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TARGETED SUPPORT TO THE REGIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (RMCE) FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE KEY TRADE COMPONENTS OF ITS APEI PROGRAMMES

Posted on: December 16, 2019

The two-days final training and validation workshop of the support programme “Targeted support to the Regional Multidisciplinary Centre of Excellence (RMCE) for the Implementation of the Key Trade Components of its APEI Programmes”, was held from 11^th to the 12^th December 2019 at the RMCE headquarters, Ebene, Mauritius and benefitted from the contributions of representatives of European Delegation to the Republic of Mauritius, as well as all the Representatives of RMCE Member States. Riccardo Tintis, Programme Manager of TradeCom II Programme attended the event, both as panellist and as participant.

The meeting was chaired by Fletcher Tawonga Nyirenda, Commissioner of Immigration (Operations) who expressed gratitude to TradeCom II for providing technical and financial support to APEI, in general and the RMCE.

The workshop was structured in 3 clusters:

1. Movement of business persons and professionals in APEI countries
In this session were presented the “Draft Framework for Implementation of the ABTC” and the “draft Architecture for information sharing and policy deliberation on the ABTC”. The setup of a Business Mobility Group (BMG) was also proposed during discussions. The BMG will identify issues relevant to connectivity, hold policy discussions and submit suggestions to governments.

2. Enhanced cooperation in trade in Architectural services
The Mutual Recognition Agreement deals with the facilitation of movement of professionals within member countries. An agreement can be reached as long as practices are not restrictive and common objectives are met during future negotiations with other countries in the region.

3. Enhanced APEI business climate and intra-private and private /public dialogue:
The second day of the workshop focuses on the presentation of:

• proposed Business Facilitation Framework for APEI Member States;
• Report from the in-house peer-review of the Business Facilitation framework held on 27 November 2019;
• List of Priority sectors in APEI.

Riccardo Tintis of TradeCom II then took the floor and encouraged the RMCE and all the stakeholders who participated in the event to make effective use of the outputs produced and now owned by APEI members. He described that the RMCE is now equipped to take the lead on issues of Business Facilitation, as well as providing capacity building and institutional development to enhance trade and investment among APEI countries and monitoring of the implementation of the MRA (for architects), as well make operational the APEI Business Travel card.