Mozambique

THE PROJECT

This project started in 2005 with the aim of strengthening the capacities of the Mozambican Government for the WTO negotiations on agriculture in the Doha Round. It aimed at facilitating the participation of Mozambique in the trade negotiation process by establishing clear, policy-based negotiating positions and by integrating them into the ongoing negotiation positions at the different levels. The project obtained successful results but the suspension of the Doha negotiation for almost a year in the second part of 2006 had a direct impact on the project which activities were temporarily halted. With almost no activity in 2007, the discussions held with the Government led to a redefinition of the project. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce expressed interest to receive support for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union that Mozambique undertakes within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Therefore, the project was redesigned in 2008 to take into account the new needs for assistance. IDEAS Centre subsequently provided policy and negotiating advice as well as analytical and research support on trade in services to help the Mozambican Government develop a negotiating strategy which is in line with its development interests. The project also helped the government during the parallel ongoing negotiations within SADC with respect to the SADC Protocol on Trade in Services.

Objectives

The objectives of the projects were to:

• Provide the Ministry of Industry and Commerce with various scenarios of negotiating strategies and positions in its service negotiations within the EPA negotiations;
• Provide analysis of negotiating texts and possible positions of Mozambique taking into account position of trading partners;
• Address any issues identified by the chief negotiator by giving:
  • Second opinions;
  • Analysis of experience in other countries;
  • Comparisons with similar negotiations.