DTIS, Volume I - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

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foreign and local investors (and resorts are allowed to employ up to 50 per cent foreign employees). But there are different regulations applicable to certain island resorts in terms of length of lease. In addition, within tourism, some sub-sectors are restricted to nationals, such as operating safari boats. TRIPS Part of the TRIPS negotiations focuses on geographical indications (geographical indications are place names used to identify the origin and quality, reputation or other characteristics of products) that are examining how article 23 of the TRIPS Agreement could be extended beyond wines and spirits. Of relevance to Maldives, could be the inclusion of “Maldives fish” which is sold throughout the region. Sri Lankan producers reportedly copy the process and sell their products as “Maldives fish” in direct competition with Maldives. Listing “Maldives fish” as a geographical indication under Article 23 of TRIPS could be used to prevent the use of this “name”. Protecting the market for Maldives fish is particularly important in the context of poverty reduction given the fact that the fishing industry is a significant employer of the poorer sector of the community, including on the outer atolls. Women are also predominantly involved in processing activities. SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT Although the Maldives is scheduled to graduate from its LDC status in 2007, there may still be room for transition arrangements in regard to its status in the WTO. For this reason it is important for the country to continue to follow and be involved in the negotiations on Special and Differential Treatment (S & DT) and the related negotiations for recognition of small, vulnerable economies at the WTO. Even after graduation, a number of S&DT provisions would still apply in areas of interest such as sanitary and phytosanitary regulations. TRADE FACILITATION The Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration reaffirmed the mandate and modalities for negotiations on Trade Facilitation contained in Annex D of the Decision adopted by the General Council on 1 st August 2004. The Ministers also endorsed the recommendations of the report of the Negotiating Group, (attached as Annex E to the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration) contained in paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the report. The Negotiating Modalities are particularly significant because they endorse the legitimacy of the development challenges facing developing countries, particularly LDCs, in the area of Trade Facilitation. This is reflected in an innovative approach to negotiations that explicitly recognizes a formal linkage between extent, timing and assumption of commitments, and implementation capacities of developing countries and LDCs in particular. It also conditions implementation on the provision of technical and financial assistance, plus support for capacity building by developed country partners. 31
The Modalities provide that the results of negotiations shall take into account the principle of SDT on the understanding that this should extend beyond the granting of traditional transition periods for implementing commitments; Members are not obliged to undertake investments in infrastructure projects beyond their means; and that in cases where required support and assistance for such infrastructure is not forthcoming, and where developing or LDC Members continue to lack the necessary capacity, implementation would not to be required. Furthermore, Annex D of the July Framework explicitly states, “Least Developed Country Members will only be required to undertake commitments to the extent consistent with their individual development, financial and trade needs or their administrative and institutional capabilities.” The most important aspect of this for the Maldives is the aspect of “enhancing technical assistance and capacity building” in the area of Trade Facilitation. This will be very relevant for the Maldives, especially in the aspect of Customs procedures. The other relevant outcome concerning trade facilitation from the Hong Kong ministerial meeting was the endorsement of both the enhanced Integrated Framework and the “Aid for Trade” initiatives, under which technical assistance and financial support is expected to be made available to LDCs for various aspects of infrastructure development. The “Aid for Trade” initiative is complementary to the IF and aims specifically to address supply side constraints to trade. D. REGIONAL INTEGRATION Under the terms of the South Asian Preferential Trade Area (SAPTA) Agreement (signed on 11 April 1993 and implemented from 7 December 1995), Maldives enjoys preferential access to six regional markets on selected products. 15 In return, Maldives provides similar access to regional producers to its market. Since its inception, there have been four rounds of trade negotiations under SAPTA covering over 5,000 commodities. However, the extent (product coverage) and depth (level of preference) is limited. Regional imports have averaged 23.6 per cent of all Maldivian imports over the last five years. 16 This share has been virtually stagnant during this time with decline experienced in 2005. The reason for this decline was the ending of imports of textiles for the garment industry at the end of 2004. See Table 3.11 Regarding exports, the proportion of regional trade is limited to an average of 16 per cent of total exports over the last five years, with just one country (Sri Lanka) accounting for virtually all the regional exports, and India taking an extremely small proportion. As shown in Table 3.12, the trend is a declining proportion of regional exports. With a limited export base, the Maldives has obviously not been able to take any real advantage of the SAPTA agreement. The main exports to Sri Lanka are dried and salted fish. 15 Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka 16 5 Year average (2000-04) calculated from Customs Services Import/Export Statistics 2004 32
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FINAL R E P O R T Volume 1 MALDIVES
Page 3 and 4: GSP HACCP HDFC HDI HIES HH HRD HS I
Page 5 and 6: TRIPS TRTA TSA TTMP UAE UK UNCTAD U
Page 7 and 8: CHAPTER 6: CUSTOMS SERVICES AND TRA
Page 9 and 10: major stakeholders as the basis of
Page 11 and 12: C. ECONOMIC TRENDS Buoyant GDP grow
Page 13 and 14: WTO members (through the Committee
Page 15 and 16: The recommendations cover these iss
Page 17 and 18: Requirements Action no. Action reco
Page 25 and 26: government, and lawmakers are elect
Page 27 and 28: . 4
Page 29 and 30: to Sri Lanka. However, by 2004 the
Page 31 and 32: This relatively high proportion of
Page 33 and 34: On an annual basis, total NFA of th
Page 35 and 36: elow provides data on the public in
Page 37 and 38: According to the estimates prepared
Page 39 and 40: Table 2.8: Damage to agricultural f
Page 41 and 42: II. Imports - Merchandise There has
Page 43 and 44: the relatively high rate of unemplo
Page 45 and 46: A. DESTINATION OF MERCHANDISE EXPOR
Page 47 and 48: Penetration of international market
Page 49 and 50: Overall, the importance of foreign
Page 51 and 52: on goods deemed luxury goods (e.g.
Page 53: the Japan and USA markets. 11 Fish
Page 57 and 58: emoved. However, in order to provid
Page 59 and 60: EBA. Appropriate transition arrange
Page 61 and 62: Several provisions such as Article
Page 63 and 64: CHAPTER 4 POVERTY REDUCTION AND HUM
Page 65 and 66: Table 4.2: Poverty Gap Ratios per R
Page 67 and 68: produced locally and are readily av
Page 69 and 70: commerce, information and communica
Page 71 and 72: Table 4.3: Fishery Sector employmen
Page 73 and 74: This also requires policies that ta
Page 75 and 76: with routine functions of administe
Page 77 and 78: Applying for a license to invest in
Page 79 and 80: E. MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, AGRICULTU
Page 81 and 82: K. PRIVATE SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS Priv
Page 83 and 84: Overall, it is estimated that the c
Page 85 and 86: The cash is held and disbursed by t
Page 87 and 88: difficult to reach given the except
Page 89 and 90: system of micro-credit intermediari
Page 91 and 92: F. LAND, RAW MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES
Page 93 and 94: B. LABOUR MARKET REFORM About 44 pe
Page 95 and 96: Appendix The mixed record of the Ma
Page 97 and 98: legislation incorporates the initia
Page 99 and 100: CHAPTER 6 CUSTOMS SERVICES AND TRAN
Page 101 and 102: Maldives Port Authority • Respons
Page 103 and 104: the correct amount of customs duty
Page 105 and 106:
suspense procedures, thus eliminati
Page 107 and 108:
A new domestic terminal at MIA will
Page 109 and 110:
There is need to clarify MAC’s na
Page 111 and 112:
Changes in the role and structure o
Page 113 and 114:
Significant improvements have been
Page 115 and 116:
CHAPTER 7 THE TOURISM SECTOR Chapte
Page 117 and 118:
British market in 2001. In 2004, be
Page 119 and 120:
Similarly, considerable demand was
Page 121 and 122:
for imports of support infrastructu
Page 123 and 124:
government revenues from the supply
Page 125 and 126:
number of trainees that have been t
Page 127 and 128:
established as a quality tourism de
Page 129 and 130:
Maldives' unspoiled marine environm
Page 131 and 132:
The Faculty works very closely with
Page 133 and 134:
TOURISM ACT A key objective of the
Page 135 and 136:
HRD studies and conduct of necessar
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D. ESTABLISH AN ENABLING BUSINESS E
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Main Recommendation No. 5: review a
Page 141 and 142:
Main Recommendation No. 6: Scale-up
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CHAPTER 8 FISHERY SECTOR Chapter Pl
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processing under-performing more th
Page 147 and 148:
per cent - see Table 8.4. The secto
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In the light of these market trends
Page 151 and 152:
documentation, and administration.
Page 153 and 154:
monitoring and evaluation dates fro
Page 155 and 156:
and catering industry chefs demand
Page 157 and 158:
It is expected that the trial fishe
Page 159 and 160:
• Can seaming and retorting; •
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DTIS, Volume I - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

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