DTIS, Volume I - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)
DTIS, Volume I - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) DTIS, Volume I - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)
countries are reviewed on a six-year basis, this is unlikely to provide Maldives with any problems after graduation. Finally, under the modalities adopted for the Doha Development Agenda negotiations on non-agriculture market access, least developed countries are not expected to make any commitments other than to bind existing tariffs. However, the Maldives will still be able to apply this provision assuming that the Doha negotiations will be completed before the country's graduation as an LDC. 39
CHAPTER 4 POVERTY REDUCTION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Chapter Plan This chapter outlines the poverty profile of the Maldives and assesses progress in relation to access to basic human needs including employment. Relatively high rates of unemployment with significant gender disparities as well as labour market rigidities are among the critical challenges facing the Maldives. I. Poverty Profile The Maldives has achieved considerable progress on human and social development over the past two decades. The Human Development Index ranked the Maldives at 84 in 2004, a ranking that dropped to 96 in 2005, due to the effects of the tsunami. Social indicators have improved steadily, reflected in declining rates of absolute poverty, falling infant mortality rate and expanding school enrolments. The intensive proliferation of primary school education on the islands has resulted in a 97 per cent literacy rate. A series of recent social surveys provide excellent data and information on the Maldives’ poverty and human development profile including regional disparities and other inequalities. Vulnerability and Poverty Assessments (VPA) were carried out in 1998 (VPA-1), 2004 (VPA-2) 22 and after the tsunami in 2005 (VPA-PT) in addition to a Household Income and Expenditure Survey that was undertaken in 2002-03 (HIES). 23 These have established that the incidence of poverty is below 2 per cent, on dollar a day, purchasing power parity (PPP) terms 24 . The more recent VPA-2 confirmed this figure and suggested a further decrease. At the time of the preparation of this DTIS, an ongoing post-tsunami VPA (VPA-PT) was assessing the tsunami impact. However, as is to be expected, there is also evidence that despite falling absolute poverty, levels of vulnerability and inequality are dynamic in nature and that progress as regards poverty reduction in the atolls is slower than in Male’, the capital. 22 The VPA and VPA-2 surveys sponsored by UNDP, have established an excellent baseline for comparing socio-economic dynamics over time. 23 HIES 2002-03, MPND, 2005 (sponsored by UNDP, UNESCAP and ADB) 24 The PPP is expressed as what one US dollar could buy in New York in 1993 compared to what it could buy for the same item in other geographical locations in the same year. This is also known as the international dollar and is used widely to establish parity. As prices are generally lower in developing countries, the nominal exchange rate underestimates the purchasing parity in these countries. A direct PPP comparison for the Maldives has not yet been made, but using data from neighbouring countries an indirect estimate is possible indicating an international dollar exchange rate of Rf. 3.516 in 1993. 40
- 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 19 and 20: Requirements Action no. Action reco
- Page 21 and 22: Requirements Action no. Action reco
- Page 23 and 24: 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 and 54: the Japan and USA markets. 11 Fish
- Page 55 and 56: The Modalities provide that the res
- Page 57 and 58: emoved. However, in order to provid
- Page 59 and 60: EBA. Appropriate transition arrange
- Page 61: Several provisions such as Article
- 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
countries are reviewed on a six-year basis, this is unlikely to provide Maldives with any<br />
problems after graduation.<br />
Finally, under the modalities adopted for the Doha Development Agenda negotiations on<br />
non-agriculture market access, least developed countries are not expected to make any<br />
commitments other than to bind existing tariffs. However, the Maldives will still be able<br />
to apply this provision assuming that the Doha negotiations will be completed before the<br />
country's graduation as an LDC.<br />
39
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