Transcript Pakistan Trade and Investment Policy Program (PTIPP)

Pakistan Trade and Investment Policy
Program (PTIPP)
Islamabad Post
22 April 2016
Pakistan’s Connectivity in the Region
South Asia’s intraregional trade is 5% of its
total trade. In comparison,
ASEAN intra-regional
trade is over 25% of the
region
Pakistan is the least
regionally integrated
country in South Asia
Pakistan’s three sea ports
has the potential to link
Central and West Asia to
the Arabian Sea
Pakistan lies at a key trade
route between energy-rich
(W&C.Asia) and
countries with high
demand for energy
(S. Asia)
PTIPP Overview
•
•
•
Timeline: July 2015 – June 2018
Total Value: AUD 9.9 million
Implementing Partner: World Bank Group
Core Pillars
1. Trade Strategy
2. Institutional Strengthening
3. Trade Facilitation
4. Heritage Tourism
Implementation Progress
Medium Term Regional
Strategy
• Regional Trade Office established
• Export Competitiveness and Transit Trade
• Free Trade Agreements (Pakistan-China
FTA)
• Gender and Trade Studies
Heritage Tourism
• Scoping studies for Sikh tourism circuit
completed.
• Initial study on Buddhist tourist circuit
underway
• Study on entrepreneurship in the tourism
sector underway
Trade Facilitation
• Time Release Study – Torkham Border
Post (Pakistan-Afghanistan)
• Implementation of Wagha Border
(Pakistan-India) Time Release Study
recommendations.
Institutional Strengthening
• Technical assistance on regulatory and
institutional improvements in the
Pakistan's Commerce Ministry and
associated Departments
• Activities put on hold until the work on the
Medium Term Strategy completed and the
strategic direction defined
Challenges
Evolving politics in the region
• Pakistan’s political and economic relationship with India,
Afghanistan and Iran
• National Security Concerns
Government of Pakistan’s commitment to adopt
and drive reform
• Intra-governmental coordination
• Economic protectionism
Gender inclusion
• Only 3 percent of women are involved in economic
activities in Pakistan’s formal sector
Management Response
Political
Engagement
• Participation in the World Bank South Asia
Regional Cooperation Champions Meetings
Policy
Reform
• Exploring use of the World Bank’s Policy Credit
as lever for the reform progress
Gender
• Targeted activities designed to expand the pool
of women entrepreneurs
• Negotiated 25% full time equivalent time of
WB Social Development Adviser to PTIPP
QUESTIONS?