UNCTAD Expert Meeting on Environmental Requirements and Trade

1
UNCTAD Expert Meeting on Environmental
Requirements and Trade

• Romi Manandhar
• Under Secretary (Technical)
• Geneve, (2 4 October 2002)

2
Introduction

• Landlocked country in South Asia
• Land area 147,181 sq. km.
• Population 23 million growing at 2.38
• Per Capita Income US 242
• Economic growth rate 5
• Agriculture 39.2 to GDP employs over 74
• Industry 20 to GDP manufacturing 10
• 9th Plan goal Globalization of Economy
• Accession to WTO additional opportunities of
  export also SAFTA

3
Environmental Performance and Problems

• 60 different industrial catagory hotspots
• 6 high priority industry categories Cement,
  Leather, Paper Pulp, Soap Chemicals, Sugar,
  Textile
• Carpet, Readymade Garment and Leather 65
  contribution to total export
• Ban on import of Textile Leather Goods with Azo
  dyes affected export from Nepal
• Weak institutional capability for IPCM
• Limited ability to enforce QC

4
Environmental Performance and Problems (Contd.)

• Formulated 5 Effluent Standards manadatory
• No environmental standards on products
  processes
• NBSM National Standard Body Accreditation
• Fairly equipped Lab but lacks capacity for
  ecological parameter testing
• Lack of maintenance sophisticated equipment
• Limited accredited labs 4 only in capital city

5
Environmental Performance and Problems (Contd.)

• Environmental Agency very new MOPE (1995)
• EPA 1996, EPR 1997, Standards 2001 April
• Departments under MOICS Dual responsibilities
• Awareness level quite low
• HRD lack of practical skills
• Lack of Information Center

6
Some achievements

• Environmental Labelling for export Industries in
  Nepal (1999-2002)
• FINNIDA assisted
• 3 components
• Awareness creation, Trainings, Ref. Mat., some
  equipments, capacity build up, 7 certificate
  awarded
• Significant cost savings, improved env.
  performance
• Environmental Sector Programme Support

7
Capacity Building Needs

• Environmental Policies develop, review
  improve
• Existing Legislation, new Standards, enforcement
  International requirements
• Awareness materials, guidelines manuals
• Environmental Protection Conservation Center
• More lab facilities and monitoring of performance
• Information Center international trade
  requirement
• Eco-labeling project extension new fields
• Tourism Organic Agri-products
• HRD

8
Role of UNCTAD

• Capacity Building
• Special Differencial Treatment
• Information Center
• Assist in obtaining technical financial
  assistance for capacity building
• International Eco-label or EMS certification
  very costly should not be a barrier to trade

ABM