Developing policy making and regulatory capacity for trade promotion

ASI provided the services of a Customs Specialist and an Economic Adviser to conduct map the processes and operational procedures for trade facilitation within the key institution for trade promotion - the Trade and Investment Facilitation Centre (TIFC) under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing (MTICM).
 
One of the key achievements was the development of the institutional and administrative arrangements to set up Policy and Regulatory Analysis Unit (PRAU) within the TIFC. The ASI Economic Adviser developed and implemented a strategy for building the capacity of the PRAU to enable informed trade negotiation positions, guide regulatory reforms and assess the impact of regulatory and trade policy instruments on various economic actors.  Some of the other outputs included an economic information database, an economic analysis manual, a PRAU operations manual, client user guides and staff development plans. New staff members selected for the PRAU were also provided training and ongoing mentoring.
 
The ASI Customs Adviser provided support in mapping the process involved in trade related services such issuance of import certificates and rebate permits, undertaken by the TIFC. Gaps, duplications and bottlenecks were identified in consultation with key stakeholders and a rationalised system of documentation and operations was developed. ASI also developed an operations manual and provided training to the civil servants in TIFC.