Preparation of an Action Plan and Logframe for the implementation of an upcoming EU Trade Development Programme

The Project at A Glance

Myanmar exhibits a comparative advantages in just a few sectors and remains highly concentrated on commodities and natural resource-based products. A key trend in Myanmar’s recent trade performance is low importance of trade in the economy and high degree of concentration in markets and products.
International Economics undertook an evaluation of the critical trade needs of Myanmar’s trade support institutions and provided a detailed Action Plan and Log Frame for the implementation of an EU-funded Trade Development Programme to be implemented from 2015-2018.

What We Found

After undergoing significant political and economic reform, the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) was reinstated in July 2013. Myanmar should benefit from the increased access to the EU and other markets following the reinstatement and therefore the EU is preparing for a delegated agreement contract for a “Trade Development Program” in Myanmar, which should cover areas such as trade policy and private sector development; trade facilitation; Food Safety and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS);and Quality Infrastructure.Our team helped design a project on Private Sector Development (PSD) focused on capacity strengthening for public and private sector stakeholders, with the aim of enhancing, planning and implementing sustainable economic development projects with a special view on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Our Strategy and Impact

The main outputs included, the delivery of a short position paper outlining the overlaps and complementarities of trade and private sector development, facilitation of a workshop with the EU and MOC, as well as conducting interviews with relevant stakeholders in Myanmar.The team has defined the programme based on earlier reports and updated with a field mission to Myanmar. The activities being proposed over a three-year time horizon will aim to raise the capacity of all stakeholders involved in trade policy formulation, trade negotiations and export promotion. The activities are divided into specific areas where technical expertise is required, equipment and materials may be procured, and building knowledge of horizontal and cross-cutting issues, which will support policy making in prioritised areas identified by the Government of Myanmar.

Our Core Solutions

As businesses seek to expand operations into new markets, the need to explore global supply chains and understand the international regulatory framework becomes crucial. At International Economics Consulting, we build tailor-made strategies for both import and export-oriented business solutions.