotion of trade.  The latter would involve, in particular,
the development of legislative and regulatory frameworks relating to:
- Competition (including anti-dumping, subsidy and safeguards legislation);
- trade and the environment;
- quality standards;
- intellectual property, including technology transfer, development and
acquisition;
- investment, especially direct foreign investment;
- rules of origin;
- trade in services;
- trade dispute settlement.
∙ Finally, the assistance would provide for additional institutional measures to manage
and develop the promotion instruments set up.  In this context, export financing
machinery would have to be developed.  Similarly, the establishment of an
investment promotion centre should be envisaged.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 18
INTEGRATED RESPONSES BY WORLD BANK,
ITC, UNCTAD, IMF, WTO AND UNDP
BURUNDI
Technical assistance needs identified in the
questionnaireOrganization Response
In response to question A(k):
Technical assistance for compliance with
WTO Agreements
In general, the technical assistance
requirements cover every aspect of trade
promotion, including the implementation
of the Agreement on the WTO.
Specifically, three types of assistance are
required:WTO See responses under A(l) and A(m)
- Assistance with strengthening human
capacities;
- assistance with institution building;- assistance with expanding exports (for
details see document BDI-WTO/9/97-2)
ITC/
UNCTAD/
UNDPThe joint ITC/UNCTAD/UNDP
regional project on strengthening
capacities for trade and development in
Africa provides for the strengthening of
international trade training institutions.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 19
Technical assistance needs identified in the
questionnaireOrganization Response
In response to question A(l):
Technical assistance in specific areas of the
WTO Agreements
- Market access WTO - Specialized regional seminars for
French-speaking least-advanced
countries will be organized in 1998and 1999.
- A three-week trade policy training
course for French-speaking least-
developed countries will beorganized in 1998 and 1999.
- The WTO will also provide specific
assistance to improve the
implementation of the WTOAgreements.  This assistance will
consist in helping Burundi to
draft/revise its trade legislation anddraw up notification regulations.
- Anti-dumping WTO See above
- Subsidies WTO See above
- TBT WTO See above
- SPS WTO See above
- Services UNCTAD Activities have already been undertaken
to develop a national services capacity(domestic policy formulation) (CAPAS)
WTO See above
- TRIPS WTO See above
- Dispute settlement WTO See above
- Safeguards WTO See aboveWT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 20
Technical assistance needs identified in
the questionnaireOrganization Response
In response to question A (m):
Evaluation of trade analysis and
negotiating capacities
National capacities for trade analysis and
negotiation in the areas covered by theAgreement on the WTO are limited.UNCTAD UNCTAD will organize
seminars for private and publicsector operators on the new
institutional framework of
international trade resulting
from the UR and the
establishment of the WTO.
*
WTO A multilateral trade
negotiation module will be
introduced into the trade
policy courses for French-
speaking LDCs.
                                                     
* Financing to be requested.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 21
Technical assistance needs identified in
the questionnaireOrganization Response
In response to questions B (g), B (q),
B (v) and Section C:
Needs identified in document BDI-
WTO/9/97-2 (forms part of Burundi's
needs assessment document):
A.  Expansion of Exports
(1)  Horticultural and fruit-growing sector
- Research on plant propagation with
varieties adapted to both production
and consumptionITC In the context of the Gourmet
Coffee Project, ITC will
provide the enterprises
concerned with technical
assistance in connection withthe improvement of coffee
quality and coffee marketing.
- Development relating to the
provision of advisory services and
production of the varieties adapted.
- Technology for improving the
conditions of storage, packaging,
possible processing and transport of
crops.
- Export support for facilitating market
access.ITC An ITC identification mission
in the field of export
promotion for various sectors
with export potential will becarried out in 1998 in
connection with the
following:
- Institutional support;
- trade information;- quality.
Following on from this
mission, a technical
cooperation project will be
drawn up and discussed withthe authorities concerned.
*
                                                     
* Financing to be requested.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 22
Technical assistance needs identified in
the questionnaireOrganization Response
In response to questions B(g), B(q), B(v)
and Section C (cont'd):
(2)  Clothing sector
- Support for the manufacture of
finished textile products for export,
including loincloths, shirts, T-shirts,underclothing, socks, towels, bags,
knitwear and sportswear.
- Support for improving the quality of
the fabrics currently produced;
advice on how to produce fabrics foruse in making clothing competitive
on export markets.ITC Textile sector promotion
activities are planned within
the framework of the on-
going regional projects to
promote intra-African trade.
- Support for the development of
made-up clothing exports; creation offavourable conditions for the
establishment of production units
manufacturing these products.ITC See above
- Assistance with market access ITC See above
- Local and foreign training to
strengthen national capacities in theclothing sector.
(3)  Apicultural products
- Development of modern hives
- Preservation and diversification of
the plants on which bees feed.
- Improvement and provision of apiary
equipment.
- Improvement and provision of
beekeeper's equipment.
- Processing and packaging of
apicultural products.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 23
Technical assistance needs identified in
the questionnaireOrganization Response
In response to questions B(g), B(q), B(v)
and Section C (cont'd):
- Export markets for these products.
- Local and foreign training.
(4) Leather and leather goods sector
- Assistance with the manufacture of
finished leather; technical advice, forpotential investors; help with the
establishment of enterprises for
processing hides into finished leather.ITC Leather sector promotion
activities are planned within
the framework of the regionalproject to improve leather
goods quality and assist with
marketing.
- Support for the development of the
leather goods industry; creation of
favourable conditions for the
establishment of leather goods unitsmanufacturing the above-mentioned
products.ITC See above
- Assistance with market access. ITC See above
- Local and foreign training should be
envisaged as a means as
strengthening national capacities inthe sector.
(5) Services sector
- Evaluate the existing potential of
each services sub-sector (distribution,
tourism, financial services, cultural
and recreational services, and
communication services).
- Define policies and programmes to
be initiated for development.
- Determine strategies to be deployed
in order to implement these policies
and programmes.
- Identify the resources and the
institutions to be mobilized for this
purpose.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 24
Technical assistance needs identified in
the questionnaireOrganization Response
In response to questions B(g), B(q), B(v)
and Section C (cont'd):
B.  Strengthening of Human
Capacities
- Assistance with the establishment of a
permanent local organization for
providing training in basic foreign
trade techniques. The training
provided should stress the practical
rather than the academic aspects.WTO See A(l) and A(m)
ITC/UNCTAD/UNDP See A(k)
C.  Institution Building
- Training for individuals working in
the institutions responsible for
supervising and promoting trade.ITC See A(k) and A.1
(horticultural and fruit-
growing sector)
WTO See A(l) and A(m)WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 25
Technical assistance needs identified in
the questionnaireOrganization Response
In response to questions B(g), B(q),
B(v) and Section C (cont'd):
- Support for the existing institutions
in order to improve their level of
organization and increase their
capacity for action.  These
institutions would be provided with
effective working tools such as
trade and industrial information
networks (CD-ROM, Internet) andwith instruments for the
supervision and promotion of trade.
The latter would involve, in
particular, the development of
legislative and regulatoryframeworks relating to:
- Competition (including anti-
dumping, subsidy and safeguards
legislation);
- trade and environment;- quality standards;
- intellectual property, including
technology transfer, development
and acquisition;
- investment, especially direct
foreign investment;
- rules of origin;
- trade in services;
- trade dispute settlement.ITC See A(1) (horticultural and fruit-
growing sector)
UNCTAD UNCTAD is supplying the trade
analysis and information system
(TRAINS) in CD-ROM form.
WTO WTO will provide the Ministry of
Trade with a computer, a printer, a
modem and accessories.  WTO will
also install the necessary Internet
connections at the focal point.
Moreover, WTO will supplyinstructional CD-ROMs and the
necessary training.WT/COMTD/IF/15
Page 26
Technical assistance needs identified in
the questionnaireOrganization Response
In response to questions B(g), B(q),
B(v) and Section C (cont'd):
- The assistance would provide for
additional institutional measures to
manage and develop the promotion
instruments that have been set up.  In
this context, export financing
machinery would have to be
developed.  Similarly, the
establishment of an investmentpromotion centre should be
envisaged.
The Bank  cannot at this time commit funds outside existing projects due to budgetary
limitations.  Many of the proposed measures could be useful but given the current economic embargo
in place, capacity building activities will not be meaningful.  Proposed measures could be reassessedat a later date.
__________