WORLD TRADE WT/COMTD/IF/4*
4December 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-5332)
Committee onTrade andDevelopment
Integrated Framework forTrade-Related
Technical Assistance
TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS-ASSESSMENT
AND INTEGRATED RESPONSES BYIMF, ITC, UNCTAD,
WORLD BANK AND WTO1
GUINEA
*Aprevious version ofthisdocument wascirculated asWT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4
1Thefirstpartofthisdocument, which includes theneeds-assessment fortrade-related technical assistance,
prepared byGuinea, iscontained indocument WT/LDC/HL/12/Add.4 andisnotreproduced inthisdocument.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page2
INTEGRATED RESPONSE BYIMF, ITC, UNCTAD,
UNDP, WORLD BANK AND WTO TOTHE
NEEDS-ASSESSMENT OFGUINEA
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion A(k):
Technical assistance forcompliance
withtheWTO Agreements
Contributions totheestablishment and
functioning, within theMPSPIC, ofa
resource centre onallaspects ofthe
WTO/Uruguay RoundWTO TheWTO willprovide assistance
forthefunctioning ofaresource
centre onallaspects ofthe
multilateral trading system. Such
support willconsist inparticular in
providing theunitwithequipment,
including computer equipment;
documentation onthemultilateral
trading system (1998-2000).
Equipping thecentre withthenecessary
telematic facilities forreal-time
information retrieval from automatic
links withtheWTO andpossibly with
specialized databases andprivate
servers inthisfieldWTO SeeC(d).
Systematic supply ofbasic
documentation forconsultation and
possible dissemination, which would
make theresource centre anational
clearing house onallaspects of
multilateral tradeUNCTAD Supply oftheTrade Analysis and
Information System (TRAINS).
CD-ROM.
WTO Seeabove response.
Training ofnational experts inthis
field, under aconsolidated programme
forgrooming national specialists with
thecompetence andscope toliaise with
associations ofbusinessmen andeven
enterprises atthedifferent levels ofthe
government andinterministerial
hierarchiesUNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE: Review of
trade training needs hasbeen
undertaken. Follow-up under
discussion.*
UNDP UNDP plans toaddress partofthis
request under itsregional
programme (RAF/96/001) andits
national private sector support
programme.
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page3
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(k)(cont'd):
WTO National experts willbetrained in
thefollowing types ofactivity:
-Athree-week trade policy
training course willbe
organized forfrancophone least
developed countries, including
Guinea (1998 and1999).
-TheWTO willorganize a
national seminar ontheWTO in
Guinea onthemultilateral
trading system, in1998.
-Specialized regional seminars
willbeorganized for
francophone leastdeveloped
countries in1998 and1999.
Drafting atraining plantopublicize the
content oftheWTO textsandtheir
implications forthemultilateral trading
system, directed atthefollowing target
groups:
(a)Senior officials inthetechnical
ministries, including customs
officials;
(b)high-level staffandexecutives of
thepublic andsemi-public trade
promotion bodies/agencies;
(c)permanent staffworking inthe
trade organizations/associations,
chamber ofcommerce, etc.;
(d)decision-makers ininternational
trading firms andbusinessmen
interested ininvesting intheexport
andimport trade;
(e)executives anddecision-makers at
different levels oftheforeign trade
support services: commercial
banking, logistics, transport/transit,
insurance.UNCTAD Seeabove (TRAINFORTRADE).*
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page4
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(k)(cont'd):
[Incooperation withshort-cycle
(technical colleges) andlong-cycle
(higher education institutions
(commercial andmanagement faculties
incolleges), systematic adjustment of
courses toinclude modern syllabuses
andmethods designed tomeetthe
needs oftheeconomy andthe
requirements ofmultilateral trade
procedures andrules (seepoint (e).]
UNCTAD/
UNDP/
(UNIDO)Under theprivate sector support
programme nowbeing formulated,
UNDP could finance partofthe
training activities inconnection with
thisrequest.
UNCTAD/
UNDPInaddition, UNCTAD willfinance
through theregional programme
RAF/96/001 some training activities
(attheregional level) inwhich
Guinean executives willbeableto
participate.
WTO SeeA(k)above.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page5
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion A(l):
Technical assistance inthespecific
areas oftheWTO Agreements+
Market access WTO Seeregional seminars-response to
question A(k).
Agriculture WTO Idem.
Rules oforigin WTO Idem.
TBTandSPS WTO Idem.
Trade-related investments WTO Idem.
Preshipment inspection World Bank SGShandles preshipment inspection
inGuinea.
WTO Idem.
Government procurement WTO Idem.
Legal aspects offoreign trade ITC TheGovernment willbeprovided
withthe"Juris" database onthe
legalaspects offoreign trade.
WTO TheWTO willprovide specific aid
toenable theGovernment to
implement theWTO Agreements
andtakebetter advantage ofthem
(1998-2000).
+Allthese fields show evidence ofinadequacies affecting thelevel ofcompetitiveness ofGuinea 'sforeign
trade, which continues tobecharacterized toasignificant extent bymethods andpractices more inkeeping with
thetrading customs ofthepastthanwithmodern international marketing.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page6
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion A(m):
Assessment oftrade analysis and
negotiating capacities
Asfarastrade analysis isconcerned,
there isarealfundofskills and
experience, although theyremain
underutilized toaconsiderable extent,
labouring under theweight ofold-
fashioned routine andprocedural
constraints. Thefactremains,
however, thatselective supervision in
theform ofhigh-level evaluation and
consultation would bewelcome inthe
short andmedium term.UNDP Theprivate sector support
programme UNDP isnowhelping
theGuinean Government to
formulate should takeoverpartof
theactivities connected withthis
need.
Inbothmultilateral andbilateral
negotiations, requiring stronger
capabilities atthepreparation aswellas
thefinalization stage, thecompetition
policy which, toourmind, iscentral to
theentire philosophy ofinternational
trade, should beunderstood byall
groups concerned, including
decision-makers, politicians and
economic operators.UNDP Itisplanned thattheprivate sector
support programme UNDP isnow
helping theGuinean Government to
formulate willtakeoverpartofthe
activities connected withthisneed.
Activities under thatprogramme
willbesynchronized withthose
defined under theregional
programme (RAF/96/001).
World Bank TheWorld Bank wishes tocover
these aspects inthecontext ofthe
forthcoming CAS.
WTO Intheshort trade policy training
courses (seeA(k)), atraining
module willbeincluded inthe
programme soastofamiliarize
participants withtrade negotiations.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page7
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Question A(m) (cont'd):
Since Guinea isatropical country and,
furthermore, anLDC where the
interaction between trade andthe
environment isofmajor concern andan
essential matter forthepurposes of
sustainable development:
-extraction oftropical timber, and
fragile ecosystems ofGuinea 's
rainforest;
-industrial investment andpromotion
ofanenvironmentally-friendly
manufacturing and/or
sub-contracting sector;
-introduction andstrengthening of
interministerial andnational
interagency technical assistance
capable ofdefining andmonitoring
theapplication ofnational and
international standards and
specifications, more particularly for
imports.UNDP Under theIndustrialization
Guidelines, UNDP hasalready
helped theGovernment toidentify
priority sectors andconduct studies
toanalyse competitiveness in
12sectors, including timber,
building materials, fisheries,
textiles. Under theprivate sector
support programme nowbeing
formulated, UNDP could finance
additional studies iftheyprove
necessary.
Under theprivate sector support
programme nowbeing formulated,
UNDP intends toenhance the
capacity oftheInstitute of
Standardization andMetrology to
turnitintoagenuine quality control
centre.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page8
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(g):
Technical assistance needs withrespect
tosupply constraints
Elaboration ofsectoral substrategies for
export supplies ofproducts inwhich
Guinea undeniably enjoys natural
advantages, (agriculture, fisheries,
stockbreeding, forestry, crafts and
mining)ITC Amission wassentinJuly1997 to
identify project components aspart
ofthenational SME support
programme forexport development,
nowbeing worked outwithUNDP.
Theexport promotion project* will
include thefollowing components:
-Sectoral strategies forexports
-product promotion and
development
-Streamlining andimprovement
ofprocurement techniques.
UNDP Under theabove projects, UNDP
hasalready being assisting the
Government toelaborate sectoral
strategies foragriculture, fisheries,
stockbreeding, forestry, crafts and
mining. Cf.GUI/92/008 Industrial
Guidelines Management or
Agricultural Development Policy
Letter.
World Bank TheWorld Bank hasanagricultural
exports promotion project.
Improvement oftechniques forthe
supply ofvarious inputs and
equipment, notably bytraining national
managers inprocurement and
management techniques forimported
suppliesITC Seeabove.
World Bank Technical assistance bytheJapanese
Government.
Research, development andextension
programmes aimed atexport targetsITC Seeabove.
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page9
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(q):
Technical assistance needs intheareas
oftrade promotion andsupport services
Strengthening ofprivate sector
promotion institutionsITC Refer toB(g).
UNDP Under theintegrated SME assistance
programme, UNDP isalready
helping theSME Promotion Office
(OPIP). Institutional enhancement
activities arealsoscheduled for
private sector support facilities in
thecontext ofthenewprivate sector
support programme being
formulated.
Trade information ITC Aspecific module isbeing
developed withthepossibility of
financing byISDB andFrench
cooperatives (assistance tothe
Chamber ofCommerce).
Moreover, theTOPS business
opportunities database forECOWAS
member countries willbemade
available totheGovernment
(February 1998).
UNCTAD Supply ofTrade Analysis and
Information System (TRAINS).
SeealsoB(v)-Trade Point.
Training UNCTAD SeeA(k)-TRAINFORTRADE.
ITC SeeB(g).
WTO Seeresponses A(k)andA(l).
Support forenterprises ITC SeeB(g).
Support forthecountry indevising an
export policy strategy andinthe
follow-upITC SeeB(g).
Making good twomajor deficiencies in
regard totheinstitutional framework
andthelegalandregulatory
framework:WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page10
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(q)(cont'd):
-Institutional framework: define the
roleoftheState, entrepreneurs and
public andprivate institutions
operating inthisarea, specifying
eachone'sfunctionsITC SeeB(g).
-Legal andregulatory framework:
setthiswithin theframework ofthe
Republic ofGuinea 'saccession to
theWTO, establish therights and
duties ofentrepreneurs, encourage
exports, draftandpublicize all
relevant procedures
UNDP Theframework private sector
programme willtakeoverpartof
theactivities relating tothisneed.
Follow-up financing required.
Help toremove major constraints,
more particularly:
-Economic information
-professional training foroperators
andofficialsITC SeeB(g)andabove.
WTO Seeresponses A(k), A(l)andA(m).
Improvement oflogistics toprovide
reliable andcompetitive support for
exportsITC Refer toB(g)
UNCTAD ASYCUDA being installed.*
Improvement ofthetrade, particularly
export, operations financing system,
withcompetitive conditions andcosts,
inother words, comparable tothose of
competitorsITC Refer toB(g).
(Support torationalize imported
supplies asasource ofcompetitiveness)
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page11
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(q)(cont'd):
Contribution totheintroduction of
standardization andquality control,
particularly forexport firms.ITC Refer toB(g).
Development ofcapacity forexport
support andincentives, including:
-improved management of
temporary (customs) admission and
theintroduction ofdrawback;
-introduction ofasystematic
development approach toexports
(OPE);
-development ofexport diagnosis of
market study capacities (OPE and
CCIG);
-examination ofways andmeans to
develop credit insurance;
-promotion andapplication of
incentives.
(These support needwillbeworked
afteradopting theabove-mentioned
strategy)WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page12
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion B(v):
Technical assistance needs withrespect
tomarket access
Market information andintelligence in
terms ofcompetition andgrowthITC SeeB(g)andB(q).
Support formarket penetration capacity ITC SeeB(g)andB(q).
Training ofcommercial attachés and
agentsUNDP Provisions havebeenmade under
theregional programme
(RAF/96/001) forthetraining of
commercial attachés ofAfrican
embassies abroad.
Production ofcatalogues, folders,
CD-ROMS andregisters ofenterpriseITC SeeB(q).
Useofinternational communications
networks intheform ofaWEB siteto
publicize Guinean products and
Guinea 'sexport potential inthevarious
sectorsUNCTAD/
ITCCreation ofaTrade Point tobe
accompanied bytraining activities
onthetools tolinkGuinea upwith
theWorld Trade Points Network.*
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page13
Technical assistance needs identified in
thequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion C(b):
Summary oftechnical assistance needs
interms ofpriority
(Inthree priority categories):
Training, including training oftrainers,
information ontrade issues ingeneral
andonallmatters relating tobetter
integration ofGuinea inworld trade,
withmore active participation in
negotiations togainthegreatest
advantage from theopportunities that
emerge intheimplementation ofthe
WTO Agreements, bystrengthening the
country 'seconomic andexport base.ITC/
UNCTAD/
UNDPStrengthening ofinternational trade
training institutions iscovered by
project RAF/96/001.
UNCTAD SeeA(k)-TRAINFORTRADE:
Review oftrade training needs.
Follow-up isunder way.*
WTO Seeresponses toA(k), A(l)and
A(m).
Study oftheimpact ofthe
WTO Agreements onGuinea 's
economy andforeign trade and
identification oftherequisite
framework forstrengthening Guinea 's
foreign trade environment. Thelaws
andregulations willalsoneedtobe
adapted andanappropriate institutional
arrangement willneedtobesetup.UNCTAD Anevaluation oftheimpact ofthe
WTO Agreements onGuinea 's
foreign trade anditsoverall
economic situation isplanned.*
UNDP UNDP could finance partofthe
costofthisstudy under itsregional
programme (RAF/96/001) on
capacity building fortrade.
Rehabilitation andstrengthening of
infrastructures, more particularly in
helping toenhance product
competitiveness formore active
participation inworld trade.ITC SeeB(g)andB(q).
*Financing toberequested.WT/COMTD/IF/4
Page14
Technical assistance needs identified
inthequestionnaireOrganization Response
Inresponse toquestion C(d):
Technological capacity andhuman
resources tomake useofthenew
information technology tools
Since June1997, Guinea hasbeen
linked withInternet through the
Guinean Telecommunications Company
(SOTELGUI) andthecountry thushas
some technological andhuman capacity
tousethiscommunication tool
Again, Guinea hasafairly large
number ofmicro-computers, including
some latest generation computers with
CD-ROM, multimedia, etc.However,
theMinistry ofTrade, likemany
enterprises andinstitutions, doesnot
haveenough trained human resources
inthisareatoutilize these new
information andcommunication tools.UNDP TheInternet Project oftheUNDP
Regional Bureau forAfrica
(RAF/96/002 andRAF/96/001)
willtakeoverpartoftheactivities
related tothisrequest.
Accordingly, theRepublic ofGuinea
would needassistance intraining and
familiarization withthese tools and
technologies soastoconsider using
them intheservice oftrade
development andincommunication and
information. Such assistance could
involve training (establishing acore
body):
-Seminars, publicization and
dissemination;
-creation ofanInternet site.World Bank/
WTOInternet linkwithWCO possible in
thecontext ofthejointWB-WTO
project.
WTO TheWTO willbeabletoprovide a
computer andalaserprinter forthe
Government 'sfocal point for
multilateral trading system issues.
(1998)
TheWTO willalsobeabletomake
thenecessary link-up ofthefocal
point withInternet andprovide
Guinea withCD-ROMs. Itwill
alsoprovide training intheuseof
computer andelectronic equipment.
(1998)
ITC/
UNCTADSeeB(v)-Trade Point.