DTIS, Volume I - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

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CHAPTER 5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT Chapter Plan This chapter begins with an outline of the institutional architecture for business support and private sector development as a background to the current situation in the Maldives. This is followed by an assessment of the business environment leading to recommendations for policy and institutional reform. The result of a recent World Bank ‘Doing Business Survey’ is summarised in an Appendix to the chapter. I. Business Support Institutional Architecture Who does what in relation to business support services in the Maldives Which groups are the major stakeholders In outlining the institutional architecture for business support and private sector development, this section identifies the key issues concerning the business environment and private sector development. A. MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE (MEDT) The MEDT is the focal point for trade and private sector support policies in the Maldives (See Box 1). This ministry was previously the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The marriage between trade and economic development in MEDT was announced in a cabinet reshuffle in June 2005, just as the DTIS was being launched. With overall responsibility for trade policy and economic development - although not for development planning – MEDT is well placed to integrate trade in the country’s development agenda. Other government departments are involved in specific elements of trade policy, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has responsibility for regional cooperation and coordinating interface with the United Nations on issues relating to graduation from LDC status. The Ministry of Finance and Treasury is responsible for setting trade taxes. MEDT has six divisions, with a total of 30 employees. Four of the divisions deal with substantive matters as distinct from budgetary and administrative issues. These are Business and Trade Licensing, Company Registration and Legal Affairs, International Trade and Policy, and the Foreign Investment Services Bureau. The Business and Trade Licensing and Company Registration and Legal Affairs Divisions are mainly concerned 51
with routine functions of administering licenses and company registration. The main focus of this report is with the International Trade and Policy Division and the Foreign Investment Services Bureau. B. INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLICY DIVISION The International Trade Policy Division (ITPD) is responsible for all matters relating to trade policy formulation and coordination including WTO, SAPTA, SAFTA and traderelated aspects of the Maldives’ graduation from LDC statutes. With only five professionals (two were on study leave when the main DTIS mission took place) on its staff, the Division also deals with relevant international organisations such as UNCTAD, UNIDO, ITC, etc. Its main responsibilities are as follows: Box 1 Strategic Functions of MEDT PROVIDING ECONOMIC POLICY LEADERSHIP Mainstream trade in the economic Proactive role in emphasising the role of trade in the national development plan and development agenda. Bringing trade to the centre of economic agenda through better coordination with Strengthening the leadership role of the ministry in economic policy. EXPORT DEVELOPMENT Alleviate supply bottlenecks policy-making bodies. Define the role of trade in all economic and social policy agenda, like UN millennium development goals, ADB’s poverty reduction strategies, graduation issues, etc., Clarify trade policy issues vis-à-vis non-trade issues in ‘multi-faced’ sectors such as fisheries etc Develop research and information disseminating capacity, or ‘think-tank’ type arrangement in-house or in the private sector. Use the Integrated Framework for Trade Related Technical Assistance programme in addressing the trade related supply constraints Industrial development Conduct an industry situation audit (or formulate an industrial master plan) Identify possible industry clusters Trade Standards Introduce quality assurance systems Create a standards depository MARKET ORGANIZATION AND POLICY SUPPORT Commitment to fair trading Selective intervention in addressing market failures and unfair competition Formulate anti- trust laws Trade defence interests Regulate measures that constitute injury to domestic interests. Evaluate market access and trade barriers in other countries important for Maldivian businesses Trade offence interests and service sector strategy Stock taking exercise for service sector with respect to all four GATS modes and identify strategic sectors to be opened up for negotiations and for investment, Enhance competitiveness Support FDI promotion Monitor policy issues Identify areas of market potential that could be used by FISB Source, Adapted from Maldives 2020 Vision • Formulate trade policy for multilateral, regional and bilateral arrangements in coordination with government, private sector and international stakeholders. • Coordinate the work of the National WTO Committee (NWTOC) 52
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FINAL R E P O R T Volume 1 MALDIVES
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GSP HACCP HDFC HDI HIES HH HRD HS I
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TRIPS TRTA TSA TTMP UAE UK UNCTAD U
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CHAPTER 6: CUSTOMS SERVICES AND TRA
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major stakeholders as the basis of
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C. ECONOMIC TRENDS Buoyant GDP grow
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WTO members (through the Committee
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The recommendations cover these iss
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Requirements Action no. Action reco
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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 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: This also requires policies that ta
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
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number of trainees that have been t
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established as a quality tourism de
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Maldives' unspoiled marine environm
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The Faculty works very closely with
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TOURISM ACT A key objective of the
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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
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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
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per cent - see Table 8.4. The secto
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In the light of these market trends
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documentation, and administration.
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monitoring and evaluation dates fro
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and catering industry chefs demand
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It is expected that the trial fishe
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• Can seaming and retorting; •
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DTIS, Volume I - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

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