Congo, Democratic Republic of -Enhanced Integration Framework Program (EIF) :diagnostictrade integration study

World Bank

World Bank

关键词: ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES;    AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT;    AGRICULTURE;    AIR;    AIR NAVIGATION;   

RP-ID  :  59561

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The goal of the Congo, DemocraticRepublic of (DRC's) trade policy is to create aregulatory, fiscal and institutional environment in whichdomestic and foreign trade can develop unhindered, openingup the country's vast territory and integrating it intoregional and international trade channels. In this respect,the analyses in this report highlight three priorities: (i)to streamline and reduce port taxation; (ii) to conclude thenegotiations on a future Economic Partnership Agreement(EPA) with the European Union (EU); and (iii) to move aheadwith regional integration with the DRC's naturalpartners. The identification of these priorities is based onthe diagnosis of the DRC's macroeconomic and tradeperformance and the implications of its choices in terms oftrade policy Although it is sometimes said that naturalresources are 'a curse' when referring to thedisappointing performance of many commodity-exportingcountries, work carried out recently has .shown that anabundance of natural resources is not, in itself, a factorinhibiting growth. What is important for the DRC and for allother commodity-exporting countries is to put in place anenvironment that is beneficial for all sectors of theeconomy, in which all people and sectors have access tofactors of production in a competitive environment where therule of law is respected. A stable macroeconomic environmentis the essential prerequisite for efficient markets. TheCongolese economy, however, has recently been subject toconsiderable pressures. During the last quarter of 2008,commodity prices temporarily collapsed. In addition,disturbances in the Eastern provinces led the Government toincrease spending on national defence, financing thisthrough a loan from the Central Bank. This unrest led tomarket fears concerning the stability of the Congolesefranc, helping to cause its depreciation. Theauthorities' response in terms of macroeconomic policyhas been ambiguous, particularly as regards monetary policy.This report is divided into five chapters: implementationand recommendations; trade performance and the policy in theDRC; trade facilitation; performance of sectors upstream:infrastructure and services; and performance of sectorsdownstream: mining, agriculture, and forestry.