UN-ESCAP has proposed this project following the findings and implementation of Phase-I (project funded by IDRC, Canada) of ARTNet, which revealed the need for assistance and capacity building in research and policy analysis of the developing
member countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). In the Region, the research and academic institutions are either non-existent or lacking in human and financial resources. Even those which are working in the field of trade and investments policy analysis have limited interactions outside their own Sub-region. This project, therefore, with twin objectives of increasing political economy capacity and services for trade, takes into account the felt-need and based on the lessons learned from implementation of ARTNet Phase-I endeavours to find modalities to setup regular and informal platform
for interactions with ARTNet members, policy makers and advisers. The project findings are expected to increase the regional capacity of GMS members countries to:
(i) negotiate, conclude and implement multilateral and regional trade and investment agreements designed to promote inter and intra-regional trade and investments flows; and
(ii) develop and implement trade and investment policies and programmes designed to enhance supply-side capacity with international competitiveness of exports. Trade and Investment Division (Trade Policy Section) of UN-ESCAP will be the principal implementing agency of the research project to be completed in about 16 months at a total cost of USD 150,000. The UN-ESCAP has requested SDC to provide assistance for the said amount
