Presentation of the Seychelles' ESA-EU EPA Aid-for-Trade Development Matrix Consultants: Venessa Quatre & Guillaume Gérout Client: COMESA Project period: September 2013 - January 2014

1. ESA-EPA AID FOR TRADE
DEVELOPMENT MATRIX
Pilot Project
Presented by Venessa Quatre & Guillaume Gerout
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2. INTRODUCTION
 Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA):
 Trade and development agreements negotiated
between the EU and African, Caribbean & Pacific
regions engaged in a regional economic integration
process
 Aimed at promoting trade through trade
development, sustainable growth and poverty
reduction
 Seychelles signed the interim agreement in 2009
entry into force 2012
 Negotiations for full comprehensive EPA

3.  To determine ESA ( Eastern Southern African)
countries aid for trade needs arising from
conclusion of the full EPA with EU
 To determine the resource gap needed to
implement full EPA
 Using the worse case scenarios i.e. that ESA
countries are forced to take EU positions are
currently being proposed.
OBJECTIVES OF PILOT STUDY

4.  Assist the ESA countries to identify areas for
improving coordination & effectiveness of Aid
for Trade
 Mobilise additional resources to address
trade and development needs.
 Lead by COMESA Secretariat
OBJECTIVES Cont...

5. Scope of Work
 Matrix provided by COMESA secretariat
 290 articles : objectively verified indicators,
required costing of resources, duration, current
status of implementation, identified gaps,
responsible and supporting institution
 Duration of 2 months
 Consultations with relevant stakeholders

6. Findings : Identified Gaps
Gaps Cost (€)
Full Implementation 432,127,600
Capacity Building (85 %) 750,300
Lack of Funding for
participation in international
fora
96,600

7. Gaps Cont..
 High cost for Infrastructure  capitals
projects
 Weaknesses in regulatory framework : Lack
of concurrence with agreement (35 %)
 Poor knowledge of the EPA  Directly
implementing institutions had more
knowledge

8. Challenges
 Lack of capacity: few key personnel to provide
required information
 No response/feedback from relevant institutions
 Duration and timing of exercise
 Costing
 Lack of clarity with regards to the matrix
 Non applicability  definitions, principles, objectives,
pending negotiations

9. Priorities for EPA Implementation at
National Level
 5 priority projects to be further developed
 Consider the National Development
Strategy currently being drafted
 Ensure complementarity with national
direction
 Subject to change during second phase

10.  To ensure compliance of national regulatory
framework with the agreement
 Sensitisation of both public and private sector
 Capacity building
 One stop-shop for EPA implementation
 Exploit all the opportunities/potential of the
agreement
Priorities Cont...

11. Conclusion
 Exercise could serve as a basis for needs
identification for institutions
 Provided an insight on country’s needs
for full EPA implementation
 Need to note challenges and
shortcomings for second phase of project