ANNEX 3 
MALI Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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CONTENTS 
 
  Page 
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 267 
(1) M AIN FEATURES  267 
(2) R ECENT ECONOMIC TRENDS  268 
(3) T RENDS IN TRADE AND INVESTMENT  271 
(i) Trade in goods and services 271 
(ii) Foreign direct investment 271 
(4) O UTLOOK  272 
II. TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES 275 
(1) E XECUTIVE , LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIARY  275 
(2) T RADE POLICY FRAMEWORK  276 
(i) Institutional framework 276 
(ii) Broad outlines of trade policy 277 
(3) C ONSULTATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR  278 
(4) I NVESTMENT REGIME  279 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 282 
(1) I NTRODUCTION  282 
(2) M EASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING IMPORTS  282 
(i) Registration 282 (ii) Customs procedures 283 
(iii) Preshipment inspection and customs valuation 284 
(iv) Rules of origin 284 (v) Customs levies 285 
(vi) Prohibitions, quantitative restrictions and licensing 287 
(vii) Standardization, accreditation and certification 288 (viii) Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) 289 
(ix) Packaging, marking and labelling requirements 290 
(x) Contingency measures 290 (xi) Other measures 290 
(3) M
EASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS  290 
(i) Registration 290 (ii) Customs procedures 290 
(iii) Export duties and taxes 290 
(iv) Export prohibitions, quantitative restrictions, permits and licensing 291 (v) Export subsidies, promotion and assistance 291 
(4) M
EASURES AFFECTING PRODUCTION AND TRADE  291 
(i) Incentives 291 
(ii) Competition and price control regime 292 
(iii) State trading, State-owned enterprises and privatization 293 (iv) Government procurement 294 
(v) Protection of intellectual property rights 296 
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  Page 
IV. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY SECTOR 299 
(1) I NTRODUCTION  299 
(2) A GRICULTURE  300 
(i) Overview 300 
(ii) Agricultural policy 301 
(iii) Policy by subsector 302 (iv) Livestock 306 
(v) Fishing and aquaculture 307 
(vi) Forestry 308 
(3) M
INING  308 
(4) E NERGY AND WATER RESOURCES  311 
(i) Energy 311 (ii) Water 314 
(5) M
ANUFACTURING  314 
(6) S ERVICES  315 
(i) Overview 315 
(ii) Telecommunications and postal services 316 
(iii) Transport 317 
(iv) Financial services 320 
(v) Tourism 321 (vi) Professional and business services 322 
V. AID FOR TRADE 324 
(1) O
VERVIEW  324 
(2) I NTEGRATION OF TRADE INTO THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY  324 
(i) National development strategy 324 
(ii) Integrated framework 325 (iii) Supply-side constraints 325 
(iv) Aid-for-Trade needs 326 
(3) A
ID-FOR-TRADE ASSISTANCE TO MALI 327 
(i) Overview of development aid flows in the economy 327 
(ii) Overview of Aid for Trade 327 
(iii) Trade-related technical assistance 329 
(4) M ATCHING NEEDS AND ASSISTANCE  331 
(i) National coordination mechanisms 331 
(ii) Monitoring and evaluation 332 
(5) O UTLOOK FOR AID FOR TRADE  333 
REFERENCES 335 
APPENDIX TABLES 337 
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CHARTS 
 
  Page 
 I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
 
I.1 Breakdown of trade in goods, 2002-2008 273 I.2 Direction of trade in goods, 2002-2008 274 
 
TABLES 
 
I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
 I.1 Selected macroeconomic indicators, 2003-2009 268 
I.2 Balance of payments, 2002-2009 270 
 II. TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES 
 
II.1 Principal institutions concerne d with international trade or 
foreign investment, April 2010 275 
II.2 Approvals under the Investment Code and authorizations to engage in an 
activity issued by the single window, 2004-2009 280 
 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
III.1 Customs revenue, 2004-2009 285 
III.2 Special tax on certain products (ISCP), 2004 and 2010 286 III.3 Products subject to the absolute or restrictive prohibition regimes, 2010 287 
III.4 State-owned enterprises, 2010 293 
III.5 Amounts and methods for awarding government procurement contracts, 2007-2009 295 III.6 Applications for titles filed with OAPI by CEMAPI, 2005-2009 297 
III.7 Copyright applications filed with BUMDA, 2005-2009 297 
 IV. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY SECTOR 
 
IV.1 Principal agricultural exports (WTO definition), 2003-2008 300 IV.2 Principal agricultural imports, 2004-2008 301 
IV.3 Trend in areas under cotton and cotton production, 2004-2009 303 
IV.4 Production of the principal crops, 2000-2009 303 
IV.5 Area covered by the principal crops, 2001-2009 304 
IV.6 Fisheries, 2004-2009 307 IV.7 Gold production, 2003-2009 309 
IV.8 Electricity sector, 2004-2009 313 
IV.9 Trend in the number of subscribers, 2003-2009 316 IV.10 Indicators of activity in Bamako airport, 2004-2009 319 
IV.11 Key tourism indicators, 2003-2009 322 
 V. AID FOR TRADE 
 
V.1 Flows of Aid for Trade:  CRS auxiliary data, 2005-2008 327 V.2 Operations by donors 328 
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APPENDIX TABLES 
 
  Page 
 I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
 
AI.1 Structure of imports, 2002-2008 339 AI.2 Structure of exports, 2002-2008 340 
AI.3 Origin of imports, 2002-2008 341 
AI.4 Destination of exports, 2002-2008 342 
 
 
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I. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
(1) MAIN FEATURES  
1. Mali covers an area of 1,241,238 km2, two thirds of which are in the Saharan region.  It has 
common borders to the north with Mauritania and Algeri a, to the east with Niger, to the south with 
Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea, and to th e west with Senegal.  The Niger River (called 
"Joliba" locally) flows through the south of the country.  Mali's geographical situation presents 
considerable challenges as regards transport, nota bly the high cost of moving goods from the sea ports 
in neighbouring countries by rail or road. 
2. Mali's economy is still little diversified a nd depends above all on the primary sector 
(agriculture and mining), highly sensitive to climatic  conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices 
on global markets.  Mali's population was estimate d to be almost 13.1 million in 2008 and around 
68 per cent live in rural areas (Table I.1), thereby confirming the important role of the primary sector 
as a source of jobs and income.  Over the period 2003-2008, migration to urban centres continued, but 
not to any significant extent.  The services sector is  also large, whereas manufacturing is still at an 
embryonic stage.  Moreover, the data concerning the sectoral breakdown of GDP cannot be 
considered as totally reliable because of th e presumed extent of the informal sector. 
3. According to UNDP data, Mali is one of the poorest of the least developed countries (LDCs) 
and ranks 178th out of 182 countries as far as its le vel of human development is concerned.1  In 2005, 
poverty affected 59.2 per cent of the population, with  a marked difference between rural areas (73 per 
cent) and urban areas (20.1 per cent).  With a de mographic growth rate of 2.3 per cent annually, a 
result of a very high fertility rate (5.5 births per woman compared to 4.6 for Africa as a whole), the 
population will reach 14 million by 2011.  Althou gh there has been an increase since 2002, the 
literacy rate among adults is still very low (26.2 per cent in 2006) .  The prevalence rate for HIV/AIDS 
declined from 0.9 per cent in 2001 to 0.8 per cent in 2007.2  In general, the outlook for Mali achieving 
the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 is bleak.3 
4. The Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Pa per (GPRSP) for 2007-2011 is the frame of 
reference for medium-term development policies a nd strategies and underpins negotiations with all 
technical and financial partners (TFPs).4  The GPRSP's overall objective is to promote redistributive 
growth and poverty reduction by boosting productive sectors and conso lidating public sector reforms.  
The GPRSP has three strategic orientations in orde r to achieve these objectives:  (i) development of 
infrastructures and the productive sector;  (ii) pursuan ce and consolidation of structural reforms;  and 
(iii) strengthening the social sector.  The main objective of the macro-budgetary framework is to 
maintain macro-economic and budgeta ry balances, taking into account the real potential of the Malian 
economy.  The GPRSP aims in particular at achi eving annual economic growth of 7 per cent over the 
period 2007-2011. 
                                                      
1 Global Human Development Report, online information.  Viewed at:  http://hdr.undp.org/en/ 
statistics/. 
2 World Bank Group, online information.  Viewed at:  http://data.worldbank.org/country/mali 
[22 April 2010]. 
3 According to the Malian authorities, the objectiv es which could be reached concern drinking water 
and HIV/AIDS and, with some effort, those relating to extreme poverty and primary education.  Ministry of the 
Economy and Finance, written communication of 19 August 2009. 
4 Government of the Republic of Mali (2006). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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(2) RECENT ECONOMIC TRENDS  
5. The Malian economy stood up well to the external shocks that have marked the period since 
its previous TPR in 2004 (escalating prices for oil and fast-moving consum er food products, global 
financial crisis, appreciation of the CFA franc because it is tied to the euro).  With some fluctuations, 
real GDP continued to show positive growth (Table I.1).  In recent years, there was a strong increase 
in private consumption, from 63.3 per cent of GDP  in 2003 to 70.9 per cent in 2008.  The GDP shares 
of exports and gross fixed capital fo rmation remained at a fairly stable level, while the variation in 
stocks has fallen since 2003. 
6. In Mali, inflation is generally kept at moderate  levels and there were only two isolated sharp 
increases in 2005 and 2008.  The price trend foll ows the general trend noted within WAEMU, 
particularly as regards periods of intensive infla tionary pressure caused by the high price of food and 
energy products at the global level in 2008.  The Government has made considerable financial and 
fiscal efforts to limit the impact on the population.  This has meant a loss of revenue amounting to around CFAF 9 billion (including CFAF 5 billion for rice alone). 
7. Mali's financial resources largely come from indire ct taxes on international trade flows.  In 
2008, the State's total revenue (excluding debt re lief and grants) accounted for 15.3 per cent of GDP, a 
slight reduction because of the exemptions given to those groups most affected by the crisis.  Total 
expenditure, which represented 23.6 per cent of GDP in  2008, remained at a relatively stable level.  
The share of grants was around 4 per cent of GDP in most years. 
8. Under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (H IPC) Initiative, Mali received external aid in 
the form of debt cancellation, which freed up intern al resources to finance large infrastructure projects 
and social programmes.  According to data fro m the BCEAO, the total amount of cancellation under 
the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) was CFAF 700.5 billion in 2006.
5  Because of this 
relief, outstanding external debt as a ratio of GDP fell from 60.8 per cent in 2005 to 26.0 per cent in 2006.  At 31 December 2008, total outstanding exte rnal debt was CFAF 810.4 billion, corresponding 
to 22.8 per cent of GDP. 
Table I.1 
Selected macroeconomic indicators, 2003-2009 
 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007a 2008a 2009b 
Miscellaneous        
Population (million) 11.2 11.5 11.9 12.3 12.7 13.1 .. 
In rural areas (% of total population) 70.5 70.0 69.5 68.9 68.4 67.8 .. 
Total public debt (% of GDP) 70.1 63.9 61.3 39.9 39.7 37.5 38.2 
Total external debt (% of GDP) 67.1 62.1 60.0 18.9 22.9 23.0 25.9 
Public external debt servicing in % of exports 7.8 8.2 7.8 112.0 4.7 4.6 4.7 
Public external debt servicing in % of exports after 
relief 5.8 6.4 7.4 3.7 3.4 3.4 .. 
Gross official reserves (in import months, goods and 
services) 6.9 6.4 6.1 6.1 6.3 6.6 6.8 
Real GDP growth rate (%) 7.7 2.3 6.1 5.3 4.3 5.0 4.2 
Real GDP (US$ million, at 1985 prices) 2, 762.9 2,825.1 2,998. 4 3,155.9 3,291.5 3,455.4 3,599.2 
GDP at market prices (US$ million) 4, 221.5 4,982.3 5,486. 3 6,122.6 7,145.4 8,831.3 8,982.0 
Sectoral distribution of GDP (Percentage of GDP) 
Agriculture, livestock, fishing and forestry 35.3 34.2 34.6 33.2 32.6 35.7 .. 
Industry 13.7 15.6 22.2 22.0 20.4 19.2 .. 
                                                      
5 BCEAO (2007). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007a 2008a 2009b 
Mining and quarrying 7.4 6.2 7.1 7.5 6.7 6.1 .. 
Other 6.3 9.4 15.1 14.5 13.7 13.1 .. 
Manufactures .. .. 9.1 8.1 6.9 6.2 .. 
Electricity, gas and water supply .. .. 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.9 .. 
Construction and public works .. .. 4.3 4.5 4.9 5.0 .. 
Services 35.2 34.3 35.1 35.3 36.9 35.8 .. 
Tradable services 24.0 23.3 24.4 25.1 27.2 26.7 .. 
Trade and transport 19.7 11.0 11.9 12.0 12.9 12.6  
Wholesale and retail trade 0.0 0.0 4.5 4.9 5.6 5.6 .. 
Transport, storage and communications 0.0 0.0 7.3 7.1 7.3 7.0 .. 
Other tradable services 4.3 12.3 12.6 13.1 14.3 14.2 .. 
Non-tradable services 11.2 11.0 10.7 10.2 9.7 9.1 .. 
Import duties and taxes and VAT 15.8 15.9 8.1 9.5 10.1 9.2 .. 
National accounts (Percentage of GDP) 
Final consumption 81.5 86.2 86.3 84.3 88.1 88.3 .. 
Private 63.3 68.3 69.4 67.0 70.7 70.9 .. 
Public 18.1 18.0 16.9 17.3 17.4 17.4 .. 
Gross fixed capital formation 18.0 17.0 15.4 16.5 19.4 18.8 .. 
Public 10.5 9.6 8.5 8.9 .. .. .. 
Private 7.5 7.4 6.9 7.6 .. .. .. 
Variation in inventory 8.0 5.0 6.6 3.9 2.2 3.9 .. 
Exports of goods and services 27.3 24.4 25.1 30.4 27.1 27.8 .. 
Imports of goods and services 34.8 32.6 33.4 35.1 36.7 38.8 .. 
Gross national savings 15.0 13.4 14.1 20.1 19.4 18.4 .. 
Gross domestic savings 14.0 13.5 13.7 19.0 17.5 15.3 .. 
Prices and interest rates        
Inflation (CPI, % change) -1.3 -3.1 6.4 1.5 1.4 9.2 .. 
Exchange rates        
CFAF/US$ (annual average) 581.2 528.3 527.5 522.9 479.3 447.8 472.2 
Real effective exchange rate (end of period, % 
variation;  = depreciation) 1.1 -3.9 3.9 3.1 3.2 .. .. 
Public financesc        
Revenue and grants 21.9 21.2 21.5 56.2 21.3 19.4 .. 
Current revenue 17.2 17.3 17.5 17.3 16.6 15.3 .. 
Tax revenue 14.2 14.9 15.4 14.9 14.2 12.8 .. 
Direct and indirect taxes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Grants 4.7 3.9 4.0 38.9 4.7 4.1 .. 
Total expenditure and net lendi ng 23.2 23.8 24.6 24.9 24.7 23.6 .. 
Total current expenditure 21.8 22.5 22.3 23.5 24.3 21.7 .. 
Current primary expenditure 12.9 13.3 13.0 12.9 12.8 12.0 .. 
Wages 4.2 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.8 4.9 .. 
Interest 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 .. 
Other current primary expenditure 7.8 8.0 7.6 7.8 7.6 6.7 .. 
Pensions and scholarships .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Current transfers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Capital expenditure 8.9 9.2 9.3 10.6 11.6 9.6 .. 
Expenditure, special funds and supplementary 
budgets 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.7 .. 
Net loans -0.2 -0.3 0.8 -0.2 -1.4 0.2 .. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007a 2008a 2009b 
Overall fiscal balance (payment order basis, 
excluding grants) -6.0 -6.5 -7.1 -7.6 -8.1 -8.2 .. 
Overall fiscal balance (payment order basis, 
including grants) -1.3 -2.6 -3.1 31.3 -3.3 -4.1 .. 
Change in arrears 0.4 0.3 -0.4 0.0 0.3 -1.6 .. 
Payments during supplementary period .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Overall deficit (cash basis, including grants) -0.9 -2.3 -3.5 31.3 -3.0 -5.7 .. 
Financing 0.9 2.3 3.5 -31.3 3.0 5.7 .. 
Domestic financing -3.4 -0.6 -0.3 -3.5 0.2 2.5 .. 
External financing 4.3 2.8 3.8 -27.8 2.9 3.2 .. 
.. Not available. 
a Estimates. 
b Projections. 
c The 2007 data include CFAF 44 billi on for recapitalization of the CMDT. 
Source: IMF, Country reports Nos 08/378, 08/113, and 06/310.   Viewed at:  www.imf.or g;  BCEAO, Statistics 
Yearbook 2007;  Annual reports 2007 and 2008.  Vi ewed at:  http://www.bceao.int/;  WAEMU, Rapport annuel, 
2007 ;  and WAEMU, Rapport de surveillance multilatérale - Annexe statistique de la surveillance , 
December 2009.  Viewed at:  http://www.uemo a.int/Publication/Sur v_Multilaterale.htm. 
9. After a slight improvement in 2006, the bala nce-of-payments current account deficit then 
grew significantly to reach US$699 million in 2008, or  7.9 per cent of GDP (Table I.2).  This was a 
reflection of the deterioration in the balance of tr ade in goods and services, which current transfers did 
not manage to offset entirely, despite the sharp rise in private transfers.  The latter, particularly the 
remittances from migrants in Europe, is a crucia l source of income.  Mali's trade balance has a 
structural deficit, with the exception of 2002 an d 2006, when the trade ba lance was positive because 
of positive performance in the cotton and gold sub sectors.  Total imports doubled in value between 
2003 and 2008 as a result of sustained demand fo r capital goods and energy products, as well as 
higher global prices for o il and food products. 
10. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Mali applies 
its common monetary and exchange policies (joint  report, Chapter I(2)).  In 2009, Mali fulfilled 
two of the four first tier primary convergence criter ia established within the Union, namely those on 
the outstanding public debt/GDP ratio and internal and external payment arrears, but failed to meet 
the basic fiscal balance and inflation rate criteria.6 
Table I.2 
Balance of payments, 2002-2009 
(US$ million) 
 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008a 2009 
Current balance -148.9 -271.0 - 409.1 -437.8 -218. 6 -581.1 -699.2 .. 
Trade balance 162.7 -60.6 -116.4 -144.5 75.0 -289.8 -483.0 .. 
Exports (f.o.b.) 875.1 927.9 976.4 1,100.9 1,550.4 1,556.3 1,980.1 .. 
Gold .. 566 504 693 1,132 1,083 1,437  
Cotton 198.3 246.7 350.0 271.3 269.7 231.4 146.5 .. 
Imports (f.o.b.) -712.4 -988.5 -1,093.0 -1,245.4 -1,475.5 -1,845.9 -2,463.1 .. 
Petroleum -124.7 -224.0 -288.1 -365.9 -435.8 -485.3 -583.3 .. 
Services (net) -217.7 -257.9 -290.8 -313.8 -361.3 -400.0 -484.1 .. 
Freight and insurance (net) -183.1 275.8 -280.3 -295.4 -295.1 -373.3 -521.7 .. 
Income (net) -240.2 -160.0 -194.8 -207.0 -257.4 -291.5 -244.1 .. 
Interest on public debt -24.1 -27.4 -30.5 -32.2 -27.7 -23.2 -27.9 .. 
                                                      
6 Ministry of the Economy and Finance (2009). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008a 2009 
Transfers (net) 146.2 207.5 192.9 227.5 325.1 400.0 512.1 .. 
Private 102.0 91.5 95.8 111.7 160.5 281.5 366.5 .. 
Public 44.2 116.0 97.3 115.8 164.7 118.5 145.6 .. 
Capital and financial operations 
account 272.3 440.0 312.7 550.9 430.5 531.9 631.7 .. 
Capital transfers (excluding debt 
relief) 143.8 165.5 205.6 205.9 2,258.6 324.0 335.9 .. 
Financial operations 128.6 274.4 106.9 345.0 -1,828.1 207.8 295.9 .. 
Direct investment 242.2 130.8 100.1 224.7 82.2 65.5 185.1 .. 
Portfolio investment 52.5 13.2 2.5 4.4 -3.3 -7.7 5.4 .. 
Other investment -166.1 130.4 4.4 116.0 -1,906.9 150.2 105.4 .. 
Net errors and omissions -5.3 46.5 -25.0 -24.1 -49.3 26.9 0.0 .. 
Overall balance 118.1 215.4 -121.3 89.3 162.6 -22.3 -67.4 .. 
Indicators (%)         
Balance of goods/GDP 5.1 -1.4 -2.3 -2.6 1.2 -4.1 -5.5 .. 
Current account balance/GDP -4.7 -6.4 -8.2 -8.0 -3.6 -8.1 -7.9 .. 
Overall balance/GDP 3.7 5.1 -2.4 1.6 2.7 -0.3 -0.8 .. 
.. Not available. 
a Estimates. 
Source : BCEAO, Statistics Yearbook 2007, Ma li;  and BCEAO, Annual report 2008.  Viewed at:  http://www.bceao.int/. 
(3) TRENDS IN TRADE AND INVESTMENT  
(i) Trade in goods and services 
11. Mali's exports are still as little diversified as at the time of the previous TPR.  Gold remains 
its major export product, with a 74.9 per cent shar e in 2008, compared to 71.4 per cent in 2002 
(Table AI.2 and Chart I.1).  Cotton's share of the total has fallen since 2004 and in 2008 was 10.1 per 
cent.  The income earned from selling cotton is hi ghly dependent on fluctua tions in cotton's global 
price and yields during the agricultural seasons.  Exports of food products have increased over the 
years and rose to 7 per cent in 2008.  The export share of manufactures is still low and was 5.5 per 
cent in 2008.  Since 2004, South Africa has become the main destination for Mali's exports, particularly as it takes all the exports of gold (Table  AI.4 and Chart I.2).  The other destinations for 
Mali's exports essentially remain the same, with Sene gal, Côte d'Ivoire and Switzerland at the top. 
12. There appears to have been little change in the breakdown of Mali's imports of goods, and 
fuel, machinery and transport equipment, together with chemicals, are still the principal imports 
(Table AI.1 and Chart I.1).  The main source of  imports remains the European Union, France in 
particular, followed by Senegal, Côte d'Ivoi re and China (Table AI.3 and Chart I.2). 
13. Mali has a large deficit in trade services, the main cause being payment of freight and 
insurance for goods. 
(ii) Foreign direct investment 
14. There has been an increase in the flow of fo reign direct investment (FDI) into Mali since 
2003, with a marked peak in 2009 following the partial privatization of the telecommunications company SOTELMA.  Substantial investment has also  been made in the mining sector.  Nevertheless, 
despite a relatively stable political and macroeconomic  environment, the flow of FDI to other sectors 
is still modest. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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(4) OUTLOOK  
15. Despite a difficult international economic contex t, marked by the food, oil and financial 
crises, Mali's recent economic performance has been satisfactory overall.  Although progress has been 
made in macroeconomic stabilization and struct ural reform, Mali's economy is still fragile and 
particularly vulnerable to external shocks, includi ng weather factors and fluctuations in raw material 
prices on global markets.  The extent of these stru ctural weaknesses suggests that, in the medium 
term, the fiscal and commercial imbalances are likel y to continue.  The use of external financing, 
including support from development partners, will con tinue to play a key role in Mali's economic 
development. 
16. For 2010, the Malian authorities are counting on a slight increase in economic growth of 
4.8 per cent.7  This higher rate of growth would be po ssible if conditions in the cotton subsector 
improve and input subsidies continue to be grante d prudently in the agricultural sector, which should 
lead to favourable developments in cotton and cer eal production.  Construction and public works and 
gold production are also expected to be a focus for growth, while expansion in the services sector may 
be more modest. 
                                                      
7 IMF (2010). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Chart I.1  
Breakdown of trade in goods, 2002-2008  
(a) Exports (f.o.b.)  
(b) Imports (c.i.f.)  
Source : WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data from the UNSD Comtrade database (SITC, Rev. 3).  
Gold, for non-money use  
 Other primary products 
iiCotton  
Chemicals
Transport equipment  
Food products  
Other semi-manufactures 
Other products  
Fuel 
Non-electrical machinery 
él i
 Iron and steel 
Electrical machinery 
Live bovine animals  
 Other
 Manufactures
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
 
 WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Chart I.2  
Direction of trade in goods, 2002-2008 
(a)  Exports (f.o.b.)  
(b) Imports (c.i.f.)  
Source : WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data from the UNSD Comtrade database (SITC, Rev. 3). 
South Africa
 EU (27)  
 Asia 
Senegal
Switzerland and 
Liechtenstein  
South Africa
Other EU  
countries  
Other
Senegal
 United States 
 Other African countries  
France  
 China
 Côte d'Ivoire Other 
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II. TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES 
17. Since its previous TPR in 2004, Mali's legisl ative and institutional framework for foreign 
trade and investment does not appear to have change d to any great extent.  The Investment Code was 
amended in 2005 to enable the Mali Investment Pr omotion Agency (API-MALI) to be set up.  In 
2008, a single window was set up within API-MALI to centralize all the formalities required to set up 
companies and obtain operating permits. 
(1) EXECUTIVE , LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIARY  
18. The President of the Republic is the Head of St ate and is elected by universal suffrage for a 
once-renewable five-year term.  The current Presid ent has been in office since 2002 and the next 
presidential elections are due to be held in 2012.  The President appoints the Prime Minister and, at 
the latter's proposal, the other members of th e Government.  The present Government has 
29 ministries (those directly involved in tr ade-related areas are listed in Table II.1).8 
19. Parliament consists of a single chamber, the National Assembly, which exercises legislative 
power and controls the activities of the Government.  The 147 deputies are elected by direct universal 
suffrage for five years and may be re-elected;  the la test legislative elections were held in July 2007. 
Table II.1 
Principal institutions concerned with intern ational trade or foreign investment, April 2010 
Ministries and their institutions Internet address 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Intern ational Cooperation http://www.mae.gov.ml/ 
Ministry of the Economy and Fi nance http://www.finances.gov.ml/ 
Directorate-General of Cust oms http://www.douanes.gov.ml/v 
Ministry of Industry, Investment a nd Trade http://www.meic.gov.ml/index.aspx 
Mali Investment Promotion Agency (API-MALI) http://www.apimali.gov.ml/ 
Ministry of Mining, Energy and Wa ter Resources http://www.mmee.gov.ml/ 
Ministry of Tourism and Handicr afts http://www.tourisme.gov.ml/ 
Ministry of Agriculture h ttp://www.maliagriculture.org/ 
Ministry of Communications and Ne w Technology http://www.mcnt.gov.ml/ 
Ministry of the Environment and Sa nitation http://www.meic.gov.ml/index.aspx 
Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries http://www.mep.gov.ml/ 
Ministry of Infrastructure and Tr ansport http://www.met.gov.ml/index.aspx 
National Statistical Institute (INSTAT) http://instat.gov.ml/ 
Malian Tourism and Hotel Board (OMATHO) http://www.le-mali.com/omatho/ 
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Mali (CCIM) http://www.ccimmali.org/ 
Source : Information provided by the authorities. 
20. Laws adopted by the National Assembly are tr ansmitted to the President, who enacts them, 
and they are then published in the Official Journal .  In cases of emergency, the Government may 
enact measures normally coming within the scope of or dinary law by means of an "ordinance", but it 
must then be ratified by a law.9  No such measure has been taken since Mali's previous TPR. 
21. Judicial power is independent of the Executive a nd the Legislature.  The Supreme Court is the 
highest jurisdiction in Mali.  The Court of Appeal hears appeals against rulings in civil, commercial 
                                                      
8 Decree No. 09-00157/P-RM of 9 April 2009. 
9 This was the case, for example, for Ordinance No. 07-025/P-RM of 18 July 2007 on competition and 
the law ratifying it. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 276 
 
 
and criminal cases made by the lower courts, commercial courts and justices of the peace with 
extended jurisdiction and, for social  matters, by the labour tribunals.10  Mali also has a court of 
assizes, administrative tribunals and courts for minor s.  In recent years, reform of Mali's judicial 
system has been a priority.  The plan of action for reform for the period 2000-2010 concerned the 
state of the infrastructure, the financial and human  resources needed, training and documentation, and 
the very credibility of the judicial system. 
22. The Ombudsman receives complaints concerning the functioning of government departments, 
local authorities, State institutions and any bodies pr oviding a public service in connection with their 
relations with the public.  In carrying out his task s, he does not receive instructions from any other 
authority.  He is appointed for a non-renewable te rm of seven years and ca nnot be removed from his 
post unless he is unable to carry out his work or the Supreme Court finds that a serious offence has 
been committed. 
23. International agreements and tr eaties are ratified or approved by the President of the Republic 
after a law authorizing them has been adopted by the National Assembly.11  A treaty or agreement can 
only be approved by means of a law, although this is not the case for its transposition.  Validly ratified 
treaties or agreements (for example, the WTO Agreement) take precedence over domestic laws once 
they have been published in the Official Journal , provided that each agreement or treaty is 
implemented by the other party.12  Such acts are immediately applicable as a law in Mali and are 
enforceable ipso jure .  Thus, the WTO provisions can be dir ectly cited in legal proceedings, although 
this has never yet been the case. 
(2) TRADE POLICY FRAMEWORK  
(i) Institutional framework 
24. Mali became a GATT Contracting Party on 11 January 1993, and a Member of the WTO on 
31 May 1995.  It is recognized as an LDC.  It is not a member of any plurilateral agreement and is not 
planning to become an observer in respect of  the WTO Plurilateral Agreement on Government 
Procurement.  Mali has been particularly active at the WTO in relation to the subsidies given by some 
Members for the export of cotton (joint report, Chapter IV(2)(iii)).  Mali's notifications to the 
WTO are incomplete and it has only presented one notification since 2005 (joint report, Table II.1). 
25. With the exception of the 2003 tariff data collected for the purpose of preparing Mali's 
previous TPR in 2004, there are no tariff data for the other years from 2000 to 2010, while statistics on imports are lacking for all years.  Mali could adopt a joint notification procedure with other 
members of WAEMU, which would enable joint notifica tions to be kept up to date more efficiently 
and at lower cost. 
26.
 Mali and the other members of WAEMU and the Economic Community of West African 
States (ECOWAS) are gradually adopting common laws  and regulations (joint report, Chapter II).  
Likewise, it is within WAEMU and ECOWAS that Mali is participating in the ongoing negotiations 
with the European Union on an economic partnershi p agreement to replace the trade provisions in the 
Cotonou Agreement (joint report, Chapter II). 
27. The Minister of Industry, Investment and Trade (hereinafter Minister of Trade) is the 
principal authority responsible for formulating,  evaluating and implementing the Government's 
                                                      
10 Law No. 88-39/AN-RM of 8 February 1988 reorganizing the judicial system. 
11 Title XIV of the 1992 Constitution. 
12 Article 116 of the 1992 Constitution. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 277 
 
 
industrial and trade policy.  A Minister attached  to the Minister of the Economy and Finance is 
responsible for promoting the private sector.  Th e Minister of the Economy and Finance plays an 
important role in trade policy matters through th e Directorate-General of Customs, which he 
supervises;  he also has responsib ilities related to Mali's participati on in WAEMU and the franc zone.  
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is responsible for Mali's participation 
in the African Union and the ACP-EU Agreement.  Trade aspects of bilateral, plurilateral and 
multilateral agreements are dealt with by the Minister of Trade. 
28. The National Directorate for Trade and Compe tition (DNCC) within the Ministry of Trade 
acts as the secretariat of the National Comm ission on Follow-up to the WTO Agreements and 
relations with UNCTAD.  It is also in charge of i ssuing the certificates of intent needed to import or 
export goods to or from Mali.13 
29. The Ministry of Trade grants import licences fo r products subject to restrictive prohibitions 
(Chapter III(2)(vi)) and has authority for continge ncy measures.  The Ministry includes the Mali 
Industrial Property Centre (CEMAPI) and a Standard ization and Quality Promotion Department.  The 
Minister of Trade is also responsible for API-MALI, which includes the single windows for 
investment promotion and enterprise creation (see below). 
30. The CCIM, supervised by the Minister of Trade, may propose to the Government any 
measure intended to promote the development of commercial, industrial or services activities and 
expresses its opinion on relevant issues.14  If there is disagreement with the Government, it may bring 
the matter to the attention of the National Assemb ly and the latter may also, on its own initiative, 
request the CCIM for an opinion.  Since 2004, the CCIM has had an Arbitration and Conciliation 
Centre, whose task is to settle disputes between Malian nationals and foreigne rs regarding trade, 
industry or the supply of services.  The CCIM ope rates an Enterprise Formalities Centre (CFE). 
(ii) Broad outlines of trade policy 
31. The Government's trade and investment policy comes within the more general framework of 
its General Policy Declaration, put before the Na tional Assembly in December 2007, which takes its 
inspiration from the President of the Republic's outline letter in connection with the poverty reduction 
strategic framework (CSLP).  The President's lette r sets out two main goals, namely:  "to ensure 
strong and sustained growth, provid ing opportunities and prosperity for all citizens, and to pave the 
way for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015".15 
32. More specifically, the Presiden t's letter underlines the importance of stronger primary 
production systems, development of the private sector through direct investment , trade, especially the 
export of Malian products to regi onal and international markets, e xpansion of the infrastructure and 
facilities, financial transfers to Mali,  and more stable public management. 
33. The overall objective of Mali's trade policy is to create an environment that fosters the 
development of exports, imports and investment in order to ach ieve economic growth and poverty 
reduction objectives.  In order to define the action to  be taken to develop Mali' s international trade and 
                                                      
13 WTO document G/LIC/N/3/MLI/2 of 27 August 2001. 
14 Article 2 of Law No. 98-014 of 19 January 1998. 
15 Outline letter from the President of the Republic of 13 November 2007. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 278 
 
 
to ensure that it is effectively incorporated into  the country's national development plans, Mali is 
taking part in the Integrated Framewor k (IF) for technical assistance for LDCs.16 
(3) CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR  
34. The Economic, Social and Cultural Council, set up by Article 106 of the Constitution, must 
be consulted on any draft finance law, any tax provision and any economic, social or cultural 
project.17  It prepares for the President of the Republic , the Government and the National Assembly an 
annual report on expectations, needs and problems in civil society and makes proposals for reform.  
Moreover, the Higher Council of Local Authorities is entrusted with considering and giving a 
substantiated opinion on any local  or regional development policy. 
35. The Executive has a three-tier consultation stru cture:  the National Economic Coordination 
Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, comprises financial and economic authorities and trade groups and associations;  the Committee on Devel opment of the Private Sector, chaired by the 
Minister of Industry, comprises the directorates of economic services and trade associations, and 
makes proposals to enhance the economy's comp etitiveness and to encourage the upgrading of 
enterprises (technology, economic and trade inform ation, training, infrastructure);  the Ad Hoc 
Committee brings together groups of experts com posed of leading figures in academic circles, 
enterprises and government departments, both Mali ans and foreigners, to examine problems that are 
hampering the development of the private sector and to propose solutions. 
36.
 A National Monitoring Committee for the WT O Agreements and re lations with UNCTAD 
was set up by Decision No. 10/MICA-SG of 27 March 1998 and is chaired by the Ministry of 
Industry, Investment and Trade.  This Commis sion currently has 43 members and its task is, 
inter alia , to submit notifications, take steps to bri ng Mali's regulations into conformity with 
WTO obligations, follow up the implementation of  WTO Members' commitments to Mali, examine 
the impact of WTO provisions on Mali's economy an d identify what assistance the WTO can provide 
to Mali.  The ministries concerned (for example, th e ministries responsible for trade and finance), the 
CCIM and the trade associations or unions par ticipate in the National Commission's work.  The 
Commission has five sub-committees dealing with ma tters relating to agriculture, Customs, regional 
trade agreements, trade in services and TRIPS. 
37. The Monitoring Committee for the Sectoral Initia tive on Cotton was set up by interministerial 
order specifically to follow up the cotton issue. 
38. The National Monitoring Committee for the AC P-EU Economic Partnership Agreement was 
set up by Decree No. 06-221/PM-RM of 22 May 2006 and is responsible for the following:  
(i) examining all matters relating to  negotiations and implementation of  the Agreement;  (ii) preparing 
directives defining Mali's position in the Agreemen t's negotiating bodies;  and (iii) preparing the 
Government's decisions on implementation of th e Agreement and monitoring their application. 
                                                      
16 Integrated Framework, online information.  Viewed at:  http://www.integratedframework. 
org/countries/mali.htm. 
17 The Council is composed of the following:  four  representatives of national professional bodies;  
nine representatives of regional councils and Bamako Distri ct Council;  four representatives of Malians resident 
abroad;  12 representatives of wage- earners in the civil service and the pr ivate sector;  ten representatives of 
trade associations;  four representatives of industrial and mining organizations;  nine farmers;  
two representatives of coordinating committees of non-governmental organizations;  and four representatives of 
youth, women's, retirees' and consumers' associ ations.  Viewed at:  http://www.cesc.org.ml/. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 279 
 
 
(4) INVESTMENT REGIME  
39. The Malian Government strongly encourages a nd promotes investment in Mali, including 
foreign investment.  For this purpose, in 2005 it created API-MALI, whose task it is to encourage 
more direct investment and contribute towards th e development and regulatio n of industrial zones.  
API-MALI is a public administrative body under th e supervision of the Ministry of Industry, 
Investment and Trade.  It takes part in forums, trad e fairs and seminars in order to promote investment 
opportunities in Mali. 
40. The purpose of the Investment Code is to promote investment in Mali18, and it has been 
amended since Mali's previous TPR by Law No . 05-050 of 19 August 2005.  The Code gives tax 
concessions and guarantees for a pproved investment projects.  Enterprises of a purely commercial 
nature and petroleum and mining exploration and exploitation enterprises are excluded from approval 
under the Code;  their activities are governed by  the Commercial Code, the Petroleum Code, the 
Mining Code and their implementing texts (Chapter  IV(3)).  It should be noted that, since 2002, 
tourism enterprises have been able to bene fit from concessions under the Tourism and Hotel 
Investment Code.19 
41. The Investment Code provides for three regi mes:  regime A for small and medium-sized 
enterprises (SMEs) and investment that does not exceed CFAF 150 million;  regime B for large enterprises (investment of over CFAF 150 million) ;  and the so-called "free zone" regime (for 
export-oriented companies, which may sell up to 20 per cent of their output on the domestic market).  
Companies are given exemption from the tax on i ndustrial and commercial profits (BIC) and the 
business tax for five and eight years under regimes A and B, respectively;  from the tax on income 
from property and the tax on mortmain assets for new buildings for five years for real estate 
development companies.  They may also stagger payment of registration fees for deeds creating 
enterprises over three years, with exemption from th ese if the capital is increased (regimes A and B).
20  
Companies approved under regimes A, B or C may also obtain exemptions from or reduction of duties and taxes on imports of goods needed for their activities  subject to submission of  an application to the 
Ministry of Industry, Investment and Trade, which d eals with the applications on a case-by-case basis. 
42.
 Companies mainly engaged in export (over 80 pe r cent of their production is exported) may 
be approved under the free zone regime (free enterprises).21  These companies are granted total 
exemption from duties and taxes (including import duties) related to their export activities for 
30 years.22 
43. State-owned or private companies, whether Ma lian or foreign, are subject to the same 
obligations and are given the same rights and guarant ees.  The principal guarantees given are:  (i) the 
right to transfer capital and income for an investment  financed by contributions in foreign currency in 
the currency transferred at the time of the investme nt;  and (ii) the right to settlement of disputes, 
                                                      
18 Law No. 91-048/AN-RM of 26 February 1991 containing the Investment Code. 
19 Law No. 02-015/AN-RM of 3 June 2002. 
20 In addition to these concessions, companies setti ng up in areas that are not yet sufficiently 
industrialized are given exemption from the BIC tax and from the business tax for two additional years in zone 
II (regions of Koulikoro, Sikasso and Ségou) and four additional years in zone III (regions of Kayes, Mopti, Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal). 
21 Decree No. 95-423/P-RM of  6 December 1995.  By the end of 2 009, no free enterprise had set up in 
Mali. 
22 Approval under the free zone regime has been given to 14 companies, of which three are operating:  
Société SADA-SA (production of cotton wool), taken over by SATCOMA;  West African Tannery (leather 
tanning);  and Société nouvelles tanneries du Mali (N.T.N.) (leather tanning). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 280 
 
 
initially amicable settlement or under bilateral agreements23 and thereafter by appeal to the 
International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) if the former are not successful. 
44. The formalities required in order to obtain appr oval under the Code were  defined in 1995 and 
have not changed since Mali's previous TPR.24  An application for approval is submitted to API Mali's 
single window and must include a feasibility study.  The principal criterion is value added of 35 per 
cent or more.  After the application for approval has been considered by an interministerial 
commission, approval is given in the form of an or der by the Minister responsible for industry within 
a period of 20 days;  there is no appeals procedure if approval is refused.  Investors who file an 
application for approval are given a registration number  that serves as an authorization to engage in 
the activity. 
45. Authorization to engage in an activity is required in many fields, including industry, 
construction and public works, real estate, firms of architects, consulting engineers, culture, tourism, 
public transport of passengers or goods, and establ ishments classified as hazardous, unhealthy or 
difficult. 
46. Between 2004 and August 2009, the single window issued a total of 1,107 approvals, 134 to 
foreign firms, under the Investment Code (Table II.2). 
Table II.2 
Approvals under the Investment Code and auth orizations to engage in an activity issued by the single window, 2004-2009 
 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009a Total 
Number of approvals 127 203 170 237 143 227 1,107 
Intended investment (CFAF million) 119,39 8 148,819 123,927 103,92 7 103,957 75,072 119,577 
a August. 
Source : API-Mali, Malian authorities. 
47. For the creation of new firms, the Malian Gove rnment has lessened the time required after 
filing an application with the single window to 72  hours.  The authorities want to streamline and 
accelerate administrative procedures for creating firm s, shorten the time taken to obtain approval and 
reduce application fees.  The single window within API-Mali covers industry, construction and public 
works, real estate, firms of architects, consu lting engineers, tourism, and public transport of 
passengers and goods.25  In 2010, Mali ranked 156th out of 183 countries in the World Bank's Cost of 
Doing Business indicator.26 
48. Mali has belonged to the Convention establis hing the Multilateral Investment Guarantee 
Agency (MIGA) since 1990.  MIGA's database contains one project under way in Mali.27  In 2003, 
MIGA issued guarantees amounting to US$39.6 m illion to the Senegalese company Sonatel to 
                                                      
23 Germany (1977), Switzerland (1978), Tunisia (1986), Algeria (1996), Egypt (1998), 
Netherlands (2003), South Africa, Senegal, and Li byan Arab Jamahiriya.  The agreements with 
Germany (1980), Switzerland (1978) and the Netherlands (2005) are in effect. 
24 Decree No. 95-423/P-RM of 6 December 1995. 
25 Les Afriques , “Mali:  Trois jours pour créer une enterprise”, 19 May 2009.  Viewed at:  
http://www.lesafriques.com/mali/mali- trois-jours-pour-creer- une-entreprise.html?Itemid=66?articleid=16199 
[2 April 2010]. 
26 Doing Business, online informat ion.  Viewed at:  http://www.d oingbusiness.org/exploreeconomies/ 
?economyid=121 [11 June 2010]. 
27 MIGA online information.  Viewed at:  http ://www.miga.org/regions/index_sv.cfm?stid=1530& 
country_id=140&pv=s, [10 April 2010]. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 281 
 
 
guarantee its investment in telecommunications in Ma li.  The guarantees cover the risks of breach of 
contract, expropriation and risks related to potential conflict. 
49. The Malian Government has signe d a partnership agreement with the Investment Climate 
Facility for Africa (ICF) covering two projects whose objective is to modernize the country's tax and 
trade administration, thereby improving the investment climate.28  The first project will focus on 
improving fiscal dispute settlement, while the second aims to modernize the commercial legal system 
by strengthening the mechanism for alterna tive settlement of disputes by the CCIM. 
                                                      
28 Les Afriques , Mali:  "Un accord de partenariat avec In vestment Climate Facility for Africa", 
24 March 2009.  Viewed at:  http://www.lesafriques. com/mali/mali-un-accord-de-pa rtenariat-avec-investment- 
climate-facility-for-a.html?Itemid=6 6?articleid=14502 [3 April 2010]. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 282 
 
 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
(1) INTRODUCTION  
50. Mali's trade regime is largely based on the WAEMU provisions and has not changed to any 
great extent since the previous review of its trad e policy in 2004.  Some 42 per cent of Mali's tariff 
lines remain bound and Mali has applied WAEM U's Common External Tariff (CET) since 
31 January 2000, as well as the other trade polic y instruments harmonized at the community level, 
namely, the other duties and taxes levied solely on imports not originating in WAEMU or ECOWAS;  
the rules of origin of the two regional groups;  customs valuation of goods, with a national list of 
reference values based on that of WAEMU;  and contingency measures, inter alia . 
51. Mali still has a preshipment inspection system for imports.  There are exemptions from 
customs duty, particularly for companies appr oved under the Mining Code and tourism and hotel 
companies.  The general VAT rate in Mali is 18 pe r cent.  Alcoholic beverages, petroleum products 
and cigarettes, inter alia , are subject to (special) excise duty.  All the national standards in force in 
Mali are identical to international standards.  Ne vertheless, some imported goods must show on the 
packaging "Sale to Mali".  The imported goods in  question compete with national products, which 
must indicate "Manufactured in Mali".  Since January  2010, sugar imports have been exempt from the 
special import tax (TCI) provided that sugar is bought from a Malian company. 
52. All export transactions require notice of inte nt to export under the inspection programme.  
Gold and cotton, which are mainly exported, are subj ect to a special 3 per cent tax.  Mali has notified 
the WTO that it has no subsidy programmes, includi ng for exports.  In addition, Mali's competition 
legislation was amended in 2007, notably by incorp orating the relevant WAEMU rules.  The new law 
chiefly relates to unfair trade practices, consum er protection and penalties for violations.  The 
WAEMU Commission is responsible for defining and suppressing anticompetitive practices.  The 
prices of some products (cattle cake, hydrocarbons ) and services are determined by the State. 
53. The Malian Government has continued to wit hdraw from economic activity.  In 2009, it sold 
the majority of its shares in the compan y SOTELMA, which formerly had a monopoly of 
telecommunications.  The privatization of the Mali Textile Development Company (CMDT), which 
has a de facto monopoly of cotton ginning and the sale of cotton lint and cotton by-products, is under way.  The Government nevertheless still retains subs tantial holdings in nearly all sectors of the 
economy. 
54.
 Mali's government procurement framework has b een reorganized to ensure its conformity 
with the relevant community rules.  A new author ity, set up in 2008, monitors compliance with the 
national and WAEMU rules.  Mali ratified the revised Bangui Agreement (1999) in 2003 and adopted 
a new law on literary and artistic property in 2008 , which takes into account the provisions in the 
TRIPS Agreement.  The authorities have also taken stronger measures to combat piracy. 
(2) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING IMPORTS  
(i) Registration 
55. Decree No. 00-505/P-RM of 16 October 2000 governs imports into Mali.  It stipulates that 
such transactions may be carried out by natural persons who can prove they have the status of 
importer or by companies that have signed an agreement with the State and in implementation of its provisions, or by foreign companies under a government  procurement contract, or by administrative, 
technological, professional, scientific or cultural institutions, or by a government authority for its Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 283 
 
 
operational needs.29  The requirement that foreign persons wi shing to engage in such activities had to 
obtain prior agreement from the Minister of Trade was abolished in 2001.30  Some commercial 
activities may nevertheless be reserved for Malian nationals by decree (for example, the import of 
arms and ammunition). 
56. Registration in the Register of Commerce or in the Trade Directory is required to engage in 
commercial activities.  The necessary formalities may be completed at the CFE in the CCIM or at the 
Commercial Tribunal.  Applications are usually pro cessed within 48 hours and the information sent to 
the government departments concerned (for exampl e, the National Director ate for Taxation, the 
National Directorate for Statistics and Data Proc essing (DNSI)), and a tax identification number is 
issued.  With the exception of some occupations  (for example, cattle expor ters), an import-export 
business tax must be paid, whose amount is  determined on the basis of turnover. 
(ii) Customs procedures 
57. The Customs Code has been in effect since 1 January 2002 and governs import and export 
procedures to and from Mali.31  According to the Code, the type of customs regime requested may be 
definitive (import or export), or suspensory (t ransit, bonded warehouse, i ndustrial bonded warehouse, 
in-bond factory (production under customs control), temporary admission, temporary import, 
temporary export).  Goods transpor ted in bond or under a suspensory customs regime must be covered 
by security.  The detailed rules for the Code's appli cation are the subject of orders by the Minister of 
the Economy and Finance. 
58. According to the Customs Code, a single detaile d declaration (DDU) is used for imports and 
exports.  Only approved customs agents may carry out customs clearance operations.  Approval from 
the Minister in charge of Customs is needed in or der to engage in the activity of customs agent and 
foreigners may only be given approval if there is r eciprocity for Malians in their country of origin. 
59. All approved customs agents may draw up DDUs provided that their offices are 
computerized.  If this is not the case, the declara tion is made out manually.  Customs procedures have 
been computerized using the automated customs system (ASYCUDA++), which covers 99.2 per cent 
of current traffic. 
60. A DDU must be accompanied by the following documents:  under the inspection programme, 
a notice of intent to import and an inspection certif icate (AV);  for customs clearance operations, the 
invoice, a declaration attesting to the value (or if applicable the reference value), a certificate of 
origin, where necessary, and the other usual documen ts (insurance, status, tax identification of the 
importer). 
61. The goods may not be released until all duties a nd taxes have been paid, unless there is a 
clearance credit or a credit for duties and taxes.  In addition, importers must make an advance 
payment on several levies and taxes (ADIT), at a ra te of 3 per cent of the c.i.f. value for imports 
covered by an AV and 7.5 per cent for imports with  no AV.  This advance is  refunded to importers 
once they have paid the levies and taxes due. 
                                                      
29 Decree No. 00-505/P-RM of 16 October 2000. 
30 Law No. 01-042 of 7 June 2001. 
31 Law No. 01-075 of 18 July 2001. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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62. For some types of goods, there is an accelerat ed customs clearance procedure called "direct 
clearance".32  A simplified declaration ("D24") is used for this procedure. 
(iii) Preshipment inspection and customs valuation 
63. Mali's import inspection programme (PVI) was introduced in 1989 and notified to the WTO 
in 1998.33  It applies to imports whose f.o.b. value is CFAF 3 million or more and which are not 
exempt from inspection as a result of an order.34  These must be the subject of a prior import 
declaration (DPI) issued by the company BIVAC , responsible for the PVI since January 2007 
following a bidding procedure.35  After it has inspected the goods, BI VAC issues an AV (or "a notice 
of refusal to issue a certificate"), which importers attach to their customs declaration dossiers.  All 
import transactions, whether or not subject to the PV I, must pay the contribution for the PVI, which is 
some 0.75 per cent of the f.o.b. value of the goods imported and is payable by the importer.  
According to the authorities, the processing of cust oms declarations takes from two to six hours after 
the DDU has been submitted. 
64. The WAEMU customs valuation regulations, adopted in 1999, came into effect in Mali on 
31 December 2002 following the esta blishment of national regulations36 (joint report, 
Chapter III(2)(i)).  Mali, however, has not submitted any notification or clarification to the WTO in 
this respect.  Pursuant to the community framewo rk provisions, Mali's authorities may use reference 
values instead of the transaction value declared by the importer.37  Reference values are used for the 
following products:  tea, flour, edible oil, chewing gum, confectionery, edible pasta, biscuits, mineral 
water, paint for buildings and motor vehicles, sa nitary towels, exercise books, cotton thread and 
fabrics, printed fabrics, tiles, batteries, motor cycl es and bicycles.  The list of products subject to 
reference values is updated twice yearly.  Importers  may request the Directorate-General of Customs 
to make a correction when it is established that th e authorities have made a mistake in estimating the 
value in the course of customs clearance. 
(iv) Rules of origin 
65. Since January 2003, Mali has applied the WA EMU rules of origin, whose basic provisions 
are harmonized with those of ECOWAS (joint report, Chapter III(2)(iii)).38  The National Approval 
Committee deals jointly with approval under the WA EMU and ECOWAS preferential schemes.  If 
need be, economic operators are asked to submit tw o applications for approval simultaneously.  The 
list of products approved, together with the appli cations, is submitted to the respective WAEMU and 
                                                      
32 The exhaustive list of the products concerned is as follows:  spare parts for rapid repair of industrial 
and building site machiner y;  hazardous products;  donations intended for public services;  serums and vaccines;  
other pharmaceuticals;  and perishable foodstuffs. 
33 WTO document G/PSI/N/1/Add.7 of 24 February 1998, which concerns Decree No. 89-196/P RM of 
15 June 1989. 
34 The following are exempt from inspection:  gold, precious stones, works of art, ammunition, arms 
and explosives, live animals, fresh produce, wood, scrap metal, plants and flowers,  fertilizer, cinematographic 
films, newspapers and periodicals, personal effects and gifts, parcels, commercial samples, crude petroleum, 
donations, serums and vaccines, vehicl es of chapters HS 8702, 8703 an d 8704, and imports by government 
departments, diplomatic or consular missions and United Nations agencies for their own use. 
35 Previously administered by the company Cotecna, the PVI was taken over by BIVAC after an 
international invitation to tender in 2006.  "Programme de vérification des importations - Bivac, un 
professionnel de la vérification".  Viewed at:  http://www.malikounda.com/nouvelle_voir.php?  idNouvelle 
=16504 [29 March 2010]. 
36 Instruction No. 004 MEF/ DGD of 31 December 2002. 
37 Order No. 09-1030/MEF/SG of 5 May 2009. 
38 Additional Protocol No. III establishing the WAEMU rules of origin. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 285 
 
 
ECOWAS Commissions for dissemination to member  States.  The number of Malian companies 
approved under the WAEMU preferential tariff regime  is 53, for a total of 222 products.  The 
Directorate-General of Customs has a computerized management system to ensure regular updating of 
approvals granted in all member States.  For each  export of approved products, the certificate of 
origin is issued by the Ministry responsible for industry and endorsed by Customs. 
(v) Customs levies 
(a) Import duties and taxes 
66. Mali has applied the WAEMU CET since 31 January  2000.  Consequently, the average tariff 
is 12.1 per cent. 
67. Mali also levies other community duties and ta xes (joint report, Chapter III(2)(ii)(b)) and 
applies the TCI, but solely on sugar imports, and the ADIT. 
68. Over the period 2004-2008, total duties and taxe s levied at the customs cordon accounted for 
44.6 per cent of the State's total fiscal revenue (Table III.1). 
Table III.1 
Customs revenue, 2004-2009 
(CFAF million) 
Description 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
Customs duty 49,893 59,296 56,000 50,293 49,412 73,343 
Other duties and taxes 161,013 165,910 173,250 167,210 162,804 193,690 
Total 210,907 225,206 229,24 9 217,503 212,216 267,034 
Source : Directorate-General of Customs of Mali.  
(b) Bindings 
69. During the Uruguay Round, Mali bound its tariff on all agricultural products and some 
non-agricultural products at a ceiling of 60 per cent, w ith the exception of those tariff lines that had 
already been bound when it was a colony (Schedule XCIV - Mali Annex to the GATT 1947).  The bindings as a whole cover 42 per cent of tariff lines .  For around 27 per cent of the bound tariff lines, 
however, the applied rates are higher than the bound rates, and these are of course the rates bound 
when Mali was a colony.  Mali bound the other dutie s and taxes on products covered by its tariff 
bindings during the Uruguay Round at 50 per cent. 
(c)
 Domestic taxes 
Value added tax (VAT) 
70. Mali's general rate of VAT is 18 per cent, th e median in the range determined at the 
community level (joint report, Chapter III(2)(ii)(d)).  VAT on imports is calculated on the c.i.f. price, 
plus customs duty and the statistical fee. 
71. The WAEMU regulations provide for VAT exempti ons (joint report, Chapter III).  There is 
no threshold for application of VAT in Mali, but any activity or supply of a service with turnover 
exceeding CFAF 30 million is subject to VAT. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 286 
 
 
Excise duty 
 
72. Mali still applies a special tax on certain pr oducts (ISCP) of any origin (including from 
WAEMU) and on those produced domestically (Table  III.2).  The rates vary from 3 to 45 per cent 
depending on the product and are determined by Decr ee within a range laid down in the General 
Taxation Code, in conformity with the community pr ovisions (joint report, Chapter III).  The tax base 
is the c.i.f. value. 
Table III.2 
Special tax on certain products (ISCP), 2004 and 2010 
(Percentage) 
Nomenclature Product 2004 2010 
08 02 90 10 00 Cola nuts 25 20 
22 02 10 00 00 Mineral water 10 10 
22 03 00 10 00 Beer made from malt 45 45 
22 03 00 90 00 Other beer made from malt 45 45 
22 04 10 00 00 Sparkling wine 45 45 
22 04 21 00 00 Other wine 45 45 
22 04 29 00 00 Other wine 45 45 
22 04 30 00 00 Other wine 45 45 
22 05 10 00 00 Vermouth 45 45 
22 05 90 00 00 Vermouth 45 45 
22 06 00 10 00 Beer other than made from malt 45 45 
22 06 00 90 00 Other 45 45 
22 07 10 10 10 For medicinal use 45 45 
22 07 10 90 00 Undenatured ethyl alcohol 45 45 
22 07 20 00 00 Ethyl alcohol and other spirits 45 45 
22 08 20 00 00 Spirits obtained by dis tilling grape wine or grape marc 45 45 
22 08 30 00 00 Whiskies 45 45 
22 08 40 00 00 Rum and tafia 45 45 
22 08 50 00 00 Gin and geneva 45 45 
22 08 60 00 00 Vodka 45 45 
22 08 70 00 00 Liqueurs 45 45 
22 08 90 00 00 Other 45 45 
24 02 10 00 00 Cigars 25 25 
24 02 20 00 00 Cigarettes contai ning tobacco 25 15-25 depending 
on quality 
24 02 90 00 00 Other 25 0 
24 03 91 00 00 Homogenized tobacco 20 25 
24 03 99 00 00 Other 20 25 
33 01 Essential citrus fruit oils 15 0 
33 03 Perfumes and toilet waters 15 0 
33 04 Beauty or make-up products 15 0 
33 07 Pre-shaving, shaving or after-shave preparations 15 0 
93 06 21 00 00 Cartridges 0 40 
93 06 21 00 10 Whole cartridges 45 0 
93 06 21 00 90 Parts 0 40 
93 06 29 00 00 Other 45 40 
93 06 30 00 00 Other 0 40 
93 06 30 00 10 Whole cartridges 45 0 
93 06 30 00 90 Parts 45 40 
 Mining products 3 3 
Source : Malian authorities, Decree No. 05-036/P RM of 27 January 2005. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 287 
 
 
73. Petroleum products are subject to the domestic tax on petroleum products (TIPP), with rates 
that vary depending on the product:  5, 6, 10, 25, 93 or  125 per cent.  The tax base is the c.i.f. value. 
(d) Duty and tax concessions 
74. In addition to the WAEMU (Chapter II(4)) a nd ECOWAS (Chapter II(3)) preferential tariff 
regimes, Mali grants exemption from customs dut y to enterprises approved under the Mining 
Code (Chapter IV(3)), free enterprises approved u nder the Investment Code (Chapter II(3)(ii)), 
tourism and hotel enterprises (Chapter IV(6)(v)), t hose approved under the special Code on real estate 
investment, and enterprises building low-cost housing.39  Exemptions may also apply to projects 
approved under regimes A and B of the Investment C ode, at the discretion of the Minister of Trade 
(Chapter II(3)(e)).  The annual amount of revenue foregone as a result of the exemptions granted 
depends on the level and nature of the investment (for example, the opening of new gold mines).  In 
2009, exemptions (of all types) amounted to CFAF 89 billion. 
75. Furthermore, the State of Mali takes res ponsibility for import duty and domestic taxes on 
imports for government procurement financed from ex ternal funds pursuant to the agreement between 
the State of Mali and the source of the funds. 
(vi) Prohibitions, quantitative restrictions and licensing 
76. Order No. 2699/MICT-SG of 6 October 2001 determin es the list of products that may not be 
imported or exported.  It provides for two prohibition re gimes - either absolute or restrictive.  The list 
of products subject to these regimes (Table III.3)  is almost unchanged since Mali's previous TPR in 
2004. 
Table III.3 
Products subject to  the absolute or restricti ve prohibition regimes, 2010 
Product  Documentation 
Absolute prohibition regime  
Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances  n.a. 
Toxic waste n.a. 
Potassium bromate not intended for laboratory use  n.a. 
All food products containing potassium bromate  n.a. 
Bovine meat and meat products  n.a. 
Meat, blood or bone meal for animal feed  n.a. 
Live bovine animals and bovine ova and embryos  n.a. 
Unregistered pesticides  n.a. 
Oil and equipment containi ng polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs)  n.a. 
Hazardous chemical substances  n.a. 
Foreign goods bearing a Malian trademark  n.a. 
Food products and medicine past their use-by date  n.a. 
Alcoholic beverages in plastic sachets  n.a. 
Restrictive prohibition regime  
Medicines for human use  Authorization from the Ministry of Health  
Medicines for veterinary use  Joint authorization from the Mi nistries of Health and of 
Livestock  
Potassium bromate for laboratory use  Authorization from the Ministry of Health  
Meat other than that of  bovine animals and game  Certificate of origin and health certificate  
Fishing nets with mesh of less than 50 mm. Author ization from the Ministry of Water Resources and 
Forestry 
                                                      
39 Ordinance No. 92-028/P-CTSP of 14 May 1992. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 288 
 
 
Product  Documentation 
Food additives  List drawn up by the Ministry of Health  
Non-iodized salt not intended for human consumption  Authorization from the Ministry of Trade  
Cigarettes and tobacco  Authorization from the Ministry of Trade  
Transit of cattle and importation of liv e animals other than bovine animals  Presentation of an animal health certificate  
Reproductive semen  Registration in the national official catalogue of the 
importing country and presenta tion of an animal health 
certificate  
Plants Presentation of a permit or a certificate of origin  
Plant seeds  Presentation of a permit or a certificate of origin  
Motor vehicles with a GVW of 3.5 tonnes or more  Authorization from the Ministry of Transport  
Arms and ammunition  Authorization from the security services  
Explosives  Authorization from the security services and the Ministry of Mining 
Ozone-depleting substances  List drawn up by the Ministry of the Environment  
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)  Authorization from the Ministry of the Environment  
Cyanide  Authorization from the Ministry of Mining or the Ministry of Health 
n.a. Not applicable. 
Source : Order No. 01-3442/MICT-SG of 16 October 2001, as amended. 
77. The notice of intent to import (DPI) is still requi red, although Mali's latest notification to the 
WTO (2001) states that this document is issu ed without any limit as to value or volume.40  T h e  
authorities explain that it is required for statistical reasons in order to mon itor foreign trade trends. 
78. In November 2007, Mali adopted a law on gene tically modified organisms (GMOs), entitled 
"Biotechnological safety". 
(vii) Standardization, accreditation and certification 
79. Law No. 92-013/AN-RM of 17 September 1992 and its Implementing Decree 
No. 92-235/P-RM of 1 December 1992 govern the sta ndardization system in Mali.  At the national 
level, the National Directorate of Industry (DNI) within the Ministry of Industry, Investment and 
Trade acts as the secretariat of the National Standardization and Quality Control Council.41  T h e  
Council adopts draft national standards after ensu ring that the procedures determined for their 
formulation have been respected and that all intere sted parties have had an opportunity to express 
their opinions.  Seven technical committees carry out technical work in the following subsectors:  
cereals and their by-products, fruit, vegetables and oilseeds;  textiles,  hides and skins;  chemicals and 
the environment;  civil engineering and building ma terials;  foodstuffs of animal origin;  and 
electronics.  These committees were set up in 1994 and bring together various stakeholders in the 
relevant areas. 
80. The first step in standardization is the preparation of a preliminary draft by the technical 
committees.  These seven committees are all chaired by representatives of the private sector.  The 
preliminary draft standards are sent to the Na tional Standardization a nd Quality Control Council 
following an international documentary search a nd a public enquiry.  After the Council has approved 
them, they become the subject of a ministerial or der.  All standards are optional except for those on 
                                                      
40 The document is available from the single window set up for this purpose within the Ministry of 
Trade.  It is valid for six months and may be renewed once for three months. 
41 Law No. 92-013/AN-RM of 17 September 1992 and its Implementing Decree No. 92-235/P-RM of 
1 December 1992. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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iodized salt and the discharge of waste water (for public health reasons).  For these, an interministerial 
order is adopted making implementation of these standards (technical regulations) mandatory.  The 
technical committees' work has led to the introduction of 149 national standards.42  All the national 
standards currently in force are id entical to the international standards (for example, those of the 
WHO-FAO Codex Alimentarius). 
81. Mali has several laboratories, three of which ar e in the process of being accredited:  the 
National Health Laboratory, the Central Veterinary Laboratory, and the Animal Nutrition Laboratory.  
There is no institution issuing certificates of confor mity with Malian standards.  Mali has not signed 
any mutual recognition agreement either, except implicitly in the context of regional groups 
(WAEMU, ECOWAS). 
82. Mali once again became a member of the Inte rnational Organization for Standardization 
(ISO) in January 2010.43 
(viii) Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) 
83. Sanitary and phytosanitary protection is the re sponsibility of the Ministries of Health, Rural 
Development, and the Environment.  The legislation44 determines the diseases that are "legally 
contagious"45 and defines the special measures to be ta ken against each disease (vaccination, sanitary 
slaughter).  Transhumance is authorized for bovine  animals, sheep, goats and camels originating in 
those States that have signed an agreement with the Republic of Mali46, subject to the issue of a 
transhumance certificate.  Imports of domestic or wild animals require the submission of a sanitary 
certificate issued by the country of origin.  Any animals that do not have such a certificate are 
quarantined for 15 to 45 days.  The cost depends  on the activity and is payable by the owner. 
84. All imports of animal products are in princi ple subject to inspection by the veterinary 
services.  Import and export of meat must be accomp anied by a sanitary certificate;  import or transit 
of livestock also requires a sanitary and vaccinati on certificate.  The State levies a fee for this 
inspection.  For example, for inspection in abattoir s, the State levies a tax on each animal slaughtered, 
which varies depending on the species and the locality of slaughter, from CFAF 500 to 4,000/head.  In 
practice, animals cross the border away from the checkpoints and thus escape any control. 
85. Law No. 02-013 of 3 June 2002 and its Implementing Decree No. 02-305 determine how 
phytosanitary control is to be c onducted in Mali.  According to this  legislation, import and export of 
plants require the submission of a phytosanitary certif icate.  Because of the lack of infrastructure and 
human resources, such inspections are not conducted in all regions.  The competent national authority 
for phytosanitary control and market preparation is  the National Directorate of Agriculture (DNA). 
                                                      
42 The standards can be broken down as follows:  cereal s and their by-products:  17;  fruit, vegetables 
and oilseeds:  34;  chemicals and the environment:  20;  textiles, hides and skins:  7;  civil engineering and 
building materials:  3;  foodstuffs of animal origin:  27;  and electronics:  3. 
43 ISO online information.  Viewed at:  http://www.iso.org. 
44 Law No. 95-060 on punishment of offences against the animal health police in the territory of the 
Republic of Mali and Decree No. 95-372/P-RM of 18 Ap ril 1995 regulating the animal health police in the 
territory of the Republic of Mali. 
45 Article 2 of Decree No. 95-372/P-RM. 
46 Article 41 of Decree No. 95-372 /P-RM.  Mali has signed agreements authorizing transhumance with 
the following countries:  Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana,  Mauritania, Senegal, Algeria and the Libyan Arab 
Jamahiriya.  There are draft agreements w ith Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Nigeria. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 290 
 
 
(ix) Packaging, marking and labelling requirements 
86. Order No. 05 0001/MIC-SG of 6 January 2005 de termines the list of products on whose 
packaging certain indications are mandatory.  Some imported products - cigare ttes, matches, electric 
batteries, yarn for weaving and fabrics, tomato paste and concentrate, edible oils and insecticides in 
the form of coils or aerosols - must specifically  mention their destination on the packaging, for 
example, "Vente au Mali" (Sale to Mali), the c ountry of manufacture, the name of the manufacturer, 
and the identification number of the importer or its address. 
87. In each case, the imports concerned compete with domestic products, which must indicate 
"fabriqué au Mali" (manufactured in Mali).  The Ma lian authorities explain this requirement by the 
need to distinguish between lawfully importe d products or Malian produc ts and those entering 
through informal channels in order to combat fraud and smuggling. 
(x) Contingency measures 
88. Mali does not have any domestic legislation on anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard 
measures.  According to the authorities, Mali has never taken any such measures.  The relevant 
WAEMU texts apply (joint  report, Chapter III). 
(xi) Other measures 
89. Since January 2010, imports of 3 tonnes of s ugar have been exempt from the TCI provided 
that 1 tonne of sugar is bought from the Malia n company Sukala (Chapter IV)(2)(iii)(c)). 
(3) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS  
(i) Registration 
90. The registration formalities applicable to  imports of goods for commercial purposes 
(section (2)(i)) also apply to exports;  these formalities confer the stat us of trader (importer/exporter) 
on those in possession of an import-export permit.  In addition to traders, producers such as livestock 
breeders, craftsmen or their associati ons may also export their production. 
(ii) Customs procedures 
91. Products for export are inspected by the comp any BIVAC, which delivers an AV, unless there 
is an exemption.  All export transactions require  a declaration of intent to export and payment of 
0.65 per cent of the f.o.b. value for the PVI.  The DDU is also used for export transactions under the 
same conditions as for imports (section (2)(ii)).  Approval from the Foreign Exchange Board is also 
required.  Export earnings are subject to the community provisions (joint report, Chapter I(2)). 
(iii) Export duties and taxes 
92. The rate of VAT on exports is zero, which means that the duties and taxes on inputs used to 
produce the goods concerned can be refunded.  The production of gold, which for the most part is 
exported, is subject to a levy of 3 per cent ad valorem  under the ISCP.  Exports of cotton are also 
subject to a 3 per cent ISCP. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 291 
 
 
(iv) Export prohibitions, quantitative restrictions, permits and licensing 
93. Order No. 2699/MICT-SG of 6 October 2001 contains the list of products that may not be 
imported and also applies to exports (Table III.3) .  According to the regulations, the absolute 
prohibition regime applies to exports of young bo vine breeding animals, whereas the restrictive 
regime (conditional prohibition) affects the following :  (i) exports of meat and live animals (which 
require a health or animal health certificate issued by the Ministry of Livestock);  (ii) game (which 
requires a permit or certificate in conformity with  the CITES, issued by the competent technical 
services);  (iii) plants (a phytosa nitary certificate issued by the co mpetent technical services);  and 
(iv) works of art (authorization from the Ministry responsible for art and culture).47 
(v) Export subsidies, promotion and assistance 
94. Mali has notified the WTO (2001) that it has no subsidy programmes, including for export.48  
Nevertheless, the State grants ta x concessions to enterprises appr oved under the export free enterprise 
regime provided in the Investment Code (Chapter II(4)).49  This approval is given provided that, 
inter alia , 80 per cent of production is exported;  producti on sold on the domestic market is subject to 
customs duties and taxes.  The purpose of this regime  is to attract foreign investment, modernize the 
industrial infrastructure, create jobs  and value added, train the workfo rce, and promote exports and the 
transfer of technology. 
95. The main export promotion structure is the National Directorate for Trade and Competition 
(DNCC).  Promotion takes the form of organizing and participating in trade events at the national or 
international level.  The services provided by the DNCC are:  market surveys, trade information and 
information campaigns.  Its activities are finan ced through the government budget, support from 
national projects and programmes and also from cer tain TFPs.  Other institutions involved in 
promoting exports provide sectoral assistance, for example, the National Centre for the Promotion of 
Handicrafts (CNPA) and the CCIM. 
(4) MEASURES AFFECTING PRODUCTION AND TRADE  
(i) Incentives 
96. Mali has notified the WTO (2001) that it has no subsidy programmes, including for 
production and consumption.50  The State, however, grants tax concessions to enterprises approved 
under the Investment Code (Chapter II(4)).  Mali al so provides support to the cotton subsector and, 
more generally, for agricultural activities th rough several measures (Chapter IV(2)(i)). 
97. The project providing financing support for sm all and medium-sized enterprises (PAF/PME), 
which has a budget of CFAF 2,695 million, has two principal roles:  on the one hand, to create 
competitive SMEs with potential for ra pid growth and sustainable jobs and, on the other, to strengthen 
existing SMEs and rehabilitate those in difficult y or at a standstill.  The project extends over 
five years (2009-2013) and its objective is to reinforce some 200 SMEs by giving them access to financing from the Regional Solidarity Bank. 
                                                     
 
47 Decree No. 00-505/P-RM of 16 October 2000, whose implementing provisions are set out in Order 
No. 01-3442/MICT-SG of 16 October 2001. 
48 WTO document G/SCM/N/71/MLI of 2 August 2001. 
49 Mali is eligible for the provisi ons of Article 27 and Annex VII of the Agreement on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures. 
50 WTO document G/SCM/N/71/MLI of 2 August 2001.  Mali is eligible for the provisions of 
Article 27 and Annex VII of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 292 
 
 
98. Under the "Rice Initiative", in 2008 the Govern ment initiated a plan to develop domestic 
production.51  The Government has undertaken, in particul ar, to subsidize the financing of fertilizer 
(CFAF 12,500/50-kg. bag), seed and advice.  The plan for the 2010-2011 farming season was drawn 
up in a context in which the policy of subsidizing fe rtilizer for rice, maize, wheat and cotton continued 
and it was proposed to extend it to certified sorghum and cowpea seeds. 
(ii) Competition and price control regime 
99. The domestic law on competition is contained in Ordinance No. 07-025/P-RM of 
18 July 2007, which replaced Ordinan ce No. 92-021/P-CTSP of 13 April 1992.52  This new legislation 
is the result of a review of the institutional framewo rk, including administrative structures, in order to 
implement the relevant WAEMU regulations, especially Regulation No. 2/2002/CM/UEMOA on 
anticompetitive practices within WAEMU (joint re port, Chapter III(4)(i)).  The new legislation 
concerns the following in particular:  free pricing;   the definition and punishment of unfair trade 
practices;  measures to protect consumers;  and the ascertainment, prosecution and punishment of 
violations.  The definition of and action taken ag ainst anticompetitive practices are the responsibility 
of the WAEMU Commission.  In addition to this overall law, there are special provisions on 
telecommunications services, the media, government procurement, electricity and the water supply. 
100. The role of the DNCC within the Ministry of Tr ade is to prepare the texts and monitor their 
application.  It also has the overall task of inve stigating anticompetitive practices, in accordance with 
the investigative powers and procedures provided in the domestic legislation and the community 
legislation.  It has wide-ranging investigative powers, but is not an independent body and its 
operations are covered by the State's budget. 
101. The National Competition Council (C NC), whose role is to advise the Minister of Trade, 
draws up an annual report on the state of competiti on in Mali and this is used as a basis for 
government action.  The CNC also gives its opinion on matters related to pric e controls and business 
concentration, but in June 2010 it was not operating. 
102. The DNCC is responsible for declaring that an  offence has been committed and fines range 
from CFAF 25,000 to CFAF 10 million, but may be doubl ed if there are aggravating circumstances.  
Between 2006 and 2008, on average, the DNCC dealt with or recorded 120 cases of unfair trade 
practices each year (notably commercial fraud, counte rfeiting, the sale of products that did not comply 
with specifications) and two cas es of restrictive practices.53  Only 10 per cent of the investigations 
initiated, however, led to thir d party proceedings (by economic operators, government or private 
entities, individual consumers or  consumers' associations). 
103. The new legislation also contains provisions on consumer protection.  A seller must issue an 
invoice and inform his client of the price and term s of sale.  Any publicity containing false claims, 
indications or presentations or liable to mislead is  prohibited.  The sale of counterfeit, forged or 
                                                      
51 Decision No. 08-00111/MA-SG of 12 May 2008. 
52 Decree No. 08-260/P-RM of 6 May 2008 determines the detailed rules for implementing the 
Ordinance.  The 1992 legislation largely became irrelevant when the pertinent WAEMU regulations were 
introduced in 2003. 
53 Online information from the Center for Competition, Investment and Economic Regulation (CUTS C 
CIER), "Projet 7Up4:  État de la concurrence au  Mali".  Viewed at:  h ttp://www.cuts-ccier.org/ 
7up4/ppt/PPT-IRM- per centC3 per cent89tat_de_la_concurrence_au_Mali.ppt. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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adulterated products is also prohibite d.  It is also prohibited to refuse to sell or provide a service 
without justification.  There are a numb er of consumers' associations in Mali.54 
104. If there is a crisis or excessive price increase, the Government may, either ex officio or under 
a relevant agreement, fix the price or control it.   There is an indicative ceiling on the price of 
hydrocarbons set monthly by a commission composed  of representatives of the State and petroleum 
operators depending on the trend in global prices.  Margins on essential generic medicines are set by 
the Minister responsible for trade. 
105. The price of water, electricity and telecommuni cations remain under administrative control;  
these three subsectors are the subject of sectoral regulation.  The Electricity and Water Regulatory 
Commission (CREE) approves and controls the rates for electricity and water (Chapter IV(4)).  The 
Telecommunications Regulatory Committee (CRT) approves interconnection agreements between 
operators and retail rate s (Chapter IV(6)(ii)). 
(iii) State trading, State-owned enterprises and privatization 
106. The Malian authorities have not made any notification to the WTO on State-trading 
enterprises within the meaning of Article XVII of the GATT. 
107. Mali has pursued its privatization programme si nce the previous TPR in 2004.  This policy 
has, inter alia , involved the privatization of SOTELMA, the former telecommunications monopoly.  
In July 2009, 51 per cent of its capital was sold to Maroc Telecom.  The privatization strategy 
envisages that the State will hold 20 per cent of  the capital when the process is completed. 
108. The CMDT, in which the State holds 99.5 per cen t of the capital, is being privatized.  The 
invitation to tender was launched in May 2010.  This company has a de facto monopoly of cotton 
ginning and the sale of cotton lint and cotton by-products. 
109. Despite the reforms, the Malian State still has la rge holdings in some sectors of the economy, 
especially transport, postal services, mining, fi xed telephony and electricity and water production and 
sale (Table III.4). 
Table III.4 
State-owned enterprises, 2010 
Enterprise Main activity State holding %
Complexe sucrier du Kala supérieur (SUKALA) SA Sugar 40 
Abattoir frigorifique de Bamako Abattoir 15 
SEPAV Mali Poultry products 30 
Office du Niger (ON) Agrifood business 100 
Office de la Haute Vallée (OHV) Agrifood business 100 
Société malienne d'études et de construction de maté riel agricole (SMECMA) Agricultural machinery 44.4 
Sociétés de gestion et d'exploitation de s mines de Morila, et de Loulo Mining 20 
Sociétés de gestion et d'explo itation des mines de Sadoula Mining 18 
Énergie du Mali (EDM-SA) Water and electricity 66 
Compagnie malienne du développeme nt du textile (CMDT) Cotton 60 
Usine malienne de produits pharmac eutiques (UMPP) Pharmaceuticals 100 
Industrie de textiles du Mali (ITEMA) Textiles 100 
                                                      
54 The largest are:  the Association des consom mateurs au Mali (ASCOMA), the Réseau pour la 
défense des consommateurs du Mali (RDECOMA), the Association pour la défense de l'environnement et la 
sensibilisation des consommateurs (ADESCOM), and the Ligue des consommateurs du Mali (Consoligue). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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Enterprise Main activity State holding %
Éditions imprimeries du Mali (EDIM) Publishing, printing 10 
Société nationale des tabacs et allumettes (SONATAM) Tobacco and matches 38 
Compagnie malienne des textiles (COMATEX) Textiles 20 
EMBAL MALI Plastic bags 20 
Compagnie malienne de navigation (COMANAV) River transport 100 
Transrail Rail transport 20 
Aéroports du Mali Air transport 100 
Office national des postes Postal services 100 
SOTELMA Telecommunications 49 
Banque nationale pour le dével oppement agricole Banking 36.5 
Banque de l'habitat du Mali (BHM) Banking 15 
Banque malienne de la so lidarité (BMS) Banking 7.1 
Pari mutuel urbain du Mali (PMU-Mali) Organization of betting and 
horse racing 75 
Source : WTO Secretariat, Malian authorities. 
(iv) Government procurement 
110. Mali's government procurement framework was reor ganized in 2008 to bring it into line with 
the relevant community rules (joint report, Chapte r III(3)(iii)).  The rules on government procurement 
are contained in the Government Pr ocurement Code of 11 August 2008.55  This governs procurement 
by the State and local authorities, public institutio ns, State-owned companies and companies in which 
the State holds a majority share.  Orders for the G overnment financed from external resources are, in 
principle, also subject to the Code.  The Code doe s not apply to procurement for defence and national 
security that calls for discretion. 
111. The Code covers procurement for ministerial departments for an amount exceeding 
CFAF 25 million financed out of the State budget (CFAF 15 million for intellectual services), and 
CFAF 100 million in the case of State-owned ente rprises and industrial and commercial government 
establishments (CFAF 60 million in the case of inte llectual services).  Procurement for an amount 
exceeding CFAF 500,000 but less than the aforementi oned thresholds is the subject of a simplified 
contract drawn up after bids have been received from at least three bidders, following a call for bids 
based on written specifications.  Any procuremen t below CFAF 500,000 is the subject of a 
procurement order in accordance with public accounti ng rules.  The procurement order is drawn up 
following a written request for prices from three candi dates.  As for State-owned enterprises, any 
procurement below their specific procurement thre sholds follows the competitive procedures laid 
down in their own internal manuals, which are base d on the core principles laid down for regulating 
government procurement. 
112. The Code provides that contracts may be awarde d either through an i nvitation to tender or 
through direct negotiation (private agreement).  An  invitation to tender may be open, selective, in 
two stages or following a pre-selection procedure.  In principle, contracts are awarded by private 
agreement only if the invitation to tender procedure ha s been unsuccessful, if there is an emergency or 
if the higher interests of the State must be protect ed, and the authorization of the Directorate-General 
of Government Procurement (DGMP) is required. 
                                                      
55 Decree No. 08-485/P-RM of 11 August 2008.  The Code is supplemented by Law No. 08-023/P-RM 
of 23 July 2008 on the regulatory authority for government procurement and public service concessions and 
Law No. 08-022/P-RM of 23 July 2008 creating the Directorate-General of Government Procurement and 
Public Service Concessions. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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113. An invitation to tender may be preceded by a pre-selection procedure if the works to be 
carried out, the equipment to be delivered or the se rvices to be provided are particularly complex or 
require special technical skills.  All bidders whic h meet the selection criteria may submit a bid. 
114. A selective invitation to tender may only be us ed when the goods, works or services are only 
available from a limited number of suppliers, busine sses or service providers.  The number of bidders 
allowed must ensure that there is proper compe tition.  Prior agreement from the DGMP is required 
before resorting to this procedure.  A two-stage i nvitation to tender is only allowed if the procurement 
is extremely complex or if the contract is to be  awarded on the basis of performance criteria and not 
detailed technical specifications.  Prior aut horization from the DGMP is also required. 
115. Public institutions involved in procurement through an invitati on to tender must draw up a 
dossier and establish a commission to open the bids  and examine them.  The role of the DGMP is a 
priori a monitoring one:  it authorizes (following verification and, where applicable, changes to the 
specifications) the invitation to tender and e xpresses its opinion on the decision of the bid 
commission, although it cannot be represented there on.  However, a representative of the DGMP is 
present when the bids are opened as an observer a nd guarantees that there is compliance with the 
regulations. 
116. A preferential margin of 15 per cent of the ad justed price for contracts for supplies may be 
given to community enterprises (from WAEMU):  this  margin is taken into account when assessing 
bids.56  The WAEMU Commission, however, has not yet de termined the criteria and detailed rules for 
applying the community preference, particularly as regards the type of procurement and the 
beneficiaries. 
117. The Regulatory Authority for Government Procurement and Public Service Concessions 
(ARMDS) was set up in 2008, in order to ensure a posteriori that the Malian rules and those of 
WAEMU have been observed.  It may therefore at any time verify that the procedures for awarding 
contracts are transparent and proper, as well as th e terms for their execution.  The ARMDS reports on 
the controls it has carried out in an annual report sent to the President of the Republic.  In recent 
years, several measures have been  taken to step up anti-corruption efforts in government procurement, 
for example, the establishment of a criminal code for offences specific to government procurement 
and the inclusion of a special clause entitled "Corr uption or fraudulent acts" in the model invitation to 
tender documentation utilized in Mali. 
118. In 2009, in practice, an open invitation to tender was the method followed for around 70 per 
cent of the value of government pr ocurement contracts (Table III.5). 
Table III.5 
Amounts and methods for awarding gov ernment procuremen t contracts, 2007-2009 
(CFAF billion) 
 2007 
value 2008 
value 2009 
value 
Open invitation to tender 154.5 181.4 158.4 
Selective invitation to tender 37.0 18.9 20.5 
Direct negotiation 40.0 52.3 45.0 
Source : Malian authorities.  
                                                      
56 Article 67 of Decree No. 08-485/P-RM of 11 August 2008. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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(v) Protection of intellectual property rights 
119. Mali is a member of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), set up by the 
Bangui Agreement (1977) (joint report, Chapte r III), and of the World Intellectual Property 
Organization (WIPO), and has signed the revised Bangui Agreement (1999).  Mali has also ratified 
the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary  and Artistic Works, the WIPO Copyright Treaty 
(WCT) and the WIPO Performances and Phonogram s Treaty (WPPT).  Under its 1992 Constitution, 
these agreements are directly applicable as laws  in Mali and automatically  enforceable, no domestic 
legal instrument being required to apply them.  Mali 's status as a "least developed country" gives it an 
additional period for the full implementation of th e WTO TRIPS Agreement, until 1 January 2016 for 
matters relating to pharmaceutical products and until 1 July 2013 for other products. 
120. The Malian Centre for the Promotion of Indus trial Property (CEMAPI), set up in 2002, is 
attached to the National Directorate for Industry.  It s task is:  (i) to prepare industrial property-related 
technical studies and action programmes;  (ii) to apply the rules and administrative directives on 
completion of formalities with a view to obtaining i ndustrial property titles as provided in the current 
legislation and the agreements signed by Mali;  and (iii) to establish, develop and pursue cooperation 
with national, regional or interna tional institutions specializing in i ndustrial property.  In addition, 
CEMAPI plays a role in promoting awareness of the importance of industrial property.  It also helps 
users to complete the formalities for obtaining industrial property titles. 
121. The following industrial property titles can current ly be registered in Mali:  patents, utility 
models, trademarks, industrial designs, trade names and new plant varieties.  It is planned to register 
geographical indications within the near future.  Mali is in the process of identifying those products 
whose reputation or special qualitie s are associated with the pl ace where they are grown or 
manufactured. 
122. Applications for registration are filed with CEMA PI.  In the case of patent applications, they 
must be accompanied by a description of the inventio n that is the subject of the patent requested and 
proof of payment of the filing and publication fees.  The registration procedures for other industrial 
property titles are similar.  The procedure for regist ering new plant varieties calls for an examination 
to establish that the variety belongs to the botani cal taxon specified in the application and that it is 
distinct and stable.  This technical examination ha s to be carried out by an authorized OAPI-approved 
institution.  CEMAPI transmits the applicant's reque st to OAPI (Table III.6).  The fees payable vary 
depending on the title requested, from CFAF 10,000 for registration of a trade name to CFAF 400,000 
for registration of a trademark.  Penalties for infring ement of industrial property rights are set out in 
the Bangui Agreement and include a fine of CFAF 1 million to CFAF 6 million and a term of imprisonment of three months to two years. 
123.
 Mali's copyright legislation has recently been am ended, taking into account in particular the 
provisions in the TRIPS Agreement.  Law No. 08-24/AN-RM of 23 July 2008 determines Mali's 
literary and artistic property regime.57  The new Law replaces the former legislative framework of 
1984 and applies to works whose author or producer is a Malian national or w hose habitual residence 
is in Mali, to works published for the first time in  Mali, to architectural works built in Mali, and to 
literary or artistic works which gi ve the right to protection in accord ance with an international treaty 
to which Mali is party.  The following are deemed to  be works within the meaning of the Law:  works 
                                                      
57 The legislative framework for copyright is complemented by:  Decree No. 08-678/P-RM determining 
the criteria and detailed rules for engaging in the production, duplication, distribution and import of audio and video recording media;  Decree No. 08-650/P-RM of 27 October 2008 determining the organization and detailed 
rules for the functioning of the Malian Copyright Bureau (BUMDA);  and Order No. 3735/MFC-MSAC 
determining the rules for collection and redistribution by the Malian Copyright Bureau (BUMDA). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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expressed in writing, including computer programs;  lectures, sermons and talk s;  musical, dramatic 
and choreographic works;  audiovisual works;  works of fine art and architecture;  photographic 
works;  works of three-dimensional art, illust rations, geographical maps, plans and drawings, 
expressions of folklore and printed works of folk lore;  translations, adaptations, arrangements and 
other transformations of works and expressions of fo lklore;  and collections of  works, expressions of 
folklore or simple facts or data. 
Table III.6 
Applications for titles filed with OAPI by CEMAPI, 2005-2009 
Title 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
Patents 4 1 1 2 8 
Utility models 0 0 0 1 1 
Trademarks 45 84 37 56 56 
Trade names 7 6 16 48 22 
Industrial designs 5 2 9 5 14 
New plant varieties 0 0 0 0 52 
Source : Malian authorities.  
124. The author of an intellectual work has the exclus ive right to exploit his work in any form and 
to earn money from it.  Economic rights in a work ar e protected throughout the lifetime of the author 
and for the following 70 years.  There is no time-limit on moral rights. 
125. Copyright and related rights are managed by the Malian Copyright Bureau (BUMDA), 
created in 1990 and under the supervision of the Ministry responsible for arts and culture.  The 
number of copyright applications filed with BUMDA ha s increased in recent years, bringing the total 
number of works filed up to 19,752 by 31 December 2008 (Table III.7).  BUMDA is also responsible 
for training in copyright protection, campaigns  to promote awareness and combating piracy.58 
Table III.7 
Copyright applications filed with BUMDA, 2005-2009 
Title 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
Musical works .. 696 618 1,123 1,095 
Literary works .. 70 164 227   95 
Three-dimensional works .. 26 8 15   57 
Cinematographic works .. .. 5 9   10 
Photographic works .. 40 .. 28   37 
.. Not available. 
Source : BUMDA.  
126. If copyright is infringed, legal proceedings may be  brought at either the civil or the criminal 
level.  According to Articles 142 and 143, the auth orities responsible for applying the Law in relation 
to civil and criminal proceedings  are BUMDA and the police force, the gendarmerie, Customs, and 
the competition and trade services.  The judicial po lice or the president of the common law court may 
order seizure of the infringing goods. 
127. As to application of the Law at the border, the holder of a right who has valid reasons to 
suspect that the planned import concerns count erfeit goods may send a written request to the 
competent administrative or judicial authorities reque sting suspension of the release of the goods by 
Customs.  The customs service may not, however, order destruction of the infringing goods. 
                                                      
58 BUMDA (2009). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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128. There are no special intellectual property courts in Mali.59  Disputes relating to copyright are 
heard by the common law courts, i.e. the lower courts  in the regions and in the district of Bamako.  
For criminal offences, an infringer of copyright may be sentenced to a fine of CFAF 50,000 to 
CFAF 15 million and a term of imprisonment of one to five years, or to only one of the two penalties.  
In addition, there are supplementary penalties, name ly, closure of the establishment, confiscation of 
copies of the counterfeit works, as well as conf iscation of earnings, and publication of the legal 
rulings made. 
129. BUMDA combats piracy by promoting awarenes s, monitoring markets and following up 
cases before the courts.  The most common forms of infringement of intellectual property rights in 
Mali are the unauthorized reproduction or import of musical or cinematographic works and 
well-known marks identifying products, and the broad casting of musical works without authorization 
and without payment of copyright.  The main m easures taken by Mali since 2004 to counteract 
infringement are higher penalties for counterfeiting,  promotion of awareness and more controls. 
 
                                                      
59 UNESCO (2010). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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IV. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY SECTOR 
(1) INTRODUCTION  
130. Mali's economy is essentially based on the prim ary sector, which is the major source of 
income and jobs.  In 2008, this sector experienced  sustained growth of 4.6 per cent, compared to 
2.5 per cent in 2007.  Food security is a key objective of the country's agricultural policy.  The 
production of cereals, including rice, has increased sharply since Mali's last TPR in 2004, whereas 
cotton, the principal cash crop, has notably declin ed in recent years.  The CMDT, which held a 
de facto monopoly of cotton processing and marketing, is being privatized. 
131. Livestock is the chief source of subsistence for over 30 per cent of the population.  Livestock 
products (live cattle and hides) are exported mainly to countries in the subregion.  The fisheries sector 
employs almost 500,000 people.  Mali's fisheries production fluctuates considerably depending on rainfall.  Most of the country's energy needs are provided by the forests in the form of firewood. 
132.
 Gold is the foremost source of foreign currency in Mali.  As a result of the increase in global 
gold prices, export earnings have risen since 2004.  The production of gold ha s, nevertheless, fallen 
since Mali's previous TPR, from almost 64 tonnes in 2002 to less than 53 tonnes in 2008.  Mining 
prospection benefits from the incentives provide d under the 1991 Mining Code, amended in 1999 in 
order to increase the State's earnings while at the sa me time keeping the ince ntives for exploration, 
prospection and start-up of mines. 
133. Mali's energy needs are mostly met by wood and charcoal.  All petroleum products are 
imported.  Mali has recently stepped up oil explorati on.  Subsidies for the consumption of butane gas 
have been introduced in order to give wooded areas  greater protection.  Mali's energy policy aims to 
extend the distribution of electricity to the population as a whole and to increase the supply of electricity by expanding hydroelectric dams and interconnection with ne tworks in neighbouring 
countries.  After several years of strong growth , by 2008 around 25 per cent of households had 
become electricity subscribers.  The aim is to reach a rate of access to drinking water of 82 per cent in 2015, while ensuring sustainable management of water resources. 
134.
 Formal manufacturing is on a modest scale and private investment, particularly from abroad, 
is still low.  Mali's industrial development faces ma ny constraints and problems, notably because of 
the state of the infrastructure and the small size of  the domestic market.  Industrial production is little 
diversified and mainly based on the processing of ag ricultural products.  The textiles and oil industries 
have felt the impact of poor performance in the cotton subsector. 
135. Services are a growing sector for Mali's econo my.  Mali has traditionally been a net importer 
of services, especially freight and insurance.   Use of the banking system remains low, but 
microfinance plays an important role in financing the activities of small and micro-enterprises and in 
combating poverty.  There has been strong growth  in telecommunications services and between 2003 
and 2008 the number of subscribers rose from 300,000 to over 3.5 million.  A second operator started 
up in 2002 and SOTELMA, which had a monopoly, was partly privatized in 2009.  Mali mainly uses 
the ports of Dakar and Abidjan to ship its goods a nd, consequently, has to bear the high cost of 
transporting them.  External and internal trans port mainly use the road network.  Tourism has 
considerable potential for Mali's economy, with an increasing number of foreign visitors and a large 
increase in accommodation.  Mali's specific comm itments under the General Agreement on Trade in 
Services (GATS) were limited to certain tourism services. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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(2) AGRICULTURE  
(i) Overview 
136. The cornerstone of Mali's economy is the agricu ltural sector (agriculture, livestock, fishing 
and forestry), in terms of jobs a nd of contribution to GDP (Chapter I(2)).  The most fertile region is 
along the banks of the River Niger.  The majority  of production comes from small farms engaged in 
subsistence agriculture.  The main food crops are mi llet, rice, sorghum and maize.  Cotton is grown 
for export. 
137. The high prices for food and energy products in 2008 had a marked impact on the social 
situation and the rural population in Mali.  For example, in comparison with 2007, local prices 
increased by an average of 27 per cent for rice, 17 per cent for milk, 34 per cent for oil, and 20 per 
cent for wheat flour.  The Malian Government has made substantial financial and fiscal efforts to limit 
the impact on the population and between April and October 2008, it granted tax exemptions for rice, 
milk and edible oils, for a total value of CFAF 13.7 billion. 
138. According to the authorities, the food situati on in terms of volume and quality has improved 
since 2008 because of the rise in domestic production of plants and animals.  In 2009, however, 
23 communes were identified as having food proble ms, requiring the free distribution of food, and 
20 communes were classified as having slight ec onomic problems because of the decline in their 
agricultural production. 
139. Between 2005 and 2008, Mali's agricultural expor ts showed a strong increase.  Cotton and 
live animals are the main agricultural exports (Table IV.1).  It should be noted that Mali's agricultural 
exports are largely underestimated because of th e considerable informal trade with neighbouring 
countries. 
Table IV.1 
Principal agricultural exports (WTO definition), 2003-2008 
(US$ million) 
HS Description 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
 Total 401.1 422.7 328.4 344.8 299.5 339.9 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed 348.7 352.9 261.9 253.8 198.6 202.6 
010290 Live bovine animals other than pure-bred breeding animals 32.4 39.7 10.6 43.4 58.7 79.6 
010410 Live sheep 5.9 11.7 22.5 5.7 18.1 30.5 
080450 Guavas, ma ngoes and mangosteens 0.5 1.2 1.4 3.3 3.4 4.7 
040210 Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or 
other sweetening matter, in powde r, granules or other solid 
forms, of a fat content, by weight, not exceeding 1.5% 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 2.7 
120220 Gr oundnuts, not roasted or otherwise cooked, shelled, or 
broken 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 2.7 
010420 Live goats 1.6 2.7 0.5 2.9 0.0 2.7 
100190 Wheat and meslin, other than durum wheat 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.9 
190190 Malt extract, food preparations of malt, not containing cocoa 
or containing less than 40% by weight of cocoa calculated on a 
totally defatted basis, other than preparations for infant use and 
preparations for bakers' wares 0.4 0.5 0.5 1.8 2.4 1.7 
120799 Oilseeds and oleagi nous fruits other than of cotton, sesame, 
mustard, sunflower or poppy, even broken 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.6 3.8 1.6 
120740 Sesame seeds 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.9 1.0 1.5 
Note: Sorted by descending scale of value for the year 2008. 
Source : UNSD, Comtra de database. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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140. Imports of food products into Mali have also  recorded strong growth in recent years 
(Table IV.2).  Sugar, oil and rice were the leading imports. 
Table IV.2 
Principal agricultural imports, 2004-2008 
(US$ million) 
HS Description 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
 Total imports of agricultural prod ucts (HS 01-24) 186. 3 254.9 313.8 323.8 417.6 
170199 Beet sugar and chemically pure su crose, in solid form, not containing 
added flavouring or colouring matter 13.1 7.8 29.9 22.2 41.6 
151190 Palm oil and its fractions, refined, but not chemically modified 6.0 8.2 14.0 29.1 40.8 
100640 Broken rice 12.6 33.3 31.1 24.7 40.3 
210410 Preparations for soups or broths;  prepared soups or broths 17.7 15.3 19.2 23.3 34.6 
240220 Cigarettes containing t obacco 25.0 25.0 21.9 22.9 29.1 
040221 Milk and cream, concentrated or containing adde d sugar or other 
sweetening matter, in solid forms, of a fat content by weight exceeding 
1.5%, not containing added suga r or other sweetening matter 8.9 13.4 21.3 23.8 26.9 
100630 Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed  7.8 26.4 9. 6 15.1 25.5 
100190 Wheat and meslin, other than durum wheat 5.3 18.2 14.6 22.3 19.5 
090220 Green tea (not fermented) in other packages 8.8 6.7 10.2 10.1 14.6 
190190 Malt extract;  malt-based food preparations 8.2 11.8 13.6 21.5 13.0 
110100 Wheat or meslin flour 8.8 4.9 23.1 18.1 12.0 
210111 Extracts, essences and concentrates of coffee 2.7 6.6 3.8 5.1 7.0 
210690 Food preparations not elsewhere spec ified or included other than protein 
concentrates and textured protein substances 3.8 7.0 3.3 3.1 6.1 
190110 Malt-based preparations for infant use,  put up for retail sale 2.5 0.5 1.4 2.4 5.5 
240310 Smoking tobacco, whether or not containing tobacco substitutes in any 
proportion 1.7 0.9 3.9 3.7 5.4 
030379 Other frozen fish, excluding fish fillets  and other fish meat  2.4 3.1 2. 3 4.4 5.2 
110290 Cereal flours other than of wheat or me slin, rye, maize or rice 0.0 0.1 0.8 1.7 5.1 
190219 Pasta not cooked or stuffed or otherwise prepared, not containing eggs 2.1 2.1 4.2 1.9 4.8 
110311 Cereal groats, meal and pelle ts, of wheat 0.1 4.4 3.8 1.6 3.6 
210390 Sauces and preparations therefor , other than soya sauce, ketchup and 
mustard 1.2 1.0 1.9 2.9 3.4 
Source : UNSD, Comtra de database.  
(ii) Agricultural policy 
141. Agricultural policy is of crucial importance for Mali, which is facing the challenge of 
ensuring food and nutritional security for a rapidl y expanding population.  Mali's agricultural policy 
involves several institutions, including the Ministry  of Agriculture, the Ministry of Livestock and 
Fisheries, and the Ministry of Rural Development. 
142. When drawing up the Master Plan for Rural Development (SDDR) for 2002-2010, the 
Government defined a strategy with the following over all objectives:  (i) to increase the rural sector's 
contribution to economic growth by promoting the su stainable expansion of agricultural production in 
general and of cereals in particular;  (ii) to impr ove food security and self-sufficiency by creating an 
economic, social and institutional environment in the rural sector that encourages sustainable 
production of agricultural goods and services by mo tivated and well-organized actors with access to 
production factors (land, loans) and using intensiv e methods;  (iii) to raise the income and living 
conditions of rural populations by promoting ag rifood subsectors and appr opriate financial and 
intermediation services;  and (iv) to protect th e environment and conserve  natural resources by 
promoting their sustainable management.  The total financing for the 2002-2010 SDDR was WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 302 
 
 
CFAF 700 billion (35 per cent of the State's budget, with 65 per cent of the financing coming from 
outside). 
143. The WAEMU CET is still the main trade policy instrument in the agricultural sector.  Its 
average MFN rate of 14.6 per cent is slightly highe r for agricultural products (WTO definition) than 
for non-agricultural and non-petroleum products (11.7 per cent) (joint report, Chapter III(2));  local 
agricultural products are usually protected agains t competition from imports by applying the highest 
CET rate, namely, 20 per cent.  Since January 2008,  the introduction of a new 35 per cent tariff band 
has been under consideration within ECOWAS (joint report, Chapter IV). 
144. The Framework Law on Agriculture (LOA), en acted in September 2006, is intended to 
promote sustainable, modern and competitive agricultu re essentially based on security of tenure for 
family farms.  Agricultural development is one of the major priorities announced;  pursuant to the 
LOA, it is intended to initiate a transition from tr aditional systems to modern agricultural production 
technology, which means more intensive agriculture and also the use of more efficient equipment.  
The LOA is intended to be the framework for brin ging together all government action in the rural 
sector, covering all economic activities in the agricultural and semi-agricultural sector. 
145. The overall objective of Mali's food security pol icy is to ensure permanent physical and 
economic access for all Malia ns to sufficient healthy food to enable them to meet their energy needs 
and food preferences.  Because of the increase in agricultural and animal production, the food 
situation (in volume and quality terms) has improve d since 2008;  in December 2008, the national 
buffer stock was 22,156 tonnes of dry cereal.60  In 2008, however, Mali suffered the combined effects 
of the surge in food prices.  To deal with this crisis, the Government sold 105,000 tonnes of rice in 
2008 and 205,000 tonnes in 2009 in order to increase supplies on local markets. 
(iii) Policy by subsector 
(a) Cotton 
146. In Mali, cotton is grown by numerous small farmers in the south of the country.  Its 
production has declined sharply in recent years, fa lling by 17.4 per cent during the 2008/2009 season, 
from 242,238 tonnes in 2007 to around 200,000 tonnes in 2008, the lowest level for the past 20 years 
(Table IV.3).  Cotton nevertheless remains the pr incipal cash crop for Malian farmers and is one of 
the cornerstones of commercial agriculture.  Cotto n lint is 99 per cent exported so there is little 
processing. 
147. Mali's cotton production has declined in part becau se of low global prices for cotton in recent 
years, which has meant low prices for producers.  In addition, the authorities cite the poor governance 
of cotton-producing firms and cooperative associ ations (SCPC), the excessive indebtedness of 
producers, delays in paying producers, and the high cost of inputs. 
148. Because of the problems in the cotton subsect or, the Government has launched a reform 
programme with the aim of upgrading the subsector 's performance.  The strategy for achieving this 
objective is set out in the Policy Letter on Develo pment in the Cotton Sector (LPDSC), which was 
adopted by the Government in 2001 and is implemen ted by the Task Force for Reorganization of the 
Cotton Subsector.  One of the Strategy's aims is  increased participation by cotton producers in 
developments in the subsector and the CMDT's withdrawal from certain activities.  The 
                                                      
60 The difference between the national buffer stock and the State intervention stock is their 
composition.  The national buffer stock is composed of millet, maize and sorghum, whereas the State 
intervention stock is only composed of rice. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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implementation of the LPDSC has led, inter alia , to:  the creation of the Cotton Industry Association 
(IPC-Mali) and its four regional committees;  the creation of the Cotton Grading Board (OCC);  the introduction of a support fund for the subsector;  and a mechanism for determining cotton prices. 
Table IV.3 
Trend in areas under cotton a nd cotton production, 2004-2009 
 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 
Area (hectares) 550,532 480,474 283,927 196,712 240,038  
Production (tonnes) 534,143 414,965 242,238 201,000 228,400  
Export earnings (CFAF million) 139,751  132,072  94,556  91,221  .. 
.. Not available. 
Source : Ministry of the Economy and Finance (2009), "Rapport sur la situation économique et sociale du Mali en 2008 et 
les perspectives pour 2009";  and informatio n provided by the Malian authorities.  
149. The CMDT is a semi-public company in which the State owns 99.5 per cent of the capital.  It 
has a de facto monopoly of ginning (17 plants), ma rketing and processing of cotton.  It supplies 
producers with agricultural inputs.  Each year, it draws up an inventory of producers' needs, sends out an international call for bids and sells the inputs to producers on credit at cost price. 
150.
 It is planned to privatize the CMDT in 2010.61  For this purpose, four subsidiaries have been 
set up and it is envisaged that the capital of each of these subsidiaries will be sold as follows:  61 per 
cent to a private operator in the tr ade following an international inv itation to tender;  20 per cent to 
producers;  17 per cent to the State;  and 2 per cent to employees.  The time-limits for submitting the pre-selection documentation and for making bids ha ve been set, respectively, at 22 April and 
15 July 2010. 
151.
 Mali is one of the co-sponsors of the WTO's Se ctoral Initiative on Cotton, whose objective is 
to eliminate support for producers and export subsidies,  which they consider to be the reason for the 
generalized fall in cotton prices on global markets (joint report, Chapter IV(2)(iii)). 
(b) Cereals 
152. Food production in Mali has risen sharply in recent years (Table IV.4).  Despite this increase, 
production still depends to a large ex tent on weather factors, more sp ecifically drought and floods.  
The 2008/2009 season saw a marked upward trend in production because of the good rainfall and the 
impact of the agricultural revival policy followi ng the food crisis.  It benefited primarily from 
improved access to inputs for producers under the Rice Initiative. 
Table IV.4 
Production of the pr incipal crops, 2000-2009 
(tonnes) 
 2001/2002 2002/2003 2003/2004 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 
Millet 792,548 795,146 1,260,498 974,673 1,157,810 1,128,773 1,175,107 1,364,469 
Sorghum 517,748 641,848 727,632 664,083 629,127 769,681 900,790 1,048,688 
Rice 940,938 693,203 938,217 718,086 945,824 1,053,236 1,082,383 1,607,647 
Maize 301,931 365,174 454,758 459,463 634,464 706,737 689,917 740,108 
Fonio 21,398 16,321 22,437 8,942 26,598 26,247 28,691 40,793 
Wheat/barley 9,353 6,545 5,701 19,655 4,805 8,565 8,585 13,166 
Total 2,583,916  2,548,237  3,409,243  2,844,902  3,398,628  3,693,240  3,885,473  4,814,871  
Source : Online information from the National Statistical Institute, "Production agricole".  Viewed at:  http://instat.gov.ml/ 
voir_domaine.aspx?dom=4. 
                                                      
61 Task Force for the Reorganization of the Cotton Subsector (2009). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 304 
 
 
153. The lack of land suitable for farming is one of the major obstacles to continued growth in the 
cereals subsector.  Nevertheless, there has been a si zeable increase in the acreage used to grow cereals 
(Table IV.5). 
154. Rice is grown in Mali, in the Niger valley in pa rticular, and it is probably one of the most 
ancient rice-growing areas in the worl d.  Rice is also Mali' s basic foodstuff.  It is grown in almost all 
regions, with very diverse systems of production, and depends on the availability  of water, the climate 
and the topography.  Paddy rice is grown in vast irrigated areas, but also in the plains (particularly in the south of Mali). 
155.
 Following the generalized rise in cereal prices in 2008, the Government decided to implement 
a plan of action for the 2008/2009 season known as the "Rice Initiativ e", with the aim of developing 
local production.  This programme focuses on inte nsifying production in the areas available for 
cultivation.  In particular, the Government has un dertaken to subsidize the purchase of fertilizer 
(CFAF 12,500/50-kg. bag), seed and advice.  In 2008/2009, production reached a record level of 
1,607,647 tonnes.  The total cost of th e Initiative was CFAF 42.65 billion, of which 
CFAF 10.71 billion were subsidies intended princi pally for inputs (seed and fertilizer) and advice. 
Table IV.5 
Area covered by the principal crops, 2001-2009 
(hectares) 
 2001/2002 2002/2003 2003/2004 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 
Millet 1,142,388 1,557,590 1,888,889 1,184,607  1,484,190 1,495,862 1,586,279 1, 591,720 
Sorghum 702,478 923,403 822,331 577,021  744,172 917,053 1,090,243 1, 041,529 
Rice 468,239 356,611 405,641 314,915  414,023 408,495 391,870 626,573 
Maize 260,627 318,161 316,683 252,311  424,861 412,484 409,916 403,877 
Fonio 42,241 34,757 37,910 25,303  49,705 45,772 46,477 72, 174 
Wheat/barley 3,706 2,548 2,328 3,535  2,184 3,565 3,430 5, 414 
Total 2,619,679 3,193, 070 3,473,782 2,357,692  3,119,135 3,283,231 3,528,215 3, 741,287 
Source : National Statistical Institute.  
156. The Niger Board (ON) is a Malian State enterpri se that continues to intervene in several 
activities in the subsector (production, support for pr oducers, processing).  The ON's activities within 
its area, namely, the Niger River delta, are to suppl y water, maintain the infrastructure, and manage 
and equip the land, which are subject to payment of fees.  Producers, who have  secured rights to their 
land, are free to obtain inputs and equipment wher e they wish.  The Upper Valley Board (OHV) acts 
as a rural development agency in the south of Mali. 
157. Husked rice is subject to a 10 per cent intermed iate customs duty under the CET.  Only paddy 
rice is classified as a local product and is c onsequently exempt from duties and taxes within 
WAEMU. 
(c) Other products 
Sugar 
158. Domestic sugar production was estimated to  be 38,000 tonnes for the 2009/2010 season, 
while annual requirements are estimated to be 15 0,000 tonnes.  The Complexe sucrier du Kala 
supérieur (Sukala-SA), in which the State holds 40 per cent of the capital, controls all sugar cane 
production and its processing into sugar in Mali.  Th e State's withdrawal from Sukala, which has been 
planned for a number of years, should continue w ith the sale of its residual holding.  The sugar 
produced by Sukala is sold on the domestic mark et through approved wholesalers.  Sukala has Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 305 
 
 
two plantations (situated in the Niger Board's area)  together with two sugar mills.  The company is 
currently building a third sugar facility at a cost  of CFAF 70 billion to produce 100,000 tonnes of 
sugar annually This project also provides for equi pping 20,000 hectares for agricultural production.  
The authorities indicate that it is planned to increase national sugar production tenfold by 2012. 
159. In addition to the usual duties and taxes, suga r imports are subject to a 55 per cent TCI in 
order to protect Sukala.  In a "twinning operation" , the import of sugar is exempt from TCI provided 
that a certain volume of sugar is bought from Sukala .  For the 2009/2010 season, the ratio was 1 tonne 
of Sukala sugar for every 3 tonnes exempt from th e TCI.  One of the special features of the 
2009/2010 season was the signature of individual te rms and a contract for the purchase of Sukala 
sugar with each operator.  These te rms fix ceiling wholesale and retail prices that may be revised in 
the light of trends in international prices.  There is also a monthly plan for the purchase and import of 
sugar. 
Shea 
160. Shea nuts are the most important product gather ed in the wild in Mali, which has some 
74 million shea nut trees.  The nuts are mostly collected  by women in rural areas and are one of their 
main sources of income.62  Annual production of shea butter has fallen in recent de cades and is now 
some 100,000 tonnes, of which around 60,000 tonnes are e xported.  Shea is also the main ingredient 
in the domestic production of soap, ointments and perfume.  In 2008, exports of shea nuts earned 
CFAF 718.6 million (US$1.6 million). 
161. The Government has decided to include shea in the list of promising subsectors, with the aim 
of increasing the volume of exports by 25 per cent each year for the coming five years and making 
Mali the leading West African exporter of this pr oduct, both nuts and butter.  In order to support 
women in the shea subsector, the Government has initiated the project "Support for women's groups 
in shea nut exploitation", whose objective is to increase the income of women working in the 
subsector.  In addition to this project, other m easures in the shea subsector are being taken inter alia  
under the Competitiveness and Agricultural Diversif ication Programme (PCDA) and the Project in 
Support of Agricultural Subsectors (PAFA). 
Mangoes 
162. With some 200,000 tonnes annually, Mali is a large producer of mangoes, only some of 
which are exported.  The combined efforts of project s in the subsector have led to a strong increase in 
exports, which rose from 2,915 tonnes in 2005 to 12,676.7 tonnes in 2008, for an amount of 
CFAF 2,113.9 billion (or US$4.7 million).  According to market surveys, wholesale export of Malian 
mangoes to Europe could be profitable.63 
Soya beans 
163. The CMDT introduced soya beans into Mali in  1985 as a crop for diversifying income in 
non-cotton growing areas.  Production has risen from 1,414 tonnes in 2000/2001 to 36,056 tonnes in 
2009/2010.  The Government has adopted a strategy for developing and processing soya beans.  The 
action to be undertaken focuses, inter alia , on a more efficient production system, the setting up of 
processing facilities and training farmers in growing techniques. 
                                                      
62 Giron, L. (2007). 
63 Findings , "Exporting Malian mangoes to Europe", October 2003.  Viewed at:  
http://www.worldbank.org/afr/wps/wp60.pdf. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 306 
 
 
(iv) Livestock 
164. Livestock breeding is a promising sector for Ma li's economy.  It involves at least 80 per cent 
of the rural working population and is the chief means of subsistence for over 30 per cent of the 
population, with around 70 per cent of the country used  to rear livestock.  Its contribution to GDP is 
estimated to be 9.6 per cent.  Export earnings amounted to CFAF 51.8 billion in 2008, coming in 
third place after gold and cotton. 
165. Mali has a large animal herd, estimated to be 31 million head in 2008, composed chiefly of 
bovine animals (8 million), sheep (9 million) and goats (14 million).64  The number of poultry is 
estimated to be 30 million.65  Milk production for human consumption is estimated to be 
500 million litres annually. 
166. The marketing of animals and animal products mainly concerns exports of live cattle and 
hides.  The annual export of live animals is 225, 000 bovine animals, 410,000 sheep, 48,000 goats and 
4,200 camels.  For skins and hides, annual exports are around 386,000 and 1,340,000 items, 
respectively.  Livestock exports mainly go to subregi onal markets, especially in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, 
Guinea, Senegal and Algeria.  Exports to these countri es consist mainly of live cattle and there is little 
export of meat because of the lack of infrastructur e for slaughter and suitable transport.  Controlled 
exports of hides in 2008 amounted to 293,089 items;  859,434 sheep and goat skins were exported, 
60 per cent of them untanned and 40 per cent tanned. 
167. Live bovine animals, bovine meat and their by-p roducts may not be imported (Chapter III(2)).  
The export of young male bovine animals of less than five years of age and non-sterile female 
breeding animals is subject to an absolute prohibitio n (Chapter III(3)(iv)).  In order to make the price 
of meat affordable in Mali during the 2008 food crisis, the Government prohibited the export of 
meat-based foods. 
168. Despite the extent of livestock breeding, there ha s been very little investment in this subsector 
in recent years, and it only receives 9 per cent of investment in the rural sector.  There are many 
problems and constraints on the development of livestock breeding, including the prevalence of 
extensive production systems (pastoral and agro-pastora l system), with low productivity;  the scarcity 
of natural pasture;  the degradation of pastoral  resources and the difficulty of managing them;  
competition for land use between livestock and agriculture;  little use of agricultural and 
agro-industrial by-products and fodder crops;  the probl em of water resources in pastures, especially 
under-exploitation of existing potential;  and the po or performance of animal husbandry, a result not 
only of the biological characteristics of the animals, but also of the production systems, which 
constrain the profitability of farms. 
169. A number of programmes are being implemented to encourage the development of livestock 
breeding and animal industries, including the five-year pastoral planning programme (2008-2012) at a cost of CFAF 23.4 billion, as well as programmes in support of the development of livestock breeding 
in the western Sahara and in the Kayes-Sud area at a cost of CFAF 21.9 billion, and the medium and 
long-term programme to combat avian influen za.  Livestock development programmes focus on 
animal health, pastoral water re sources, support for breeders and the organization of cattle markets.  
The exploitation and marketing of ca ttle is nevertheless inefficiently organized and there are limits to 
intensifying production.  Moreover, the developmen t of livestock products (meat, hides, skins and 
milk) falls short. 
                                                     
 
64 Malikounda online information, "Panorama sur l'élevage au Mali:  un maillon essentiel sous 
exploité", 29 January 2009.  Vi ewed at:  http://www.ma likounda.com/nouvelle_voir. php?idNouvelle  =20334. 
65 FAO (2008). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 307 
 
 
(v) Fishing and aquaculture 
170. Fishing is a key subsector in Mali's economy.  It contributes 4.2 per cent to GDP, employs 
500,000 people (7.2 per cent of the labour force), including 120,000 fishermen.  Mali's hydrographic resources mainly consist of the basins of the Senega l (upper stretch) and Niger (middle stretch) rivers.  
This hydrographic network feeds a se ries of lakes in the region of Ti mbuktu in the northern part of the 
country. 
171.
 Mali's fisheries potential has been evaluated at some 180,000 tonnes, but production varies 
greatly depending on rainfall.  With normal rainfa ll, production is some 100,000 tonnes annually.  In 
2008, total production of fish was 132,168 tonnes;  controlled exports (smoked and dried fish) 
amounted to 1,322 tonnes or CFAF 2.73 billion (T able IV.6).  Because of the inadequate 
infrastructure, almost all the fish exported is smoked or dried.  Over the past 20 years, the subsector 
has had to face crises attributab le to a large extent to unfavour able hydrological conditions, although 
this has become less common since the second half of the 1990s. 
Table IV.6 
Fisheries, 2004-2009 
(tonnes) 
 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
Production 61,073 63,286 95,000 103,000 132,168 169,539 
Export 729 21 199 1,250 1,322 3,105 
Source : National Directorate of Fisheries. 
172. Mali's fisheries production is mainly concentrat ed in the central Niger delta (some 80 per 
cent).  Fishing is chiefly on a small scale, usi ng canoes made from nailed planks and rarely equipped 
with motors for economic reasons.  According to su rveys by the National Directorate of Fisheries in 
2005, the number of non-motorized canoes used for fishing was 25,334. 
173. The overall objective of the policy to develop fishing and aquaculture is the sustainable 
development of fisheries and aquaculture resources so as to increase the subsector's contribution to the 
national economy and to meeting food needs.  The Na tional Directorate of Fisheries, set up in 2005, is 
responsible for drawing up the bases for the na tional fisheries policy and for coordinating and 
following up its implementation.  Fishing is an important component in the national poverty reduction 
and food security strategy. 
174. The principal legislative and regulatory text establishing the conditions for development of 
fishing and fish farming is Law No. 95-032 of 20 Ma rch 1995.  This Law distinguishes three types of 
fish farming domain:  the fish farming domain of the State, that of the local authorities and that of individuals.  The Law also encompasses fish farming activities. 
175.
 Up until recent decades, because of the lack of communication infrastructure and adequate 
means of conservation, around three quarters of domestic production was sold in processed form, 
either smoked, burned, cooked or, to a lesser extent, dr ied.  This trend is cha nging and in recent years 
the supply of fresh fish on ice has gradually become more common in the main production areas and is more profitable, particularly when sent to urban centres of consumption. 
176.
 A number of programmes are under way to deve lop and make better us e of Mali's fishery 
resources, including:  the five-year fish farming plan at a cost of CFAF 13 billion, the project to develop traditional fishing in the Niger River basin at a cost of CFAF 3.5 billion, the programme to 
support fishing development in the Se negal River basin at a cost of CFAF 1.5 billion, and the project 
to build a modern fish market in Bamako at a cost of CFAF 2.2 billion. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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177. The extent of aquaculture in Mali is still mode st, with annual production currently estimated 
to be 1,000 tonnes.66  Because of the growing scarcity of fi sh resources in the Niger, fish farming 
represents an interesting alternative.  The Governme nt is therefore planning to make use of all water 
bodies with aquaculture potential and identifying and organizing fish farmers into cooperative 
associations and management committees, teaching th em fish farming techniques.  The development 
of inland waters by stocking them with fish in order to achieve a substa ntial increase in domestic 
production is an element in the implementation of the major programmes in the master plan for developing fishing.  The stocking of natural and artificial pools and water bodies occupies a 
prominent place in the five-year Aquacu lture Development Programme for 2008-2012
67, whose cost 
is CFAF 13.96 billion. 
178. The measures applicable to export of fisheries pr oducts are:  a sanitary certificate, control of 
the market preparation and payment of taxes to the municipal authorities.  The measures applicable to 
imports of fisheries products are:  a certificate of  origin, a sanitary certificate, quality control and 
veterinary health inspection, and the provisions of  the CET for imports from third countries (joint 
report, Chapter III(2)). 
(vi) Forestry 
179. The contribution of the timber and forestry subs ector to GDP formation is 3.9 per cent and the 
national forest domain is estimated to cover 100 mill ion hectares.  Nevertheless, the subsector is in a 
constant state of decline because of drought and ove r-exploitation.  The volume of timber lost owing 
to its use as firewood is estimated to be 5 million tonnes, or 400,000 hectares annually.  The 
Government is aware of the importance of this su bsector, particularly for the supply of energy, the 
conservation of natural resources, protecti on of the environment and for tourism. 
180. The National Directorate of Water Resources a nd Forests is responsible for drawing up the 
bases for the national policy on combating desertif ication, sustainable development of forests and 
promotion and upgrading of forest products and wild life.  A forest information system (SIFOR) has 
been introduced in the Ministry of the Environment and Sanitation in order to improve the 
management and monitoring of Mali's forest resources. 
181. Some 65 million tonnes of timber are consumed  in Mali each year.  Its forests supply around 
80 per cent of the country's energy needs, notably in  the form of firewood used to cook food.  Fuel 
wood, charcoal and its residue are the main form of energy traditionally used in Mali.  In 2008, some 
337,000 stacked cubic metres of fuel wood were produced.68  In order to give forests better protection, 
the Government subsidizes the consumption of bu tane gas (section (4)(i)(a)).  The goal of Mali's 
forestry policy is:  to contribute towards the count ry's sustainable economic and social development 
and to ensure food security;  to combat all forms of pollution or harmful effects;  and to combat the degradation of natural res ources and desertification. 
(3)
 MINING  
182. The principal product mined and the foremost s ource of foreign currency is gold, Mali being 
the third largest producer in Africa.  Gold production fell from 56,753 kg. in 2007 to 52,772 kg. in 2008, a 7 per cent decline (Table IV.7).  Although th ere was a slight recovery in gold prices on the 
                                                     
 
66 FAO online information, "Profils des pêches et de l'aquaculture par pays:  Mali".  Viewed at:  
http://www.fao.org/fishery/co untrysector/FI-CP_ML/3/fr. 
67 Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (2007). 
68 CountrySTAT Mali, online information.  View ed at:  http://countrystat .org/mli/cont/pxw ebquery/ma/ 
133cfo010/fr. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 309 
 
 
global market (US$816.1 on average in 2008 compared to US$803.2 in 2007), the sector's 
contribution to GDP fell from 6.7 per cent to 6.1 per cent.  The cumulative contribution of the mining sector to the Treasury was CFAF 132.1 billion in 2008, compared to CFAF 101.1 billion in 2007.  
Most of the gold mined in Mali is e xported to South Africa and Switzerland. 
183.
 The majority of mines are operated by multina tionals, although the State owns 20 per cent of 
the large mines (Morila, Loulo), with the exception of  Sadiola (18 per cent).  In addition to the large 
mines, there is small-scale mining with around 35 0 sites employing some 150,000 workers.  Reserves 
are being evaluated for around a dozen new projects.  All the gold mined is exported, but is first 
turned into ingots. 
Table IV.7 
Gold production, 2003-2009 
(tonnes) 
 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
Industrial production 51.60 41.58 49.54 58.37 52.75 48.41 49.75 
- Yatela 7.23 8.11 8.01 11.55 9.87 5.41 7.29 
- Morila 28.64 17.63 23.83 19.21 16.81 16.45 12.83 
- Syama 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.11 1.38 
- Sadiola 15.73 15.57 15.1 17.04 13 15.39 12.32 
- Loulo .. .. 2.06 8.31 9.78 10.45 13.49 
- Kalana 0.0 0.27 0.54 0.87 0.99 0.54 0.7 
- Tabakoto .. .. .. 1.39 2.3 0.059 1.74 
Gold panning 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 
Exports 51.60 41.58  49.54  58.37  52.75  48.41  49.75  
Exports (US$ '000)  566,371 504,952 693,383 1,131,789 1,082,466 1,437,139 .. 
Memorandum:  gold price (US$/ounce) 363.38  409.72  444.74  603.46  695.39  871.96  972.35  
.. Not available. 
Source : Malian authorities;  UNSD, Comtrade database. 
184. The National Directorate of Geology and Mini ng (DNGM) is responsible for drawing up the 
bases for the national policy on exploration, deve lopment, exploitation and processing of subsoil 
resources, and for ensuring that this policy is im plemented.  Mining in Mali is governed by the 1999 
Mining Code69, which gives various incentives to mining companies during the exploration and 
prospection stages and during preparations for ope rating the mine (Box IV.1).  The Code guarantees 
national treatment for exploiting mining resources, except in the case of small-scale mining.  Holders of mining permits are guaranteed that the tax and customs regime will remain stable throughout the 
period of permit validity.  It should be noted, howe ver, that all the mines currently being operated and 
those to be opened over the next two years are gove rned by the regime laid down in the former 
Mining Code of 1991.
70  Although the authorities acknowledge th at mining is important for economic 
growth and for the budget, they consider that  it cannot provide the basis for Mali's economic 
development inasmuch as it is a non-renewable sour ce and the activity only offers little value added. 
                                                      
69 Ordinance No. 99-032/P-RM of 19 August 1999. 
70 Ordinance No. 91-065/CTSP of 19 September 1991, and its implementing Decrees 
No. 91-277/P-RM and No. 91-278/P-RM of 19 September 1991. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 310 
 
 
Box IV.1:  Tax and customs concessions under the Mining Code (1999) 
 
Holders of exploration permits or prospection authorizations are exempt from all duties and taxes (including 
VAT) on the domestic market and on the import of the machinery and materials needed for their activities 
(with the exception of petroleum products).  Throughout the period of validity of their permits, they benefit from the temporary admission regime free of charge pro rata temporis for machinery that is to be re exported.  
They are exempt from the BIC tax, the tax on income from securities, the land revenue tax, the business tax 
and related contributions.  
During the operational phase, until production commences, holders of operating permits and authorizations to 
exploit small mines benefit from the temporary admission regime free of charge pro rata temporis  for 
equipment and vehicles included in the Mining List.  Until production commences, holders are also granted:  
(i) full exemption from duties and taxes on tools, chemicals, petroleum products, etc. needed for their 
activities;  and (ii) exemption from all exit duties and ta xes for the personnel's goods and personal effects and 
the equipment used during the operational phase.  Holders of mining titles are exempt from VAT up until the 
end of the third year following the commencement of mining.  Holders are also fully  exempt from duties and 
taxes (with the exception of community levies) on th e petroleum products needed for their activities, 
including installations for workers, throughout the operational phase.
 
 
Source :  Ordinance No. 99-032/P-RM of 19 August 1999. 
 
185. The Mining Code covers mining resources (ex cept for liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons and 
underground water) and specifies that these belong to  the State.  Domestic and foreign enterprises 
have the same rights and obligations, except as regard s small-scale exploitation, which is restricted to 
Malian nationals and nationa ls of other countries on a reciprocal basis.  Holders of mining titles may 
freely transfer capital and net profits (after distri bution to those entitled in Mali), as well as income 
and salaries for foreign natural persons.  They are, however, subject to the foreign exchange 
regulations, which, inter alia , require the repatriation of earning s from exports to countries outside 
WAEMU and their conversion into CFA francs. 
186. The Code distinguishes between the mining regi me and the quarrying regime.  It provides for 
five types of mining permit:  exploration authori zation (three months, renewable once);  prospection 
authorization (three years, renewable once);  survey  permit (three years, renewable twice);  operating 
permit (30 years, renewable for ten-year periods until the mine is exhausted);  authorization to operate 
a small mine (less than 150 tonnes of mineral ore per day in the case of gold, which also covers 
mechanized gold panning (four years, renewable for four-year periods until the mine is exhausted).  
Traditional (manual) small-scale exploitation requ ires an authorization granted by the local 
authorities. 
187. All applications for an operating permit must be accompanied by an environmental impact 
assessment.  The granting of an operating permit im plies handing over to the State 10 per cent of the 
operating company's shares (without any counterpart), and the State may reserve the right to raise this figure up to 20 per cent by purchasing shares;  the State has exercised this right in the case of 
goldmines opened since Mali's previous TPR.  Mini ng permits are the subject of a mining agreement 
between the company and the State. 
188.
 For gold mining, the State mainly collects the contribution for providing a service (CPS) 
amounting to 3 per cent of the turnover of mining companies or the ISCP, also at 3 per cent71;  the 
BIC tax (35 per cent), the charges for employees and various additional taxes;  the tax on the priority 
                                                      
71 The majority of mining companies signed their agreements before 1999 and pay the CPS.  The 
Kalana mine, however, for which the agreement was signed after 1999, has to pay the ISCP instead of the CPS. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 311 
 
 
dividend (10 per cent)72;  and on dividends paid to shareholders, including the State.  In 2009, the 
State earned around CFAF 130 billion from gold mining.   This revenue, however, varies according to 
gold production, which makes it an unstable source of income. 
189. Mali also has large deposits of bauxite, iron, uranium, manganese, phosphate, limestone and 
precious stones, but much of this potential is not exploited owing to lack of investment and 
infrastructure.  It is planned to exploit the iron deposits discovered in the region of Koulikoro (20 km. 
from Bamako) in 2010.  Preliminary prospection ha s been positive and it is estimated that there are 
92.13 million tonnes of iron ore. 
190. Mali became a candidate for the Extractive I ndustries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 
September 200773 and the first report is under preparation. 
(4) ENERGY AND WATER RESOURCES  
(i) Energy 
191. Mali's energy consumption is around 35 million to nnes of oil equivalent (toe), 78 per cent 
from wood and charcoal, 18 per cent from petroleu m products and the remaining 4 per cent from 
electricity.74  Households consume 86 per cent (77 per cen t for urban households), transport 10 per 
cent, industry 3 per cent, and agriculture 1 per cent. 
192. The principal goals of the National Energy Policy are:  (i) to develop the potential for national 
energy resources (hydroelectricity, renewable energy);   (ii) to protect forest resources, notably wood 
used as fuel (firewood and charcoal) through sust ainable exploitation for the benefit of the rural 
population;  (iii) to improve the terms for buyi ng oil products through better access to the 
international market;  (iv) to continue oil prospec tion with a view to lessening the country's external 
dependence and to increase foreign currency earnings;  (v) to liberalize the sector by taking up more 
initiatives by decentralized local authorities and capital from semi-public and private operators;  and 
(vi) to adapt institutions to the needs of the ener gy sector by building up the State's capacity for 
strategic direction and control.  As regards trad itional forms of energy, the options adopted are to 
lessen demand for wood as fuel and gradually to br ing the cost of woody fuels into line with the 
economic value of the resource. 
(a) Oil and gas 
193. Mali does not produce oil.  Imports of petrol eum products amounted to US$704.4 million in 
2008 (around 21 per cent of imports), mostly to meet national needs for transport and generating 
electricity. 
194. Since the adoption of the new Petroleum Code (Law No. 04/037 of 2 August 2004), oil 
exploration has been stepped up.  This Law lays down the criteria for exploration and exploitation of 
crude oil and is intended to intensify the search fo r oil in the country's vast sedimentary and graben 
basins because Mali has one of the world's lowest le vels of investment in oil exploration.  A number 
of exploration agreements have therefore been si gned by the Government and exploratory drilling has 
                                                      
72 Ordinance No. 00-013/P-RM of 10 February 2000. 
73 The EITI's aim is better governance in countries  with abundant resources through verification and 
full publication of the payments made by companies and the income earned by governments from oil, gas and minerals. 
74 Croissance et Actualités , "La politique énergétique du Mali", No. 37.  Viewed at:  
http://www.ffa-int.org/file s/p.11EURSOWEURCA37.pdf. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 312 
 
 
been carried out in order to evaluate potential oil resources.  Exploration in the Taoudéni bloc has led 
to the discovery of structures likely to contain hydr ocarbons deposits and it is planned to drill the first 
well in the second half of 2010.  The authority fo r promoting oil exploration (AUREP), set up in 
2004, is the government entity responsible for ensuri ng that companies comply with the commitments 
undertaken in the various agreements. 
195. Mali has five storage depots for petroleum products with total capacity of 53,656 m3.  A study 
on the national buffer stock of petroleum products high lighted the deficiencies in the country's storage 
capacity and it will have to be upgraded by building new capacity. 
196. Mali's hydrocarbons are supplied by 65 authorized  private operators.  In order to obtain the 
authorization required to import, the applicant must have its own storage capacity of at least 1,500 m3 
and deposit security of CFAF 200 million.75  Mali now has around 50 approved oil importers, four of 
which represent multinationals.  The remainder are private companies set up by Malian operators.  
Malian private operators, on average, have 70 per cent of the market.  Distribution requires approval 
from the National Directorate for Trade and Competition and the DNGM. 
197. Petroleum products are highly taxed in Mali b ecause of the customs duties imposed under the 
WAEMU CET, VAT, and, above all, the TIPP, whos e rate depends on the transport route and the 
product.76  Because of the sharp rise in the price of  petroleum products in 2008, the Government 
lowered the TIPP and import taxes, resulting in  a loss of revenue of some CFAF 20 billion. 
198. The price of fuel at the pump is determined acco rding to fluctuations in supplier prices by a 
commission composed of the authorities, petroleum op erators and representatives of consumers.  The 
furthest sources of supply (Lomé and Cotonou) are taxed at a lower rate in order to incite operators to 
obtain supplies there as part of the policy to dive rsify sources and give Mali a more secure supply of 
petroleum products. 
199. In order to afford better protection to the w ooded savannah, the Govern ment has subsidized 
the consumption of butane gas since 1998.  This prog ramme led to an increase in the consumption of 
butane gas from 834 tonnes in 1990 to some 10,000 tonne s in 2009, when a total of CFAF 3.5 billion 
was paid out in subsidies.  The price of butane gas is determined by ONAP and apart from this 
product, the State does not subsidize a ny other gaseous or petroleum product. 
(b) Electricity 
200. Beginning in 1998, Mali undertook in-depth reform of the electricity sector, one of the major 
objectives being to make electricity available to a la rger number of inhabitants.  In particular, the 
reform involved the State's withdrawal from operations  and opening up the sector to new operators.  
The company Énergie du Mali (EDM-SA) is responsib le for the production, transport and distribution 
of electricity and was partly privatized in 2000.  Since 2005, the State has held 66 per cent of the 
capital and Industrial Promotion Serv ices, a subsidiary of the Aga Khan Development Network, has 
held 34 per cent.  Since its privatization, EDM- SA has provided electricity to the public under a 
concession agreement that includes thermal and hydraulic generation (i.e. excluding hydroelectric 
works), the transport and distribution of electricity, as  well as the sale and purchase of electric power.  
The EDM-SA's monopoly of wholesale buying of electric power expires in December 2010;  its 
current monopoly chiefly consists of the sole right to  distribute electricity within its concession area. 
                                                      
75 ONAP online information, "Le sous-sect eur pétrolier au Mali".  Viewed at:  
http://www.onapmali.com/secteur.php. 
76 For example, for premium petrol imported throug h Dakar, the TIPP was CFAF 150.21/litre in 2009. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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201. The CREE, set up in 2000, is responsible for approving and monitoring electricity rates.  
These are determined according to the formul a laid down in the agreement between CREE and 
EDM-SA.  The concessionaire may request a revision of  the rates each year and this is considered by 
the CREE. 
202. EDM-SA produced 1,097 GWh in 2009 (Table IV.8 ).  In Mali, electricity is mainly produced 
by the hydroelectric dams at Manantali (plant capacity of 200 MW, of which 104 MW for Mali) and at Sélingué (46.2 MW capacity), two other hydroel ectric plants (Félou, Sotuba), as well as some 
20 thermal stations throughout Mali.  The interc onnected network supplies Bamako and Mali's main 
cities.  In addition to the interc onnected network's production, in 2009 EDM-SA reportedly had plants 
with a total capacity of almost 50.5 MW in 21 loca tions in the east and south of Mali.  Mali imports 
electricity from Côte d'Ivoire in its border zone. 
203.
 In 2009, Mali had 215,814 electricity subs cribers (some 18.4 per cent of households), 
compared to 120,228 in 2002.  Some companies ha ve their own electricity supplies (for example, 
CMDT and Sukala), either because they are not in  an area able to supply them, are far from the 
interconnected network or have their own means of pr oduction to meet their needs (this is the case for 
Sukala with biomass).  The development and impl ementation of rural electrification projects and 
programmes are the responsibility of local populations , local authorities and private operators with 
support from the Council of State. 
204. The goal of Mali's energy policy is not only to expand the distribution of electricity to the 
population as a whole, but also to respond to the growing needs of agro-industry.77  To do this, the 
Government is planning to brin g an additional 1,000 MW of capac ity into service by 2014.  In 
particular, it intends to expand hydroelectric dams, in terconnection of networks with Côte d'Ivoire and 
Burkina Faso, and to promote alternative energy a nd energy-saving measures such as those against 
wasting electricity. 
Table IV.8 
Electricity sector, 2004-2009 
 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
Electricity generated (EDM-SA) (GWh) 721 805 870 893.6 1,001 1,097  
Electricity density (%) 14.2  15.1 16.2 17.0 17.5 18.4  
Electricity density in urban areas (%) 45.1  47.0 48.8 50.0 50.3 51.1  
Electricity density in rural areas (%) .. 1.0 4.8 8.2 11.2 13.3  
 Not available.  
Source : Ministry of the Economy and Finance (2009), Rapport sur la situation économique et sociale du Mali en 2008 et 
les perspectives pour 2009 ;  and information provided by the Malian authorities.  
205. The Malian Agency for the Development of Domestic Energy and Rural Electrification 
(AMADER), set up in May 2003, is entrusted with improving access to basic energy services for the 
poor in rural areas.  It is responsible, inter alia , for managing a rural electrification fund whose initial 
resources are US$25 million.  In October 2008, the Government and the World Bank signed an 
additional financing agreement for some CFAF 17.5 billion.  Action by AMADER focuses on 
four approaches:  rural electrification projects spontaneously proposed by private operators, the 
construction of electricity networks supplied by multi-functional platforms, multi-sectoral 
electrification zones, and rural electrification afte r "invitations to submit projects".  Subsidies are 
granted on the basis of a competition organized among private operators interest ed by the same area.  
                                                      
77 Croissance et Actualités , "La politique énergétique du Mali", No. 37.  Viewed at:  
http://www.ffa-int.org/file s/p.11EURSOWEURCA37.pdf. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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AMADER's objective is to increase the rate of electr ification in rural areas to 55 per cent by 2015 
(from 1 per cent in 2005 to 11. 2 per cent in January 2009). 
(ii) Water 
206. EDM-SA is also responsible for distributing water in Mali.  The initial findings of an 
institutional study commissioned by the Government  recommend the gradual separation of electricity 
and water by 2010-2012.  In 2009, EDM-SA produced some 80.6 million m3 and distributed 
58.6 million m3 through its 2,991 km. pipeline.  Water rate s have to be approved by the CREE and 
have not changed since 2004. 
207. The rate of access to drinking water rose from 62 per cent in 2004 to 71.7 per cent in 2008.  
The objective is to reach 82 per cent by 2015.  In 2008, the percentage of the population with access 
to sanitation was 23 per cent.  In February 2006 , the Government adopted the National Water Policy 
in order to find appropriate solutions to water-relat ed problems.  The principal objective of this policy 
is to raise the level of access to water while at th e same time respecting sustainable management of 
water resources.  In order to do this, since 2004 th ere has been a Water Map and a National Plan for 
Access to Drinking Water 2004-2015 (PNAEP), togeth er with an investment programme amounting 
to CFAF 400 billion.  The PNAEP envisages, inter alia , the installation, rehabilitation or upgrading of 
11,000 water outlets over the period,  giving priority to villages, pastoral sites and urban districts 
without modern water outlets. 
(5) MANUFACTURING  
208. Manufacturing makes only a modest contribution to Mali's economic activity (Chapter I(1)).  
There is little diversification in Mali's industrial output and it is not very competitive Inter-industry 
trade is very limited.  As there is no heavy industr y, Mali's industrial production is chiefly based on 
the processing of agricultural products:  biscuits, edib le pasta, preserves, canni ng, breweries, bakeries, 
oil refineries, sugar mills, dair y products, textiles and tobacco. 
209. According to the latest industrial census, th ere were 343 industrial enterprises in Mali.78  The 
various industrial activities can be broken down as foll ows:  manufacture of foodstuffs and beverages:  
62.0 per cent;  publishing, printing and reproduction of recordings:  12.9 per cent;  manufacture of 
metal articles and metal working:  6.8 per cent;  and manufacture of chemicals:  5.5 per cent.  Most of the industries are in Bamako (66.2 per cent).  Over 85 per cent of industrial firms had less than 50 employees and only 14 employed 200 or more.  In addition, there are a large number of units engaged in semi-industrial or small-scale manufactu ring (for example, bakeries, the preparation of 
traditional beverages, clothing workshops), many of wh ich are informal in natu re.  Permanent jobs in 
industry rose from 13,127 in 2002 to 17,593 in June 2006. 
210.
 The textile industry has suffered the effects of  the poor performance of the cotton subsector 
and in 2007 textile production fell by almost 20 per cent. 
211. The drop in cotton production has led to a decrease in the production of cottonseed and other 
sub-products such as edible oil and cattle cake.79  Up until 2004, the Huilerie cotonnière du Mali 
(HUICOMA), a subsidiary of the CMDT, had a de  facto monopoly of the processing of cottonseed 
into oil and cake.  Its privatization in 2005 has led to the emergence of numerous small industrial 
units. 
                                                      
78 Ministry of Industry and Trade (2006). 
79 Nouvel Horizon , 24 December 2008, "Distribution de la graine de coton:  Le Ministre Amadou 
Abdoulaye Diallo dans le dilemme";  USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (2009). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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212. The State has continued to withdraw from ec onomic activities in the manufacturing sector.  
The vast majority of companies in this sector are private or in the process of being privatized.  The 
State owns 100 per cent of the Usine malienne de  produits pharmaceutiques (UMPP), 38 per cent of 
the Société nationale des tabacs et allumettes du Mali (SONATAM) and 20 per cent of the 
Compagnie malienne des textiles (COMATEX). 
213. The main challenges to Mali's industrial devel opment are still essentially quality and the cost 
of production factors, the state of the transport infra structure, the lack of properly equipped industrial 
zones, inadequate electricity supplies, particularly in terms of voltage and availability, and delays in 
the effective regional integration supposed to lead  to a much larger market.  According to the 
authorities, to these have to be added internal constraints such as poor business management, the 
frequent lack of a quality policy in firms and the poor quality of the goods manufactured, obsolescent 
and badly maintained production equipment, and low levels of awareness of foreign markets.80 
214. API-Mali is examining a law on the developmen t and management of industrial zones in 
Mali. 
215. In 2008, imports of manufactures into Mali amounted to US$2,167 million.  The principal 
products imported are vehicles, medicines and fe rtilizer.  Exports amounted to only US$105 million 
in the same year. 
(6) SERVICES  
(i) Overview 
216. Services, particularly trade (formal segment) , are a key sector in Mali's economy, with 
transport and telecommunications also playing an important role.  Mali has a deficit in commercial 
services, chiefly because of international trade-re lated freight and insurance costs.  In 2008, this 
deficit was USS$235.7 million, 92 per cent of expenditure being for in ternational transport. 
217. As a landlocked country, Mali must pay the cost of shipping goods by rail or road from sea 
ports in neighbouring countries.  Road transport is the most common mode of transport for both 
passengers and goods.  The lack of transport infrast ructure is one of the factors limiting the marketing 
and the export of goods, more particularly agri cultural products, as well as the international 
competitiveness of Malian goods, especially industrial goods. 
218. Telecommunications have shown rapid grow th in recent years.  Mali opened up the 
telecommunications sector by allowing the entr y of a second operator in 2002 and privatizing 
SOTELMA's former monopoly.  As a result of the marked upward trend in mobile telephony, the 
number of subscribers rose from 300,000 in 2003 to  over 3.5 million in 2008.  A fund for access to 
universal service in telecommunications is being es tablished.  The postal subsector is still dominated 
by the National Post Office, a State-owned enterprise. 
219. Financial services contribute little to Mali's GDP.  The banking subsector is essentially 
subject to the WAEMU common regulations.  The G overnment considers that microfinance has an 
important role to play in financing the activitie s of small and micro-enterprises and in poverty 
reduction.  Insurance is governed by the Inter-Afri can Conference on Insurance Markets (CIMA) of 
1995. 
                                                      
80 Ministry of Industry and Trade (2004). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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220. Tourism is the main source of earnings from th e export of services.  It has shown strong 
growth in recent years and between  2003 and 2008 the number of hotel s more than doubled.  Tourism 
potential is, however, not yet fully exploited and tour ists remain for only a short time in Mali.  Mali's 
main specific commitments under the GATS c oncern hotel and restaurant services. 
(ii) Telecommunications and postal services 
221. Since Mali's previous TPR in 2004, the telecomm unications sector has experienced virtually 
exponential growth.  In 2009, there were over 4.4 mi llion mobile telephone subscr ibers (Table IV.9).  
There are two telephone operators:  the former  monopoly SOTELMA (together with Malitel, its 
mobile telephone subsidiary) and Or ange Mali, which came into service in 2002.  Fixed and mobile 
telephone charges have dropped significantly in recent years. 
Table IV.9 
Trend in the number of subscribers, 2003-2009  
 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
Fixed network subscribers 60,925 65,834 75,904 82,521 80,005 76,544 69,766 
Mobile network subscribers 247,223 406,861 761,986 1,505,995 2,530,885 3,438,568 4,453,602 
Total 308,148 472,695 837,890 1,588,516 2,610, 890 3,515,112 4,523,368 
Source : Telecommunications Regul atory Committee (2009), Rapport annuel 2008 .  Viewed at:  http://crt-mali.org/pdf/ 
rapport_act/Rapport_2008_CRT.pdf.  
222. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Communications and New Technology to regulate 
telecommunications and postal services.  The CRT, set up in 2002, ensures compliance with the terms 
for operating telecommunications networks and servi ces.  The CRT's role is basically to approve 
interconnection agreements among opera tors and retail rates, to settle disputes, manage frequencies, 
and approve terminal equipment. 
223. Mali opened up the telecommunications s ubsector with the adoption of the 
Telecommunications Code in 1999 (Ordinance No. 99-043/P-RM of 30 September 1999).  A 
transitional exclusivity regime nevertheless allowed SOTELMA to keep its monopoly of the 
infrastructure and basic services (wired network, fi xed point-to-point telephony, telex, telegraphy, and 
Internet hub) until 31 December 2005.  Pursuant to th e Code, a licence is required to set up a public 
telecommunications network and to provide telephon y services.  Licences should, in principle, be 
granted on demand in an objective, non-discriminato ry and transparent manner.  According to the 
authorities, no application has been refused so far, but the Government may, in some cases, decide to 
grant a licence after issuing an invitation to tende r when it considers that such a procedure is 
preferable for the development of the telecommunicati ons subsector in Mali.  This procedure must be 
followed for setting up and operating a mobile telephone network and service.  A decree adopted by 
the Council of Ministers ratifies the procedure fo r granting, withdrawing and assigning licences, as 
well as the provisions on their duration.  Operator s must negotiate amongst th emselves the technical 
and financial criteria for supplying the princi pal interconnection services.  If there is any 
disagreement, the CRT is empowered to determine the interconnection details.  For example, in the 
dispute between SOTELMA and Orange  Mali concerning the revision of the interconnection rates, the 
CRT established the interconnection charges in 2008. 
224. All branches of telecommunications services ar e open to competition.  SOTELMA owns the 
fixed network.  No cross-subsidization by operato rs in a dominant position is allowed.  Operators 
must organize their accounts in such a way that the operating results for the various 
telecommunications services they provide are recorded separately. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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225. SOTELMA was originally a State-owned enterp rise and had a monopoly, but is currently 
being privatized.  In July 2009, Maroc Telecom (V ivendi Group) bought 51 per cent of its capital for 
CFAF 180 billion.  As to the remaining 49 per cent,  the privatization strategy provides that 19 per 
cent should be sold to the public and 10 per cent kept  for the company's employees.  At the end of the 
privatization process, the State will have a residual share of 20 per cent of the capital. 
226. A fund for access to universal services under th e responsibility of the CRT is being set up and 
will be financed by a 1 per cent le vy on the net turnover of operators. 
227. Mali did not make any specific commitments on telecommunications services under the 
GATS and did not take part in the WTO nego tiations on basic telecommunications services, 
concluded in 1997. 
228. The National Post Office (ONP) is a State-owne d institution set up in 1989.  It is present 
throughout Mali with 130 "contact points" (95 post o ffices, seven outlets and 28 postal sales points).  
Private companies also supply courier services.  The ONP has the status of an industrial and 
commercial public institution (EPIC) and has been given a postal monopoly by the State.  
Accordingly, it may approve concessions for monopo lies for natural or legal persons who so request 
and who meet the predetermined criteria. 
229. All users have the right to universal service c onsisting of the supply of basic postal services, 
provided on a permanent basis throughout Mali at affo rdable prices.  Postal universal service includes 
the collection, franking, sorting, transporting and di stribution of letters, postcards, parcels weighing 
up to 2 kg., printed matter and newspapers.  In or der to ensure that universal service is always 
available, some services are restricted to the ONP , for example, collection, franking, transport and 
distribution of letters, postcards, parcels up to 10 kg. , printed matter and news papers, as well as the 
operation of post box serv ices and letter boxes. 
(iii) Transport 
230. Transport services chiefly consist of land and air transport and account for some 6.7 per cent 
of GDP.  Mali has no access to the sea.  Most of its international traffic goes through the ports of 
Dakar and Abidjan, which are, respectively, 1,4 71 km. and 1,225 km. from Bamako.  As a result, 
Mali has to pay the cost of bringing goods by rail or by road from the sea ports in neighbouring countries.  These costs, together with those for inland transport, appear to be one of the major 
handicaps to the country's trade and industrialization.   Lowering transport costs is therefore a priority 
challenge for Mali's economic development.  As a co mparison, in 2004, the total cost of freight as a 
percentage of the value of imports was an aver age of 3.6 per cent worldwide, 5.9 per cent in 
developing countries, 9.9 per cent in Africa, 14.1 per cent in Burkina Faso, and 24.4 per cent in 
Mali.
81 
231. Mali is far from the shipping ports and the low density of railway lines, the poor navigability 
on the Niger River and the lack of air links mean that  internal and external tr ansport essentially goes 
by road.  In 2006, 47.3 per cent of international traffic in solid goods went along the Senegalese 
corridor (36.3 per cent of it by road and 11 per cent by rail);  27 per cent along the Ivorian corridor;  8 per cent through Ghana;  7.5 per cent through Togo;  7.5 per cent through Benin;  2.7 per cent through Guinea;  and 0.1 per cent through Mauritania.
82 
                                                      
81 UNCTAD (2007). 
82 Koné, M. (2007). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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232. In the GATS, Mali was given exemptions from MFN treatment (Article II of the GATS) in 
relation to maritime transport, namely:  cabotage rights granted to trading partners on a reciprocal 
basis under agreements;  sharing of 80 per cent of liner trade with the national shipping company of the State at the other end of a particular traffi c (implementation of the UNCTAD Code of Conduct for 
Liner Conferences);  and sharing of all cargo (in bulk and specialized) between the State shipping 
companies at both ends of a particular tr affic, based on provisions in agreements.
83 
(a) Road transport 
233. The most commonly used mode of transport fo r persons and goods in Mali is the road, even 
though the road network is little de veloped and mainly consists of unsealed roads, with obsolescent 
vehicles and a very poor level of road safety.  Mali's road network consists  of 20,330 km., of which 
4,125 are sealed. 
234. Several programmes are being implemented to im prove and expand the ro ad network.  Under 
the project to improve transport corridors, the road and rail transport corridors between Mali and 
West African coastal countries have been upgraded .  Since 2008, the city of Bamako has been linked 
to the ports of Abidjan, Dakar, Conakry, Cotono u, Lomé, Nouakchott and Tema by sealed roads, 
thereby making it easier to obtain supplies.  This pr ogramme also plans to maintain accessibility to 
regions situated in the north of Mali. 
235. Mali has signed bilateral agreements on road tr ansport and transit with neighbouring coastal 
or landlocked countries, notably with Côte d'Ivoi re, Senegal, Togo, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritania, 
Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gambia, Algeria and Tuni sia.  These agreements reaffirm the principle of 
Mali's free access to the sea.  They define, inter alia :  the terms for transit by road;  the transport 
routes;  the freight-sharing terms between carriers from the two countries and from third countries;  
the terms for sharing passengers be tween carriers from the two count ries and from third countries;  
and the products that are excluded.  Mali gives cabotage rights on a reciprocal basis. 
236. Road hauliers in the subregion belong to the C onfederation of Truck Drivers Unions of West 
Africa (CSCRAO).  The CSCRAO convened a mee ting on 15 and 16 May 2009 in Sikasso, Mali, in 
order to draw the attention of the 15 ECOWAS member States, in particular Mali, Benin and 
Côte d'Ivoire, to the abnormal practices affecting in ter-State road traffic, in particular unauthorized 
road blocks, extortion and other abnormal practices.84  The authorities have indicated that Mali 
collaborates fully with the Irregular Practices Obse rvation Centre (OPA), set up jointly by ECOWAS 
and WAEMU in 2005 to identify and combat obstacles to the flow of inter-State road traffic in the 
West African region. 
(b) Rail transport 
237. Mali's railway network consists of a singl e line of 729 km. between Koulikoro and the 
Senegalese frontier.  As it links  Dakar (Senegal) and Bamako, it is mainly used to transport goods.  
Until October 2003, passengers and goods  were carried by the Senega lese National Railway Company 
(SNCS) and the Mali Railway Board (RCFM).  In October 2003, Senegal and Mali gave 
responsibility for managing the network for 25 years to a French-Canadian consortium, Transrail, 
whose capital is shared between the Canadian buye r (51 per cent), the Senega lese and Malian States 
(20 per cent), employees (9 per cent) and private Malian and Senegalese i nvestors (20 per cent).  
Transrail SA is also responsible for maintaini ng, renewing and upgrading the rail infrastructure.  
                                                      
83 WTO document GATS/EL/53 of 30 August 1995. 
84 L'Inter , "Tracasseries routières:  La destination Côte d'Ivoire décourage les camionneurs".  Viewed 
at:  http://actu.atoo.ci/article.php?id_ar=7730. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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Since it was set up, Transrail has reportedly faced ma jor cash flow difficulties as well as delays in 
rehabilitating the railway lines and modernizing the rolling stock, and has been under preventive 
settlement since November 2009.  It operates the passe nger service in the name of and on behalf of 
the State of Mali, which pays it for its services.  Almost all its locomotives and the rail line itself are 
in a bad state of repair so trains are frequently derailed (in 2008, Transrail had 164 trains derailed in 
Senegal and 52 in Mali). 
(c) River transport 
238. River transport is provided by the Malian Navigation Company (COMANAV), a State-owned 
enterprise, as well as by small ope rators of canoes and fishing smacks.  Most river transport is on the 
Niger River and marginally on the Senegal Rive r.  For several years, COMANAV has suffered 
financial losses because its period of navigability has been reduced from six months to four and it also 
has difficulty in maintaining and modernizing its flee t.  This fleet comprises three very old mail boats 
for carrying goods and passenge rs, one petrol boat, a tug, a push boat  and 18 barges with a capacity of 
200 tonnes. 
(d) Maritime transport 
239. Mali does not have any sea coast or maritime fl eet.  Nevertheless, in order to monitor and 
transport goods for export and import, it has wa rehouses in six African ports.  These Malian 
warehouses (EMA) are external services of the Na tional Directorate of Land, Maritime and River 
Transport (DNTTMF) and are the result of maritime  transport and transit agreements signed between 
the Malian State and the countries of transit.  Th e personnel in these wareho uses provide transport 
administration services by facilitating the transit of Malian goods and collecting statistical data.  They 
carry out the following tasks:  registration (identific ation, type, weight, origin , destination);  monitor 
the services for the goods provided by trade associat ions;  collect, enter and disseminate statistical 
data on the transport and transit of Malian goods;  and assist Malian operators if there are penalties 
and/or disputes with the trade associations.  It s services are invoiced at CFAF 500/tonne.  Storing 
Malian goods in these warehouses is also payable after a 20-day exemption period. 
(e) Air transport 
240. Mali has 26 airports and airfields, including the international airport of Bamako-Sénou, which 
opened to traffic in 1974.  All these airports and airfi elds belong to the State.  In 2008, 27 airlines flew 
to Bamako airport.  As part of the airport's renova tion, it is planned to build new passenger and cargo 
terminals.  Passenger traffic has shown a steep rise in recent years (Table IV.10). 
Table IV.10 
Indicators of activity in Bamako airport, 2004-2009 
 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
Domestic passenger traffic (thousands) 26 24 34 32 36 38  
International passenger tra ffic (thousands) 503 520 533 599 628 601  
International freight (thousands of  tonnes) 6.0 6.4 6.6 6.5 6.3 6.1  
Source : National Civil Aviation Agency.  
241. The task of the National Civil Aviation Agency  (ANAC), created in September 2005, is to 
draw up the national policy on civil aviation and to ensure  that it is implemented.  It is responsible in 
particular for:  (i) participating in drawing up civil aviation regulations in conformity with the rules of 
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of the civil aviation safety and security rules;  and (iii) overseeing air navigation services.  The 
Aviation Code adopted in 1993 is being revised. 
242. Air Mali (formerly Compagnie aérienne du Mali) was set up in April 2005 and is the 
country's leading airline;  it flies to 13 African  and European capitals.  In 2008, it transported 
122,000 passengers.  The Aga Khan Fund for Econom ic Development (AKFED) owns 51 per cent 
and the Malian State 20 per cent, with the remain der of the capital being held by Malian private 
citizens.  In addition, African companies (Air Sene gal, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines) fly to 
Dakar from Bamako and thus have at least fifth freedom rights under the Yamoussoukro Declaration 
(joint report, Chapter IV(5)(ii)).85 
243. Airports are managed by Mali Airports (ADM), a State-owned company set up in 1970.  
There is only one company, the Mali Airport Handling Company (ASAMSA) providing handling services.  "Self handling" and "mutual handling" among airlines are not authorized. 
(iv)
 Financial services 
244. One of the major obstacles to Mali's economic development is the low level of development 
of financial services.  Their contribution to Mali' s GDP is still relatively low, some 0.8 per cent of 
GDP.  Accordingly, developing this subsector is one of the Government's priority axes. 
245. At the end of 2008, Mali's financial subsect or consisted of 13 ba nks (including one 
agricultural bank and one housing bank), four fi nancing establishments , two retirement funds 
(including a social security fund for private sect or employees, and a retirement fund for civil 
servants), 97 microfinance institutions and six in surance companies.  In 2008, outstanding loans by 
loan institutions (banks and financing esta blishments) amounted to CFAF 974 billion. 
246. Mali did not make any specific commitments on the financial subsector under the GATS and 
did not take part in the WTO negotiations on financial services, concluded in 1998. 
(a) Banking services 
247. The banking subsector is subject to th e WAEMU common banking regulations and the 
prudential provisions of the WAEMU Banking Commissi on, which also has a monitoring role (joint 
report, Chapter IV(5)(iv)).  Microfinance establis hments, or decentralized financial systems (DFS), 
are also subject to WAEMU common regulations, which must be applied in member States. 
248. The State holds between 3.36 to 36.5 per cent of the capital of nine banks.  For the time being, 
no privatization is under way in the banking subsector. 
249. The rate of the tax on financial activities (TAF) is set at 15 per cent and they are exempt from 
VAT.  The TAF applies to banking or financial activities and, in general, to trade in securities and 
money.  The financial institutions subject to this  tax are banks, financing establishments, foreign 
exchange dealers and other persons principally engaged in banking or financial operations. 
250. As a result of strong mobilization of savings , microfinance ensures access to credit for 
farmers and micro, small and medium-sized enterpri ses.  There are a large number of microfinance 
establishments in Mali.  Most of them are mutual funds, savings and loan cooperatives or 
                                                      
85 Schlumberger, C. (2009). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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DFS establishments, or are financed by NGOs or th e State.  In 2006, the density of microfinance 
institutions among the population was 14.6 per cent and the stock of deposits was CFAF 38 billion.86 
251. The main objective of the national microfinance strategy is to give a large majority of the 
poor or low-income population and small and medium-sized enterprises better access to diversified 
and innovative financial services, on equ itable terms, throughout Mali by 2012.87  Responsibility for 
supervising the DFS lies with the Unit for the c ontrol and monitoring of DFS, set up in 2006.  The 
task of the DFS Promotion and Support Centre is to promote and support all the components of 
microfinance. 
252. The project to develop the financial sector (PDSF), which ended in 2008, was one of the 
measures taken by the Government to combat povert y.  Its objective was to improve the viability of 
the sector and make it more efficient and compe titive, notably by providing technical assistance 
services and building capacity. 
(b) Insurance services 
253. The insurance subsector is not yet very devel oped in Mali.  Nine insurance companies have 
been authorized to operate on the Malian market , including seven all-risk companies and one life 
insurance company.  In 2008, the subsector's tur nover was CFAF 20 billion.  Automobile third-party 
insurance, which is mandatory, alone accounts for almo st half this turnover.  Other mandatory types 
of insurance are the insurance of goods at impor tation and construction insurance.  The insurance 
subsector is supervised by the National Directorat e of the Treasury and Public Accounts.  Insurance 
services are subject to the tax on insurance contracts. 
254. Mali has signed the CIMA Code, which came into force on 15 February 1995.  This governs 
insurance services in the 14 African countries in  the franc zone.  Only authorized companies, 
established in accordance with national law (irrespec tive of the origin of the capital) may operate in 
Mali.  Authorization is given by the Minister of Finance after receiving a favourable opinion from the Regional Insurance Monitoring Commission, whose h eadquarters are in Libreville (joint report, 
Chapter IV(5)(iv)).  The Code requires that life and non-life insurance (fire, accident, technical and 
other risks) should be separate. 
(v)
 Tourism 
255. There has been strong growth in tourism in  Mali in recent years and it has become the 
foremost source of income from the export of se rvices, earning CFAF 115.5 billion in 2008.  Mali 
received 189,511 foreign tourists in 2008 (Table IV.11).  Nevertheless, the average stay in hotels was 
only 2.36 days.  Mali had 514 hotels in 2008 (including 47 with one to five stars according to 
ECOWAS standards), providing a total of 7,846 rooms and 9,768 beds.  In 2007, there were 
107 travel agencies, and the figure rose to 154 in 2008.  A classification commission, composed of 
representatives of the Government and the hotel industry, is responsible for classifying hotels. 
256. Mali has a wide variety of attractive cultural and natural sites such as the cities of Djenné and 
Timbuktu and Dogon country.  Other attractions in clude the ancient cave paintings on the Bandiagara 
cliff, boat excursions on the Niger and authentic hand icrafts.  This tourism potential is not exploited, 
however, because of the high cost of flights to Mali as well as transport problems within the country. 
                                                      
86 UNDP Mali (2008). 
87 Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Trade (2008). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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257. Mali considers the tourism sector to be a prior ity axis for development.  The Ministry of 
Handicrafts and Tourism and the Malian Tourism and Hotel Board (OMATHO) are responsible for 
promoting tourism in Mali.  In order to encourag e its development, a Tourism and Hotel Investment 
Code gives potential investors benefits such as exemption from the business tax, the BIC tax, and 
customs duty on equipment for up to ten years.88  Tourism establishments and travel agents must 
obtain an authorization to engage in the activity from the single window.89 
Table IV.11 
Key tourism indicators, 2003-2009 
 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
Number of hotels 244 242 251 358 439 514 551  
Number of rooms 3,927 4,659 4,811 5,182 6,012 7,846 8,361  
Number of visitors entering through Bamako 
airport .. .. 126,303 129,876 132,373 135,902 115,500  
Number of arrivals in hotels 147,958 145,188 186,918 200,003 221,328 234,490 204,006  
Number of nights 288,711 343,114 404,874 433,215 507,810 552,784 448,093  
Average duration of stay (number of days) 1.95 2.36 2.03 2.17 2.35 2.36 ..  
Tourism earnings (CFAF millions) 74, 331 76,540 80,000 91,000 110, 000 115,500 103,950  
Tourism investment (CFAF millions ) 1,931 2,469 9,219 16, 545 8,235 7,796 9,114  
Direct jobs 3,650 3,900 4,150 4,804 5,700 6,555 6,982  
Indirect jobs 7,300 7,800 8,300 9,608 11,400 13,110 13,324  
Total jobs 10,950 11,700 12,450 14,412 17,100 19,665 20,298  
.. Not available. 
Source : Malian Tourism and Hotel Board (OMATHO).  
258. Under the GATS, Mali bound without limitations the supply of adu lt education services in the 
crafts subsector;  hotel and restaurant services were also bound, with the exception of cross-border 
supply (not bound because of lack of techni cal feasibility according to the authorities).90 
(vi) Professional and business services 
259. In general, engaging in professional services at  the national level is subject to the following 
conditions:  possession of a State diploma or equi valent diploma in the service for which the 
application is made;  Malian nationality or citizenship of a State granting reciprocity. 
260. The owner of a law firm must be a lawyer.  In Mali, there are some 300 lawyers.  In order to 
plead before the courts, the lawyer must be domici led in Mali.  The fees for legal services can be 
freely fixed. 
261. In order to engage in the medical or midwifer y professions, the candidate must have a State 
diploma or other diploma recognized as equivalent, be over 21 years of age, of Malian nationality or a 
                                                      
88 Law No. 02-015 of 3 June 2002. 
89 Decree No. 96-128/P-RM of 18 April 1996 on the ap proval and operation of tourism establishments;  
Decree No. 96-144/P-RM of 3 May 1996 on conditions for engaging in the profession of travel agent;  Decree 
No. 96-030/P-RM of 25 January 1996 laying down the administrative formalities for creating enterprises;  Decree No. 96-129/P-RM of 18 April 1996 on conditions for engaging in the profession of tourist guide;  and 
Decree No. 04-124/P-RM of 21 April 2004 on conditions for engaging in the profession of travel agent. 
90 WTO document GATS/SC/53 of 30 August 1995. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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citizen of a State granting reciprocity, and be registered with the national medical or midwifery 
association.91 
                                                      
91 Order No. 91-4319 MSPASPF CA8 of 3 October 1991. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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V. AID FOR TRADE 
(1) OVERVIEW  
262. The objective of Mali's Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP) 2007-2011 is 
to achieve average annual growth of 7 per cent (Cha pter I).  For this purpose, Mali has decided to 
integrate trade into its development strategy, in accordance with the recommendations in the 
Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) with a view to implementing the Integrated Framework 
(IF).  Mali thus considers trade to be a tool for growth and poverty reduction. 
263. Mali's GPRSP receives support from major bila teral and multilateral donors grouped together 
since 2008 in the Joint Country Assistance Strategy (JCAS)92 in order to bring their financial support 
into line with the priorities defined by Mali, in cluding those relating to trade.  According to 
OECD statistics, Mali was given support estima ted at US$4,864 million between 2005 and 2008, of 
which Aid for Trade (AFT) represented 37 per cent.  Ma li is the foremost beneficiary of this aid in the 
West African region. 
264. Mali has also benefited from the Enhanced Inte grated Framework (EIF) after establishing its 
Implementation Unit, through which external resour ces were mobilized to finance trade-related 
projects.  Mali has become a pilot country for the IF's TFPs. 
265. For the time being, the 2008 report on the implementation of the GPRSP shows that the major 
obstacles constraining Mali's macroeconomic perfo rmance were mainly failure to diversify 
production, financing problems in the economy, fluctua tions in the price of its main export and import 
products, and the country's landlocked situation.93  AFT94 has therefore become extremely important 
for building trade capacity. 
(2) INTEGRATION OF TRADE INTO THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY  
266. Integrating trade into the national development st rategy is one of the principles that formed 
the basis for the strategy itself;  other principles include accelerating growth by removing major constraints, implementing new sources of growth and integrating the Millennium Development Goals 
(MDG). 
(i)
 National development strategy 
267. The GPRSP proposes three strategic orientations  which together help to achieve strong and 
sustainable growth that reduces poverty (Chapter I):   (i) development of infrastructures and productive 
sectors;  (ii) continuation and consolidation of struct ural reforms;  and (iii) strengthening of the social 
                                                      
92 The JCAS was adopted at the round-table of Mali's donors on 12 and 13 June 2008, in Bamako, and 
signed on 7 December 2009.  The following TFPs have signed this document so far:  Germany, World Bank, 
African Development Bank, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Union, Spain, France, Luxembourg, 
Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and UNDP for all the United Nations system agencies. 
93 Government of the Republic of Mali (2008c), paragraph 40, page 16. 
94 AFT aims to help developing count ries to increase their exports of goods and services and to become 
integrated in the multilateral trading system.  Projects and programmes whose activities have been identified as 
trade-related development priorities in the national strategi es of the beneficiary countries are deemed to be AFT 
activities.  Six categories have been identified as coming un der AFT:  (i) trade policy and regulation;  (ii) trade 
development;  (iii) trade-related infrastructure;  (i v) building up production capacity;  (v) trade-related 
adjustment;  and (vi) other trade-related needs. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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sector.  These three strategic orientations correspond to 14 priority areas95 on which the strategy for 
accelerating growth is based.96  Trade has therefore been given a key role to play that emerges in 
two ways:  firstly, as one of th e axes for priority intervention97, by implementing the 
recommendations in the DTIS and then by identifying trade as an engine for accelerating growth.  The 
Government states in this connection that the objec tive sought is to strengthen the role of trade in 
economic and social development through better in tegration of the country into the regional and 
international market, which means supplying more Malian products.98  In this context, the private 
sector would have a decisive role to  play in catalysing economic growth. 
268. The GPRSP's objectives and priorities are compre hensively included in the 2008-2012 Project 
for Economic and Social Development (PDES) of the President of the Republic99, which is the 
cornerstone for government action. 
(ii) Integrated framework 
269. As an LDC, Mali has been a beneficiary unde r the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related 
Technical Assistance.100  One of the important steps in th is mechanism is the DTIS, which was 
conducted in Mali by the World Bank in 2003-2004.  The DTIS identified the main constraints on the 
expansion of Mali's trade and identified its technical assistance needs.  In its conclusions, the study 
proposes a series of regulatory, institutional and sectoral reforms comprising three major types of 
measure to enhance Mali's competitiveness:  (i) cr oss-sectoral measures to improve the transport 
sector and infrastructure services (road, rail and ai r), modernization of Customs and trade facilitation;  
(ii) sectoral measures for agriculture and ag ro-industry, cultural and tourism activities;  and 
(iii) measures aimed specifically at poverty reduction.101  These measures are based on a series of 
75 measures contained in the action matrix, to be  implemented in the short and medium terms. 
270. The DTIS and its action matrix were endor sed by an interministerial committee in 
February 2005102 and its recommendations were integrated into Mali's latest GPRSP 2007-2011.  Mali 
has submitted a Tier 1 project to update and implement the DTIS in 2010. 
(iii) Supply-side constraints 
271. Despite the economic reforms undertaken since its previous TPR, Mali is still facing many 
constraints and problems that hamper development of  its trade and industrialization (Chapter IV).  
                                                      
95 (i) Food security and rural development;  (ii) development of small and medium-sized enterprises;  
(iii) protection and sustainable management of natural re sources;  (iv) consolidation of public administration 
reform;  (v) continued reform of the business environment;  (vi) development of the financial sector;  
(vii) development of infrastructures;  (viii) promotion of democratic governance and public freedoms;  (ix) capacity building for civil society;  (x) strengthening of regional and sub-regional integration initiatives;  
(xi) creation and promotion of long-te rm jobs;  (xii) improved access to basi c social services;  (xiii) HIV/AIDS 
control;  and (xiv) integration into the multilateral trading system. 
96 Mali ODA online information, "Document de straté gie de croissance accélérée au Mali sur la période 
2008-2012".  Viewed at:  http://www .mali-apd.org/spip.php?article108. 
97 Government of the Republic of Mali (2006), paragraph 8.14. 
98 Government of the Republic of Mali (2006), paragraph 9.2.2. 
99 Government of the Republic of Mali (2007). 
100 This mechanism was set up to help LDCs build up their trade capacity a nd integrate their trade 
priorities into their national global development strategies.  Implementation of the IF comprises four stages:  
(i) preparatory activities;  (ii) a DTIS ;  (iii) a plan to integrate trade strategy into the national development 
strategy;  and (iv) implementation of this plan. 
101 World Bank (2004), pages vii-xvi. 
102 World Bank (2004). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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The following are some of the constraints on its development:  (i) the inadequacy of the basic 
infrastructure (road and rail transport) and its hi gh cost;  (ii) low productivity and high cost of 
production factors;  (iii) insufficient diversification of exports;  (iv) the low level of skills among the 
labour force and the lack of training, information fo r traders and managers;  (v) limited access to bank 
financing;  (vi) the ubiquitous informal trade, pa rticularly with neighbouring countries;  (vii) poor 
quality control;  (viii) lack of expertise in expor ting to foreign markets;  (ix) obsolescent production 
equipment and materials;  (x) a business climate that is still unattractive (weak judicial and fiscal system);  and (xi) limited institutional and administrative capacity. 
(iv)
 Aid-for-Trade needs 
272. Mali's trade strategy is based on developi ng exports through a subsector approach.  
Accordingly, achieving such an objective requires a sufficiently high level of AFT to remove the 
constraints on trade by building up capacity. 
273. In the AFT questionnaire103 the Government identified the areas for intervention which it 
deemed to be priorities.  In order of impor tance these are:  (i) diversifying exports;  
(ii) competitiveness;  (iii) analysis of trade policies, negotiations and implementation of trade 
agreements;  and (iv) network infrastructure (el ectricity, water and telecommunications).  These 
choices are consistent with the priority  areas for intervention in its GPRSP. 
274. The major stakeholders, the State (govern ment departments and government entities 
responsible for trade) and the private sector have also drawn up a list of their technical assistance 
needs, laying particular emphasis on building hum an and institutional capacity, including training, 
which are still among the major obstacles to the c ountry's development.  The technical assistance 
provided by the WTO is acknowledged to play an esse ntial role in this regard.  Despite the efforts 
made by the Government to implement the WT O Agreements, the need for training on these 
Agreements and on matters relating to the DDA nego tiations is still felt among actors in the public 
and private sectors.  Contacts with the customs au thorities have shown that training in implementing 
the Customs Valuation Agreement is necessary in or der to familiarize customs officers with its use 
(Chapter III).  Likewise, observance of sanitary a nd phytosanitary standards and rules still raises 
problems for the national standardization bodies, and th ere is a need for training in applying the SPS 
and TBT Agreements and on notifications in these areas .  Mali continues to find it difficult to meet its 
notification obligations (Chapter II).  Overall,  support from the WTO Secretariat on these various 
issues is indispensable. 
275. Some public bodies (those responsible for tr ade and tourism) and institutions providing 
trade-related support have also dr awn attention to the need for equipment in order to fulfil their 
responsibilities.  In addition, the forthcomi ng creation of Mali's export promotion agency 
(APEX-Mali104) will require financial and technical backing from Mali's TFPs, as well as the State, in 
order to provide support for all its activities. 
                                                      
103 OECD online information, "Questionnaire sur l'Aide pour le commerce destiné aux pays partenaires, 
2009 - Mali".  Viewed at:  http://w ww.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/3/43193056.pdf. 
104 The draft texts on the creation, organization and rules for the operation of APEX-Mali were 
awaiting ratification at the time this re port was drawn up (law and decree). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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(3) AID-FOR-TRADE ASSISTANCE TO MALI 
(i) Overview of development aid flows in the economy 
276. OECD statistics show that the volume of offi cial development assistance (ODA) more than 
doubled between 2005 and 2008, from US$711 million to US$1,461 million in 2007, a 105 per cent 
increase.  There has, however, been a slight fa ll in ODA to US$1,266 million.  More than 40 donors 
are present in Mali.105  A large share of this aid goes to th e health, education and rural development 
sectors.  For donors, the main channels of financ ing are projects/programmes, which remain the most 
commonly used method, absorbing 73 per cent of aggregate financing over the period 2008-2011, while budget support currently accounts for 25 per cent of the aggregate volume of aid for 
2008-2011.
106  The Government would, however, like to see more generalized budget support in order 
to make it a preferred financing instrument.107 
277. Mali's GPRSP has received extensive backing from its TFPs.  This was expressed at the end 
of the 6th Round Table Conference of Donors in May 2008108, when donors undertook to support Mali 
by announcing financing of US$6. 4 billion for the period 2008-2012.109  Support for the GPRSP can 
also be seen in the adoption of the JCAS110 by Mali's TFPs, the main objective of which is to give 
Mali support in the implementation of its GPRSP by bri nging their financial backing into line with the 
country's priorities. 
278. Mali benefited on several occasions from spec ial financial aid programmes under the HIPC 
initiative between 2003 and 2009 a nd the MDRI (Chapter I(2)). 
(ii) Overview of Aid for Trade 
279. According to the database on aid activities in the OECD's Creditor Reporting System (CRS) 
(Table V.1), the total amount of AFT commitments for Mali was US$886 million111 over the period 
2005-2008. 
Table V.1 
Flows of Aid for Trade:  CRS auxiliary dataa, 2005-2008 
(ODA:  US$ million, 2008 constant prices) 
CRS code Commitments 
 2005 2006 2007 2008 
Trade policy and regulation, and trade-related adjustment      
33110 Trade policy and administrativ e management 7.21 5.41 0.37 6.56 
33120 Trade facilitati on 6.47  7.21 5.14 
33130 Regional trade agreements (RTAs) 0.00 0.69 0.00 26.20 
                                                      
105 Online information from the Round Table Conference of Mali's Donors.  Viewed at:  
http://www.tablerondemali2008.org /html/participants.htm#2. 
106 Government of the Republic of Mali (2008d), page 31. 
107 Government of the Republic of Mali (2008c).  Framework or specific agreements on budget support 
have been signed since 2007.  To date, ten donors have signed:  African Development Bank, World Bank, 
European Union, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg. 
108 Online information from the Round Table Conference of Mali's Donors.  Viewed at:  
http://www.tablerondemali2008.org/. 
109 Round table communiqué, 2008. 
110 Government of the Republic of Mali (2008d), page 20. 
111 Figures obtained by adding the amounts of the commitments under "Total Aid for Trade" in the 
OECD table for the Creditor Reporting System.  The amount for the period 2002-2005 has been multiplied by 
four. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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CRS code Commitments 
 2005 2006 2007 2008 
33140 Multilateral trade nego tiations 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
33150 Trade-related adjustment 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
33181 Trade education/training 0.00 0.00 0.1 0.09 
 Subtotal 13.69 6.10 7.68 38 
Economic infrastructure     
21010 to 21081 Transport and storage 61.46 9.69 243.26 363.96 
22010 to 22040 Communications 1.51 0.47 0.21 0.47 
23010 to 23082 Energy generati on and supply 7.25 37.57 13.49 35.45 
 Subtotal 70.22 47.73 256.96 399.88 
Building productive capacity     
25010 Business support services a nd institutions 26. 46 1.16 39.59 6.44 
24010 to 24081 Banking and financia l services 21.77 6.13 25.38 24.69 
31110 to 31195 Agriculture 142.86 88.83 332.79 114.85 
31210 to 31291 Forestry 0.00 0.00 2.07 0.00 
31310 to 31391 Fishing 0.20 0.06 0.05 0.52 
32110 to 32182 Industry 13.30 4.42 114.06 4.69 
32210 to 32268 Mineral resources and mining 6.66 0.00 0.00 0.00 
33210 Tourism 0.11 0.03 0.33 0.39 
 Subtotal 211.36 100.63 514.27 151.58 
Total Aid for Trade 295 154 779 589 
Share of total ODA (%) 27 14 53 46 
Memorandum item:  Total ODA 1,083 1,054 1,461 1,266 
Memorandum item:  Population (million) 13.5 31.06 31.62 32.18 
a The AFT commitments may differ from the actual payments for several reasons, including the time-frame for payment. 
Source : OECD online information.  Viewed at:  http://www.oecd.org/document/21/0,3343,en_2649_34665_ 
43230357_1_1_1_1,00.html.  
280. The six major AFT donors in 2006-2007 were the United States of America 
(US$198.4 million), the World Bank (US$48.8 milli on), Denmark (US$28.1 million), the African 
Development Bank (US$21.6 million), France (U S$17.4 million) and the European Union 
(US$17.3 million).  These alone contributed 90.4 per cent of total AFT for Mali.  Table V.2 gives an 
overview of donors' action for Mali. 
Table V.2 
Operations by donors 
Donors Overview 
United States: 
United States Agency for 
International Development 
(USAID), Millennium 
Challenge Account (Millennium 
Challenge Corporation) The USAID assistance programme between 2007 and 2 009 focused on four sectors:  (i) accelerated 
economic growth with emphasis on rural development;  (ii) hea lth;  (iii) education;  and 
(iv) governance and communication.  USAID is the donors’ facilitator for the EIF.  Mali has been 
eligible for the Millennium Challenge Acc ount (MCC) since 2007.  The MCC has signed an 
agreement with Mali for US$460 million for the period 2007-2012.  This programme is built around 
three major projects:  (i) the modernization of  Bamako-Sénou airport;  (ii) development of the 
corridor for regional and international trade;  and ( iii) development of the ag ricultural potential of the 
Niger River. 
World Bank: 
Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) 2008-2011 The World Bank's portfolio, financed by the Inte rnational Development Association (IDA), supports 
a number of projects for a total commitment of  US$594.3 million.  Its intervention focuses on:  
(i) growth catalyzed by the private sector by ta ckling the major constraints such as productivity, 
energy, transport and finance;  (ii) governance;   and (iii) capacity building.  The World Bank 
participates in the joint budget support. 
Denmark: 
Bilateral cooperation for the 
period 2006-2011 Bilateral cooperation focuses on three priority sectors:   (i) agriculture (20 to 25 per cent);  (ii) job 
promotion in the private sector ( 20 to 25 per cent);  and (iii) water and sanitation (25 to 35 per cent).  
It has a financial envelope of Dkr 800 million, or CFAF 70 billion for the period 2006-2011 and is 
based on the strategic orientations of Mali’s GPRSP.   Denmark also participates in the joint budget 
support. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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Donors Overview 
African Development Bank 
(AfDB): 
Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2005-2009 The Bank Group's assistance strategy for Mali is base d on two pillars:  (i) enhancing competitiveness 
and private investment;  and (ii) building capacity  and participation by the poor in growth.  The 
expected results from the RBCSP are:  (i) greater  macroeconomic stability and good governance;  (ii) 
a more attractive business and investment climate in  the private sector;  (iii) continuation of the 
deconcentration and decentralizati on process;  (iv) better access by  vulnerable groups to production 
factors and jobs;  and (v) improved access to basic social services for vulnerable groups.  The AfDB 
also participates in the joint budget support. 
France: 
France-Mali Framework 
Partnership Agreement 2006-2010 and French Development Agency (AFD) In accordance with the direction given in the Framework Partne rship Agreement signed between 
France and Mali in July 2006, AFD focuses on three sectors for action:  (i) development of the 
productive sector by removing obstacles to deve lopment of the private sector, supporting the 
development of agriculture, inter alia , to ensure food security;  (ii) water and sanitation, giving the 
population permanent access to public drinking wate r services, and developing public sanitation 
services;  and (iii) education, by improving access to education, the quality of teaching and 
supporting the vocational training sector.  France also takes part in the joint budget support. 
European Union: 
Country Strategy Paper for Mali 
and European Development Fund The European Union gives Mali support through th e European Development Fund (EDF).  For the 
period 2008-2013, the 10
th EDF earmarked €560 million to fina nce two particular sectors:  
(i) governance;  and (ii) economic development of th e Niger delta regions.  The European Union also 
participates in the joint budget support. 
Source : WTO Secretariat.  
281. Between 2005 and 2008, the three areas that recei ved the majority of AFT were:  agriculture, 
with US$679 million, followed closely by transport and storage, with US$678 million, and manufacturing, with US$136 million.  The sectors that received the most aid correspond in part to the priority areas for action identified by Mali in its re plies to the AFT questionnaire in order to improve 
its capacity to take advantage of the expansion of  trade and its integration into the global economy.
112 
282. In addition, the share of AFT rose considerably between 2005 and 2007, from 27 to 53 per 
cent of ODA.  There was, however, a slight fall in 2008.  This raises the recurring problem of the predictability of aid.  In the light of these figures , Mali for its part considered that it was unable to 
indicate whether the OECD profile (CRS) correctly quantified AFT received in 2006-2007
113 in the 
absence of a clear definition of AFT. 
283. At the same time, as part of its reform of the cotton subsector, which aims at making it more 
competitive, Mali received specific development aid for cotton amounting to US$75 million.114 
(iii) Trade-related technical assistance 
284. Capacity building is one of Mali's main concerns in the reform of a large number of its sectors 
as part of the country's strategy to diversify its ex port products and markets.  The technical assistance 
given by Mali's bilateral and multilateral partners is in line with these goals. 
(a) Technical assistance to build institutional and human capacity 
285. The WTO Secretariat has provided Mali wi th numerous technical assistance and 
capacity-building activities.  For example, since 2005 Mali has taken part in 41 activities at both 
national and regional levels.  Activitie s at the national level related in particular to agriculture (2008), 
evaluation of trade facilitation needs (2008), and the TRIPS Agreement (2009).  Training seminars 
have also been organized on trade negotiating t echniques (2007), competition policy (2007), trade and 
                                                      
112 OECD online information, "Questionnaire sur l'Aide pour le commerce destiné aux pays partenaires, 
2009 - Mali".  Viewed at:  http://w ww.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/3/43193056.pdf. 
113 Idem.  
114 Director-General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton, evolving table, 8th version, 
WT/CFMC/6/Rev.7 of 9 November 2009, page 16. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 330 
 
 
development (2008), as well as on trade, the financial crisis and development (2009).  
Parliamentarians and the private sector took pa rt in a workshop on subsidies and countervailing 
measures in 2009.  At the regional level, Mali par ticipated in a number of workshops and seminars on 
WTO-related topics.115  A number of Malian officials have re ceived training in Geneva at special 
thematic courses116, the three-month trade policy courses and introductory courses for LDCs. 
286. Mali has also benefited from capacity-buildin g programmes provided by other multilateral 
and regional organizations such as the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, 
WAEMU and ECOWAS, the International Organisati on of la Francophonie (OIF), and the Economic 
Commission for Africa (ECA).  Most  of these activities were in the form of trade policy courses, 
focusing mainly on the Doha Development Agenda .  Since 2006, Mali has also benefited from the 
presence of a national trade policy counsellor under the OIF Hub & Spokes project. 
(b) Technical assistance to build export capacity 
287. Since 2005, a number of projects in the DTIS action matrix have been implemented through 
the Integrated Framework Programme Implementati on Unit (IF-PIU).  Most of the projects submitted 
under Window II focus on the building of export capacity.  The majority have been carried out by 
Mali's development partners when implementing the EIF.117  They include the mango marketing 
support project, which began in January 2007118 with the overall objective of enhancing the 
competitiveness of the mango subsector.  The completi on of this project will increase the volume of 
mango exports119, raise producers' incomes and provide better training for producers in good 
agricultural practices and techni ques.  Another complementary a nd equally important project for 
building export capacity is project STDF 146 on upgrading the application of sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures for the development of Mali's trade in fruit and vegetables.  This project has 
two objectives:  (i) to develop Mali's capacity for ph ytosanitary control of plant products in order to 
comply more fully with international standards for imports and exports;  and (ii) to raise the incomes 
of producers in the south of Mali by diversifying  products, thereby helping to improve the market 
quality of mangoes.120 
                                                      
115 The topics covered by these regional activities in cluded, inter alia, agriculture, non-agricultural 
market access (NAMA), services, trad e negotiating techniques, dispute se ttlement, trade facilitation, TRIPS, 
trade and development, and regional trade agreements. 
116 These concern the following them es:  trade negotiations course;  agricultural notifications;  trade 
and environment;  TRIPS and public health;  technical barriers to trade (international standards, good practice, 
trade information);  sanitary and phytosanitary measures (transparency);  and trade facilitation. 
117 WTO, World Bank, IMF, ITC and UNDP, French Development Agency (AFD), OIF, European 
Union and USAID. 
118 This project was formerly called "Support to impr ove the quality of mangoes for export".  Viewed 
at:  http://www.integratedframework.org/project_3.php. 
119 The volume of mango exports rose from 2,915 tonnes in 2005 to 4,521 tonnes in 2006, 8,517 tonnes 
in 2007 and 12,676 tonnes in 2008, an increase of 330 per cent over the period. 
120 Integrated Framework, online information.  Viewed at:  http://www.integratedframework. 
org/project_5.php. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
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(4) MATCHING NEEDS AND ASSISTANCE  
(i) National coordination mechanisms 
(a) Official development assistance121 
288. Mali receives a large volume of ODA, which is c oordinated overall by several ministries:  the 
Ministry of the Economy and Finance, the Ministry of  Industry, Investment and Trade, the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Prime Minister's Office.  In practice, the 
dispersion of decision-making centres for managing aid among these ministries has highlighted the weaknesses of the coordination mechanism and the lack  of leadership in the Government.  In order to 
overcome these weaknesses, Mali has accordingly taken measures to implement the principles of the 
Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, pursu ant to which a National Action Plan for Aid 
Effectiveness 2007-2009
122 has been adopted.  The principal objective of this plan is to strengthen the 
national coordination mechanism through joint implem entation by Mali and its TFPs.  It has been 
used as the basis for introducing an institutional aid management mechanism,  which has led to the 
creation of the Aid Harmonization Secretariat (SHA)123, responsible for programming, allocating and 
monitoring aid.124  Another of the Secretariat's tasks is to  foster dialogue with TFPs in order to 
achieve better coordination of aid by the Governme nt.  Alongside this, a technical donors' forum has 
been set up to harmonize the aid and follow up the action plan in liaison with the SHA.  The 
coordination mechanism among donors has also been reinforced by the adoption of the Common Country Assistance Strategy (CCAS) for the period 2008-2011
125, intended to help to bring the 
support into line and in harmony with the GPRSP.126 
(b) Aid for Trade 
289. The Integrated Framework Steering Committ ee is responsible for coordination and 
implementation of the strategy to integrate trade into the national development policy.  The Steering 
Committee is chaired by the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Trade and brings together all the sectoral ministries
127, represented by their secretaries-general, representatives of the private sector128, 
the National Directorate for Development Pla nning, the Public Debt Service and the SHA.129  T h e  
purpose of the Steering Committee is therefore to coordinate all major trade-related technical 
assistance programmes.  Accordingly, it follows up  implementation of the sectoral action plans and 
                                                      
121 Mali ODA, online information.  Viewed at:  http://www.mali-apd.org/index.php. 
122 Government of the Republic of Mali (2008b). 
123 An interministerial body chaired by the Ministry of Finance and created by Order 
No. 07 1486/MEF-SG of 12 June 2007. 
124 Government of the Republic of Mali (2008a), page 8. 
125 Online information from the Round Table Conference of Mali's Donors.  Viewed at:  
http://www.tablerondemali2008.org/. 
126 The CCAS has four objectives:  (i) to support implementation of the GPRSP by bringing donors' 
support into line with the priorities defined in the GP RSP and the ten-year MDG impl ementation plan;  (ii) to 
improve the overall effectiveness of aid to the Government of Mali;  (iii) to develop a framework for dialogue 
based on partnership by improving the existing coordination/consultation frameworks and mechanisms;  and 
(iv) to develop a coordinated approach to capacity building (systems/procedures) at the national level. 
127 The secretaries-general of the Ministries responsi ble for the economy, industry and trade, finance, 
agriculture, livestock and fisheries, handicrafts and tour ism, infrastructure and transport, mining, energy and 
water resources, and communication and new information technology. 
128 The professional chambers, namely, the Chambe r of Commerce and Industry, the National Council 
of Malian Employers and other trade associations. 
129 OECD online information, "Questionnaire sur l'Aide pour le commerce destiné aux pays partenaires, 
2009 - Mali".  Viewed at:  http://w ww.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/3/43193056.pdf. WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 332 
 
 
capacity-building programmes adopted by Mali and its partners.  It also coordinates action by 
government departments, the private sector and civ il society for the implementation of the EIF and, 
when necessary, evaluates the integr ation of trade into the strategi c framework for poverty reduction.  
In practice, the implementation of trade-related tec hnical assistance programmes is carried out by the 
IF-PIU, supervised by the national focal point (the national director of trade and competition) through 
the national coordinator of the IF project.  In addition, Mali has submitted an EIF Tier 1 project 
intended, inter alia , to build human capacity in the PIU. 
290. Dialogue between Mali and its TFPs concerning th e trade integration strategy takes place in 
several different consultation frameworks, including the annual review of the GPRSP at the bilateral 
or regional level, and also in connection with th e World Bank's CAS.  Nevertheless, Mali prefers the 
round-table process with donors (held in 2004, 2006 a nd 2008) to deal specifically with its trade 
priorities. 
(ii) Monitoring and evaluation 
(a) Aid monitoring 
291. Between 2005 and 2008, the flow of ODA to Ma li was an average of US$1,216 million, 
making it the largest beneficiary of ODA before Burkin a Faso and Benin.  The aid is still considered 
to be insufficient, however, by the authorities, in  order to achieve the GPRSP and MDG objectives.  
Although 80 per cent of Mali's development projects are financed by external aid, aid management 
comes up against constraints that prevent it from being absorbed by the GPRSP's priority sectors.  The constraints identified by Mali include the limited ca pacity of government departments to implement 
the GPRSP and the sectoral programmes, which can be  seen in the lack of control over disbursement 
and government procurement procedures.  There is also no aid management system.  On the donor side, emphasis has been laid on the complex disbur sement procedures, which vary from one donor to 
another and are sometimes linke d to conditionality, for example the numerous triggers which, 
according to the authorities, are sometimes difficult to achieve. 
292.
 Bearing in mind all these recurring factors, which do not give the Malian authorities any real 
predictability for ODA, the so-called "traditiona l" TFPs have drawn up a medium-term 2010-2012 
resources framework (CRMT)130, which sets out their action and fi nancing in support of the GPRSP, 
giving a timetable for estimated disbursement ove r this period, in line with Mali's own financing 
timetable.  On the Government side, the SHA is responsible for setting up a national aid management 
system, as envisaged in its 2010 work programme, in  order to ensure better and more efficient 
management of external aid. 
(b) Evaluation of development tools 
293. The latest annual mid-term review of the GP RSP conducted during the first half of 2010131 is 
the subject of an evaluation report that mainly focu ses on an examination of the main possible sources 
of growth to reduce poverty, as well as the constrai nts on growth.  In any event, the report noted that 
the objectives set in the GPRSP have only been met in part.  It therefore put forward a number of 
recommendations for the Government and the TFPs.  Among these, it is suggested that in the short 
term the Government should better classify the pr iorities for its accelerated growth strategy.  The 
Government and the TFPs should also  facilitate access to credit by the private sector by setting up a 
guarantee fund and a national investment fund.  It is  further proposed that investment be encouraged 
in sectors that are labour intensive, for which Mali has comparative advantages (agricultural and 
                                                      
130 Mali ODA, online information.  Viewed at:  http://www.mali-apd.or g/spip.php?article81. 
131 Mid-term review of the GPRSP, "Growth" ad hoc Group, provisional text of 5 May 2010. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 333 
 
 
agrifood sectors) and that export subsectors that have a direct impact on producers' incomes should be 
developed.  In the medium term, the report also  recommends the development of vocational training 
in promising sectors;  surcharges on environm entally unfriendly activities;  the promotion of 
environmentally friendly activities;  and a be tter institutional environment for business. 
294. The implementation of the projects/programmes in  the DTIS action matrix has not yet been 
evaluated.  This is planned, however, in connec tion with the Tier 1 project recently submitted by 
Mali, which includes among its actions upda ting of the DTIS and its action matrix. 
(5) OUTLOOK FOR AID FOR TRADE  
295. Although Mali is the largest beneficiary of AFT in West Africa, AFT only represents 37 per 
cent of ODA and is deemed insufficient in view of  Mali's substantial trade development needs.  
Indeed, Mali continues to face ove rwhelming structural and external  constraints.  Because of the 
efforts made in its national aid reform policy si nce 2006, the TFPs have responded favourably to its 
concerns by bringing their financial support into line with the GPRSP.  As a result, the CRMT for 
2010-2012 envisages that an average of 43.1 per cen t of all financial supp ort will be devoted to 
developing infrastructure and the production sector, and then to reinforcing the social sector (28 per 
cent) and pursuing structural reform (13.8 per cent) .  The Government noted with satisfaction in the 
AFT 2009 questionnaire the effectiveness of this aid in  building trade capacity in three priority areas:  
(i) diversification of exports;  (ii) competitiveness;  and (iii) analysis of trade policies, negotiations 
and implementation of trade agreements.132  The Government emphasizes that the AFT it receives 
would be more effective if its financing were more predictable and directed more towards budget 
support. 
296. In order to give Mali more effective support in  implementing its GPRSP,  its traditional donors 
endorsed the 2008-2011 JCAS document.133  This assistance strategy is a collective response 
involving financial support for Mali and is the culm ination of a coordination process begun by donors 
in 2002 with the preparation of the CSLP for 2002-2006 and underpinned by the Aid Effectiveness Action Plan in 2007. 
297.
 As regards the choice of financial instruments for aid, donors have stated that they prefer to 
see an increase in budget support as the Government's  preferred method of financing, while leaving 
room in the JCAS for other approaches (proj ect support) and additional forms of financing.134  In this 
document, the donors also state that external aid will  not suffice to meet Mali's  considerable needs so 
Mali must make efforts to mobilize internal resources.135 
 
                                                      
132 OECD online information, "Questionnaire sur l'Aide pour le commerce destiné aux pays partenaires, 
2009 - Mali".  Viewed at:  http://w ww.oecd.org/dataoecd/26/3/43193056.pdf. 
133 Government of the Republic of Mali (2008d). 
134 Ibid., pages 25-26. 
135 Ibid., page 37. Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 335 
 
 
REFERENCES 
 
World Bank (2004), Draft Diagnostic Trade Integra tion Study (DTIS):  Expanding and Diversifying 
Trade for Growth and Poverty Reduction.  Viewed  at:  http://aa5stage/integratedframework/files/ 
english/Mali_dtis_17nov04.pdf. 
 Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) (2007), "
Perspectives économiques des États de 
l'UEMOA en 2007 - Choc pétrolier et enjeux énergétiques " (Economic outlook for WAEMU States in 
2007 - Oil shock and energy issues), February. 
 
Malian Copyright Bureau (BUMDA) (2009), Rapport annuel d'activité de l'exercice 2008  (Annual 
activity report 2008), Bamako.  United Nations Conference on Trade a nd Development (UNCTAD) (2007), Review 
of Maritime 
Transport, 2006 , June.  Viewed at:  http://www. unctad.org/en/docs/rmt2006_en.pdf. 
 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2008), Mali:  Revue du secteur 
avicole  (Mali:  Poultry sector review), 1 December version.  Viewed at:  
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fa o/011/ai353f/ai353f00.pdf. 
 
International Monetary Fund (IMF) (2010), Mali - Third Review under the Th ree-Year Arrangement 
under the Extended Credit Facility and Request for a Modification of Performance Criteria, Country 
Report No. 10/64.  Viewed at:  http:// www.imf.org/external/pubs /ft/scr/2010/cr1064.pdf. 
 Giron, L. (2007), 
Market Access for Women Producing Karité Butter in Mali .  Viewed at:  
http://www.cosude.admin.ch/ress ources/resource_en_150857.pdf. 
 
Government of the Republic of Mali (2006), Cadre stratégique pour la croissance et la réduction de 
la pauvreté (CSCRP) - 2007-2011  (Strategic framework for growth and poverty reduction 
2007-2011).  Viewed at:  http:// www.unpei.org/PDF/Mali-CSLP.pdf. 
 
Government of the Republic of Mali (2007), Programme de développement économique et 
social (PDES)  (Economic and social development programme).  Viewed at:  
http://www.pcda-mali.org/IMG/pdf/PDES_ATT-2.pdf.  Government of the Republic of Mali (2008a), 
Document de synthèse pour la  table ronde des bailleurs 
de fonds du Mali  (Compilation document for the Mali fundi ng round table), May.  Viewed at:  
http://www.tablerondemali2008.o rg/html/docsynthese.pdf. 
 Government of the Republic of Mali (2008b), 
Plan d'action sur l'efficacité  de l'aide au développement  
(Action plan for development aid effectiveness).  Viewed at:  http://www.tablerondemali2008.org/html/Plannational.pdf. 
 
Government of the Republic of Mali (2008c), 
Rapport de mise en œuvre du cadre stratégique pour la 
croissance et la réduction de la pauvreté (CSCRP) - 2007-2011  (Report on the implementation of the 
strategic framework for growth  and poverty reduction 2007-2011). 
 
Government of the Republic of Mali (2008d), Stratégie commune d'assistance pays - Mali (SCAP) 
pour la période 2008-2011  (Common country assistance strategy - Mali, 2008-2011), Bamako.  
Viewed at:  http://www.tablerondemali2008.org/html/SCAP.pdf.  WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
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Koné, M. (2007), L'expérience du Mali  (Mali's experience), Report of the expert meeting on regional 
cooperation in transit transport:  Solutions fo r landlocked and transit developing countries, 
27-28 September, UNCTAD, Geneva.  Viewed a t:  http://www.unctad.org/sections/wcmu/docs/ 
c3em30p03_fr.pdf. 
 
Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (2007), Programme quinquennal d'am énagements aquacoles au 
Mali  (Five-year Malian aquaculture programme), Bamako. 
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Rapport sur la situation économique et sociale du Mali 
en 2008 et les perspectives pour 2009  (Report on the economic and social situation in Mali in 2008 
and the outlook for 2009), Bamako.  Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Trade (2008), 
Stratégie nationale et plan d'actions pour la 
micro-finance 2008-2012  (National micro-finance strategy a nd action plan 2008-2012), May.  Viewed 
at:  http://www.lamicrofinance.org/files/ 22467_file_PLAN_D_ACTIONS_MALI.doc (2 March 
2010). 
 Ministry of Industry and Trade (2004), 
Document de politique d'industrialisation du Mali  (Document 
on Mali's industrialization policy), Bamako.  
Ministry of Industry and Trade (2006), 
Recensement industriel 2006  (2006 Industrial census), 
Bamako.  Mission de restructuration du secteur coton (Missi on for Reorganization of the Cotton Sector, MRSC) 
(2009), 
Privatisation des filiales de la CMDT  (Privatization of Malian Textile Development Company 
subsidiaries), Mémorandum d'information (Information memorandum), Bamako. 
 
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2008), Rapport sur le développement humain:  
Micro-finance et réduction de la pauvreté au Mali  (Human development report, "Micro-finance and 
poverty reduction in Mali"), Bamako.  
Schlumberger, C.  E. (2009), 
The Implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision , February.  Viewed 
at:  http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/R/ ?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=40822&local_ 
base=GEN01-MCG02.  United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2010), 
Observatoire 
mondial de lutte contre la piraterie - Mali  (World Anti-Piracy Observatory - Mali).  Viewed at:  
http://www.unesco.org/culture/pdf/mali_cp_fr.  United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (2009), 
Mali Oilseeds 
and Products Update .  Viewed at:  http://www.fas.us da.gov/gainfiles/ 200902/146327265.pdf. 
  
 APPENDIX TABLES Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 339 
 
 
 Table AI.1 Structure of imports, 2002-2008 
(US$ million and per cent) 
 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
Total imports (US$ million) 927.2 1, 271.1 1,364.4 1, 543.6 1,819.8 2, 184.8 3,338.9 
 (Percentage share) 
Total primary products 36.7 37.2 36.0 41.6 42.1 38.0 34.9 
Agriculture 18.4 18.7 14.2 17.0 17.7 15.3 12.9 
Food 17.7 18.0 13.7 16.5 17.3 14.8 12.4 
0423 Rice, semi-milled or wholly mill ed 3.6 3.0 1.5 3.9 2.2 1.8 2.0 
0612 Other beet or cane sugar and pure sucrose, 
in solid form 2.9 2.8 1.1 1.9 1.7 1.6 1.3 
4222 Palm oil and its fractions 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.4 1.3 
0985 Soups and broths and preparations therefor 1.3 1.8 1.3 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0 
0222 Milk and cream, concentrated or sweetened 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.4 1.2 0.9 
1222 Cigarettes containing tobacco 1.4 1.0 1.8 1. 6 1.2 1.0 0.9 
0989 Food preparations, n.e.s. 1.9 1.7 1.1 1.3 1.1 1.3 0.8 
Agricultural raw materials 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.4 
Mining 18.3 18.5 21.7 24.6 24.4 22.7 22.1 
Fuels 17.5 17.6 21.1 24.1 23.9 22.2 21.4 
Manufactures 63.0 62.5 63.7 58.2 57.4 61.7 64.9 
Iron and steel 3.3 3.9 3.6 4.4 3.8 4.1 4.3 
6761 Bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly 
wound coils, of iron or steel 0.8 1.1 0.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4 
Chemicals 17.9 15.5 17.4 16.6 13.9 15.5 14.1 
5429 Medicaments (including veterinary 
medicaments), n.e.s. 3.5 3.2 4.5 2.8 3.2 4.6 2.6 
5621 Mineral or chemical fertilizers, n itrogenous 2.0 1.4 1. 1 3.0 2.0 1.0 2.6 
5629 Fertilizers, n.e. s. 3.5 2.6 2.9 2.9 2.4 1.5 1.1 
5416 Glycosides;  glands or other organs;  
antisera, vaccines and similar produc ts 0.5 0.4 0.9 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.8 
Other semi-manufactures 11.9 11.6 13.0 12.8 11.8 11.7 14.1 
6612 Hydraulic cements, whether or not coloured 
or in the form of clinkers 5.2 5.1 6.6 5.3 4.3 5.3 5.3 
6996 Articles of iron or steel, n.e.s. 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.9 0.7 1.1 
Machinery and transport equipment 24.2 26.0 22.4 19.1 22.4 24.5 25.8 
Power-generating machinery 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.7 
7165 Generating sets 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.9 
Other non-electrical machinery 8.8 9.0 6.0 7.4 7.2 8.3 10.4 
7239 Parts, n.e.s., of the machinery of group 723 
and of subgroup 744.3 1.9 1.8 1.6 1.3 1.5 2.1 1.9 
7283 Machinery (other than machine tools) for 
sorting earth, stone, etc. 0.9 0.8 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.9 0.9 
Office machines and telecommunications equipment 2.3 3.6 4.7 2.6 4.4 3.5 2.4 
Other electrical machinery 2.6 2.3 1.8 1.4 1.8 3.3 3.4 
Automotive products 7.7 8.3 6.5 5.3 6.4 5.9 5.6 
7812 Motor vehicles for the transport of persons, 
n.e.s. 3.1 3.0 3.3 2.2 2.6 2.4 2.2 
7821 Motor vehicles for the transport of goods 3.0 3.4 1.5 1.8 2.3 2.0 1.8 
Other transport equipment 2.4 2.4 2.9 1.7 1.9 2.0 2.1 
Textiles 1.5 1.4 1. 8 1.5 1.3 2.3 1.8 
Clothing 0.5 0.6 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.8 
Other consumer goods 3.7 3.5 4.4 3.1 3.4 3.2 4.0 
Other 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2 
Source : WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from the UNSD Comtra de database (SITC Rev. 3). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 340 
 
 
Table AI.2 
Structure of exports, 2002-2008 
(US$ million and per cent) 
Description 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
Total exports (US$ million) 852.2 1, 007.4 987.5 1,075.1 1, 526.1 1,440. 6 1,918.3 
 (Percentage share) 
Total primary products 24.4 40.5 43.2 31.0 23.2 21.5 19.4 
Agriculture 23.3 39.9 42.8 30.4 22.5 20.8 17.7 
Food 5.2 5.1 6.8 6.0 5.8 7.0 7.0 
0011 Bovine animals, live 2.4 3.2 4.0 1.0 2.8 4.1 4.1 
0012 Sheep and goats, live 2.0 0.7 1.5 2.1 0.6 1.3 1.7 
0579 Fruit, fresh or dried, n.e.s. 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 
Agricultural raw materials 18.1 34.8 35.9 24.5 16.7 13.8 10.6 
2631 Cotton (other than linters), not carded 
or combed 17.9 34.6 35.7 24.4 16.6 13.8 10.6 
Mining 1.0 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.7 1.7 
Ores and other minerals 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 
Fuels 1.0 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.5 1.5 
   
Manufactures 4.0 3.0 5.1 4.3 2.4 3.2 5.5 
Iron and steel 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Chemicals 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.5 1.5 
5629 Fertilizers, n.e. s. 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.9 
Other semi-manufactures 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 
Machinery and transport equipment 2.5 1.9 2.9 2.4 1.3 1.9 3.1 
Power-generating machinery 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Other non-electrical machinery 1.0 0.5 1.4 1.2 0.5 1.1 1.5 
7232 Mechanical shovels, excavators and 
shovel-loaders, self-propelled 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 
7239 Parts, n.e.s., of the machinery of group 
723 and of subgroup 744.3 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.3 
7231 Bulldozers, angledozers, graders and 
levellers, self-propelled 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.3 
7233 Machinery for moving, grading, 
levelling or scraping, etc., 
self-propelled, n.e.s. 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 
Office machines and telecommunications equipment 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 
Other electrical machinery 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 
7781 Batteries and electric accumulators, and 
parts thereof 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Automotive products 0.6 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.3 1.1 
7821 Motor vehicles for the transport of 
goods 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.9 
Other transport equipment 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2 
Textiles 0.2 0.1 1. 2 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.2 
6523 Other woven fabrics,  containing 85% or 
more by weight of cotton, bleached, dyed, printed or otherwise finished, weighing not more than 200 g./m
2 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 
Other consumer goods 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 
8933 Floor coverings, wall or ceiling 
coverings and household and toilet 
articles of plastics 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Other 71.6 56.4 51.7 64.7 74.4 75.3 75.2 
Gold 71.4 56.2 51.1 64.5 74.2 75.1 74.9 
9710 Gold, non-monetary (excluding gold 
ores and concentrates) 71.4 56.2 51.1 64.5 74.2 75.1 74.9 
Source : WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from the UNSD Comtra de database (SITC Rev. 3). Mali WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1 
 Page 341 
 
 
 Table AI.3 
Origin of imports, 2002-2008 
(US$ million and per cent) 
 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
World (US$ million) 927.2 1,271.1 1,364.4 1,543.6 1,819.8 2,184.8 3,338.9 
 (Percentage share) 
America 6.8 8.3 6.1 8.4 8.3 6.3 9.3 
USA 3.6 4.8 3.4 4.7 5.0 3.7 6.6 
Other America 3.1 3.4 2.7 3.6 3.3 2.6 2.6 
Brazil 2.3 2.7 1.3 2.6 2.1 1.7 1.8 
        
Europe 34.5 32.5 31.5 21.9 26.2 25.7 27.8 
EU(27) 33.9 32.0 30.9 21.3 25.6 25.1 26.1 
France 18.5 18.0 15.9 12.6 15.2 14.9 13.9 
Belgium 3.4 2.8 3.2 2.9 2.5 3.1 2.6 
Germany 2.7 2.7 3.4 1.9 2.9 2.4 2.4 
Austria 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.3 1.2 
Italy 1.9 1.5 2.5 0.8 1.2 1.0 1.1 
Spain 1.9 1.3 1.4 0.0 0.6 0.3 1.1 
United Kingdom 2.3 1.5 1.5 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.9 
EFTA 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.4 
Switzerland and Liechtenstein 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.3 
Other Europe 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.4 
        
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 1.7 1.6 0.8 2.8 2.5 0.8 3.6 
Russia, Federation of 1.4 0.9 0.5 1.1 0.6 0.2 2.3 
Ukraine 0.3 0.7 0.3 1.8 1.9 0.6 1.1 
        
Africa 42.0 41.8 46.1 49.3 46.4 51.0 39.2 
Senegal 9.5 9.9 12.2 11.5 12.1 19.8 17.2 
Côte d'Ivoire 21.4 8.7 9.4 10.2 10.9 12.7 10.4 
South Africa 2.4 2.3 3.3 4.1 3.7 3.6 4.5 
Benin 1.0 4.8 7.4 9.3 9.0 4.5 2.2 
Ghana 0.7 1.7 2.0 3.3 2.5 3.0 1.7 
Togo 5.0 11.8 8.5 6.5 5.0 4.0 1.4 
        
Middle East 1.2 1.6 2.2 1.5 1.2 0.9 1.4 
United Arab Emirates 0.9 1.1 1.7 1.1 1.0 0.7 1.2 
        
Asia 13.8 13.6 13.3 14.6 15.2 14.8 18.6 
China 2.4 3.1 4.9 4.9 6.1 5.9 10.2 
Japan 4.0 3.5 2.6 2.3 2.6 1.9 2.8 
Six East Asian Traders 2.4 2.8 2.5 2.4 1.8 1.2 2.6 
Thailand 1.0 1.1 0.6 1.3 0.9 0.5 1.2 
Other Asia 5.0 4.2 3.2 5.0 4.6 5.8 3.0 
India 3.1 2.9 2.0 2.4 2.2 3.6 2.0 
        
Other 0.0 0.4 0.0 1.4 0.1 0.6 0.0 
Source : WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from the UNSD Comtra de database (SITC Rev. 3). WT/TPR/S/236/MLI/Rev.1  Trade Policy Review 
Page 342 
 
 
Table AI.4 
Destination of exports, 2002-2008 
(US$ million and per cent) 
 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 
World (US$ million) 852.2 1,007.4 987.5 1,075.1 1,526.1 1,440.6 1,918.3 
 (Percentage share) 
America 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.4 1.0 0.7 1.0 
USA 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.8 
Other America 0.4 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.8 0.4 0.2 
        
Europe 82.0 72.5 29.2 36.3 5.5 10.4 5.3 
EU(27) 23.8 14.3 8.7 5.8 4.0 5.9 2.7 
France 13.7 4.8 1.3 2.2 1.1 0.9 1.3 
Germany 1.6 2.5 1.6 1.7 0.3 0.2 0.4 
Belgium 1.2 2.1 0.9 0.4 0.3 2.1 0.3 
Italy 1.5 1.3 2.0 1.2 0.4 0.5 0.3 
EFTA 58.2 58.2 20.4 30.3 1.5 4.6 2.6 
Switzerland and Liechtenstein 58.2 58.2 20.4 30.3 1.5 4.6 2.6 
Other Europe 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 
        
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
        
Africa 9.8 11.7 46.7 46.0 79.1 77.2 86.4 
South Africa 0.2 1.8 30.9 34.9 71.0 67.1 72.5 
Senegal 3.7 2.9 6.3 6.9 2.7 4.2 6.8 
Côte d'Ivoire 3.1 2.3 4.7 1.3 1.2 2.5 2.6 
Burkina Faso 0.9 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.8 0.8 1.0 
Togo 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.0 
Benin 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.8 
Guinea 0.9 1.1 0.6 0.3 0.7 0.8 0.6 
Morocco 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.3 
Niger 0.1 0.9 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.3 
        
Middle East 0.0 0.1 1.2 0.8 0.2 0.0 0.0 
        
Asia 7.3 15.0 22.3 16.5 14.1 11.5 7.3 
China 0.2 1.2 4.8 5.8 6.2 2.2 1.8 
Japan 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 
Six East Asian Traders 3.1 8.9 6.4 4.6 3.0 2.6 1.7 
Thailand 1.9 3.4 2.7 2.0 1.7 1.9 1.4 
Other Asia 3.9 4.8 11.0 5.9 4.8 6.6 3.4 
Viet Nam 1.6 0.4 2.6 2.0 2.3 1.6 1.1 
Pakistan 0.1 0.5 3.3 0.7 0.2 2.1 0.9 
Indonesia 0.2 0.9 1.5 0.7 1.4 1.8 0.6 
India 1.3 1.2 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.5 
Bangladesh 0.2 0.4 2.0 2.0 0.8 0.8 0.3 
        
Other 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Source : WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from the UNSD Comtra de database (SITC Rev. 3). 
 
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