KATHMANDU, May 9: Acknowledging the fact that handling issues related to trade and its dynamism is beyond the capacity of civil servants, government has decided to set up Trade Policy Analytical Wing (TPAW) in the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS).
The wing comprising experts on trade policy and development will support the World Trade Organization (WTO) division and trade related issues at the MoCS.
“Analyzing the trade issues and policies is definitely beyond the capacity of administrative staffs,” Toya Narayan Gyawali, joint secretary of the ministry said. “It was decided to establish the TPAW in order to fill that gap.”
According to Gyawali, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has agreed to assist the ministry in this regard. “The wing will be completely under the WTO division of the ministry,” he said, “The purpose of establishing the wing is to be more efficient and prepare ourselves for bilateral and multilateral negotiation.”
Nepal which became a WTO member in 2004 has no such body in the ministry till the date. Referring to the frequent transfer of the staffs in the ministry, Gyawali said, “The wing of experts will always be there to support anyone that comes to work here.” The wing will have a maximum of 3 people, according to Gyawali.
Government prepared a Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010 -- a blueprint to boost the country´s export -- is looking forward to various bilateral and multilateral trade talks in different forums.
“We also need feedback from experts to know the trend of global trade before sitting for negotiations with different countries and agencies,” said Gyawali, who is also the chief of the WTO division. “Wing´s main responsibility will be to make a sound base for negotiation and provide feedback for decision making.”
The government is preparing to have regular bilateral talk with countries like the US, China and Bangladesh in the near future.
“The wing will be established now in the temporary basis,” Gyawali said, “We might think of making it a permanent body of the ministry after some time.” The government has completed the trade policy review of the country under WTO norms in March.
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