Implementation Stage – Tier 1 Phase
Representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, led H.E. Dr. Pwint San, the Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, participated the 5th National Implementation Unit Exchange Programmewhich was jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR, and the Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar from 6th December to 9th December 2015 atBorei Angkor Hotel, Siem Reap, Cambodia. The purpose is to improve the implementation of Aid-for-Trade, and future Trade Development Agenda beyond 2015 which the Ministry of Commerce is implementing the Enhanced Integrated Framework Programme under WTO.
The trip is to share comment challenges and possible solution by allowing a vibrant exchange of ideas and insights with knowledge and experiences for the future potential areas of cooperation with other two countries; Cambodia and Lao PDR.
Through EIF, the Union of Myanmar can get its economic growth and other benefits by using trade as the driver for development in implementing Aid for Trade activities with a keen focus on country ownership, greater coordination and commitments from all EIF partners, stronger national and global governance structures and additional financial resources to match the country's demand.
It is also aimed that working together for regional integration, the country can join EIF projects or activities to enhance capacity building to government officials and to equip with the knowledge and awareness from the basic information to current and future implementation of aid for trade activities.
Myanmar joined the EIF in April 2013 and a familiarization workshop was held in July- August 2013. Under Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), Myanmar has accessed Tier-1 funding (support for national implementation arrangements) and the Tier 1 Project Proposal was approved by the EIF Executive Secretary Office and the signing process of MOU between Ministry of Commerce, and UNOPS was started to proceed to the concerned delegation authorized ministries including Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Union Attorney General Office and Union Auditor Office in August 2015.
Benefits
Myanmar Delegation Members who participated at the Exchange Programme in Cambodia got below benefits upon returning to the country:
(A) MOC can seek to improve capacity building to government officials and to equip with the knowledge and awareness from the basic information to current and future implementation of aid for trade activities.
(B) The identification of responsibilities and management of fixed assets purchased during the project, and the management of financial resources that have been handed by external aid resources including the procedures and practices can be learnt and applied back in the country in future.
(C) Can improve main-steaming trade and strategic coordination for better regional integration through EIF which help members of ASEAN (CLM countries) to catch up with the older members.
By accessing the WTO's EIF programme, the country can increase the areas of opportunity for the rapid growth of output, exports, and employment and the public sector support required to promote these activities through the flows of Aid-for-Trade from all resources and their contribution to growth and development.