May 24th, 2009 
Cambodia Economy The Cambodian Ministry of Commerce, together with four of its development partners, launched a $12.6 million Trade Development Support Program (TDSP) on March 23, 2009, aimed at assisting Cambodia to expand its international trade. The program is financed by the European Commission, the Danish International Aid Agency (Danida) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and it will be administered by the World Bank.
The program focuses on legal reforms, trade facilitation and product standards, and is designed to empower the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to facilitate trade by improving regulations and internal processes. TDSP is part of the trade sector-wide approach (known as the Trade SWAp), which unites all activities funded by development partners to assist the RGC to enhance its trade potential. The Trade SWAp covers activities in different areas – from fisheries to rubber and tourism – through addressing legal reform, product and service development for exports and capacity development for trade, and takes on board many of the RGC’s ongoing re forms in such areas as decentralization and public finance management.
H.E. Dr. Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister, Minister of Commence, said in his speech that, with support from development partners, the RGC believes the Trade SWAp will strengthen partnerships with the private sector.
“It is a strong commitment of the RGC to translate Aid for Trade into concrete actions that will contribute to a more robust private sector and overall income generation,” said Dr. Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister, Minister of Commence. “Since Cambodia is the first nation to apply a sector-wide approach in the trade sector, it is a proud moment for the Minister of Commerce and Development Partners to say that ‘The Trade SWAp is established officially today.”
“With global trade expected to shrink in 2009 for the first time in 27 years and Cambodia’s economy under real pressure, we need to find wider export markets and bigger investors for Cambodia,” said Qimiao Fan, World Bank Country Manager, “We aim to help Government agencies make business easy for local and foreign business people who want to contribute to Cambodia’s growth.”
“For us, it is important to help Cambodia benefit to the maximum extent from the duty-free access that it enjoys to the vast market of the European Union,” said Rafael Dochao Moreno, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Delegation of the European Commission. “Our $9 million contribution will go a long way to increasing Cambodia’s trade.”
Tom Barthel Hansen, Head of Representation, of Danida said: “Danida is proud to be a partner in this program – which has even more relevance now as we face a major global economic crisis.We want to support the strengthening of Cambodia’s economic base and ensure that investors and local businesses are able to benefit from global trade.
This will be critical to sustaining growth into the future, and improving the livelihoods of many millions of Cambodians.”
Ayumi Fujino, Head of Regional UNIDO office said: “As the UN agency responsible for industrial development, UNIDO is committed to contribute to the enhancement of trade capacity in order for Cambodian business and industry sectors to fully participate in and benefit from the opportunities in the global market. It is our great pleasure, therefore, to be a part of this profound initiative made possible through a strategic alliance with the Government and development partners and to witness its commencement.”
(Source: The World Bank Newsletter, April 2009)
Posted in 
Tags: 
