The EuroMed countries of Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia and Turkey form one of the least economically integrated regions in the world, with their 2020 share of exports representing less than 4% of all exported goods in the world.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, those exports fell by 15% compared to 2019, and dropped by almost 40% in April and May 2020. However, ITC data shows the potential for trade in goods in the region could reach $25 billion by 2025.
In 2017, ITC’s EuroMed Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism launched the EuroMed Trade Helpdesk online platform to provide trade in goods data at both product and market levels, market access conditions, trade statistics, business, institutional contacts, and to allow businesses to address their questions to relevant authorities.
In 2022, the Enhanced Euromed Trade Helpdesk launch will provide a wider national network to address user’s questions and cover trade in services and investment related statistics. New features will include export potential indicators, rules of origin at product level, and official Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) notifications to the WTO.
We will also conduct small and medium sized businesses surveys to identify obstacles faced by companies and allow entrepreneurs to share with policymakers their import-export concerns, and hold trainings on market analysis and on the EuroMed Trade Helpdesk.
<p>The Euromed Trade and Investment Facilitation Mechanism project (TIFM) phase II builds on the success of phase I, implemented by ITC between Jan. 2014 and Jun. 2017. </p><p>On 30<sup>th</sup> June 2017, ITC launched the Euromed Trade Helpdesk, an online tool and problem-solving network enhancing regional trade transparency. In March 2018, Trade Ministers from the Mediterranean region endorsed the Helpdesk as a pioneering tool for comprehensive regional trade intelligence. During the first 3 years of its existence, the Helpdesk attracted more than 34,000 users who accessed transparent and reliable market information. </p><p>Following positive feedback and requests for more information and engagement, ITC designed TIFM II to include more data, covering investment and trade in services, to deepen the understanding of trade obstacles in the region, and to strengthen the sustainability and ownership of the initiative.</p><p>ITC will implement this new phase in collaboration with public and private sectors in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia, providing support by fostering regional trade integration, reducing risks within global value chains, and addressing COVID-19 challenges.</p>
<p>The overall objective of the proposed project is to attract investment and promote trade and sustainable industrial and business development at continental level, concretely supporting the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Union and delivering on the Africa-EU partnership for sustainable growth and jobs. </p><p>The project contributes to this objective by</p><ul><li>identifying trade and investment opportunities along regional value chains with potential at continental scale in Africa, including potential for investment by EU economic operators;</li><li>Strengthening the EU-Africa dialogue on trade and economic integration, informing high-level events such as the upcoming AU-EU Summit and European- African Business Forum (EABF)</li><li>identifying pilot/selected continental value chains that could be targeted for support in the EU 2021-27 aid programming exercise.</li></ul><p>It supports the implementation of the AfCFTA and ITC's One Trade Africa Initiative.</p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The project aims to provide tailored technical assistance and capacity building to key stakeholders and institutions in Algeria <span lang="EN-AU">to design and sucessfully implement a National Trade Strategy (NTS). NTS is expected</span> is to contribute to diversification of Algeria’s economy reducing its vulnerability to commodity market shocks, by benefiting from trading opportunities and improved competitiveness in priority sectors. </span></p>
<p>The project aims to respond to the COVID crisis and the recent increase in demand for e-commerce due to the lockdowns in most MENA countries and the social distancing requirements that should last longer than the lockdowns. Retail businesses are struggling to find a way to reach customers and retain sales during this crisis.</p><p>The project will aim to support this challenge by offering women-led SMEs in MENA an opportunity to learn, in English, French and Arabic, about the fundamentals of doing business via e-commerce, managing logistics and utilizing digital marketing channels. These e-learnings will be delivered through a short series of webinars and facilitated, interactive online deep dive clinics.</p>
ITC’s work in the Middle East and North Africa regions includes encouraging the exports of textiles and clothing to promote employment and income generation throughout the value chain. This includes focusing on institutional infrastructure and policy as well as product diversification, digitalization and e-commerce, social and environmental sustainability and gender inclusivity.
