Transcript Think Tank LLDC

International Think
Tank for LLDC’s
Third Meeting of Trade Ministers of LLDCs
Ezulwini, Kingdom of Swaziland
21-22 October 2009
Gunaajav Batjargal
Director
Department of Strategic Planning,
Analysis and Evaluation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, Mongolia
Outline






Background
Establishment of Think Tank
Steps taken so far
Mandates and Goals
Institutional Issues
Way Forward
Background



For Landlocked Developing Countries
(LLDCs) there is an increasing need for
research and policy work on trade
Mongolia was one of the pioneers to
organise and lead a Group of LLDCs in New
York since 1994 and acted as first Chair
In 2007, Mongolia hosted Second Meeting
of Trade Ministers of LLDCs
Establishment of Think Tank

The idea to improve the analytical capability of LLDCs
through establishing an international think tank was first
presented by the President of Mongolia at the First Summit
of the LLDCs in Havana in 2006.
“If we want to maximize the efficiency of our coordinated
efforts we should have an excellent analytical capacity. This
we believe could be reached through establishing an
international think-tank in one of our capitals. Putting such
a ‘brain’ in place we could build optimal strategies on any
matter of our interest and avoid duplication of our actions
and endeavors.”

At the previous meeting of Trade Ministers of LLDCs, in
Ulaanbaatar in 2007, the President of Mongolia specifically
invited to set up the Think Tank in Ulaanbaatar.
Some important documents supporting
the establishment of LLDCs Think Tank




Ulaanbaatar Declaration adopted at the Meeting of Trade Ministers
of LLDCs, Ulaanbaatar, 28-29 August 2007
Communique of the Seventh Annual Ministerial Meeting of
Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), New York, 28
September 2007
LLDCs Ministerial Communique, Accra, 22 April 2008 (on the
sideline of UNCTAD XII)
In addition, Mongolia promoted the idea through a number of
multilateral meetings, including the UNCTAD, the UNESCAP and
OSCE-Mongolia Conference
Steps Taken
Mongolia as the initiator took several important steps to
mobilize a broad support from the international community.
These include:



Midterm Review of the Almaty Program of Action by the
General Assembly in 2008 resulted in endorsing a separate
paragraph on the Think Tank
The UNESCAP session in April 2009 unanimously adopted a
full-fledged resolution in support of establishing the Think
Tank in Ulaanbaatar
With support from the UNDP, a feasibility study was carried
out to charter the ways and means of establishing the Think
Tank and in July 2009, the Government of Mongolia formally
decided to host the Think Tank
Opening Ceremony of International Think Tank
for the Landlocked Developing Countries
28 July 2009, Ulaanbaatar

The ceremony was attended by UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. In
his opening remarks, he said:
“It [Think Tank] will contribute to
further strengthening the analytical
capacities of landlocked developing
countries…help them better
articulate their positions throughout
the world.”
Substantive mandate
of International Think Tank
•
•
•
•

Think Tank in its full capacity will conduct research on the
following priority areas as identified in the Almaty Program of
Action:
Fundamental transit policy;
Infrastructure development and maintenance;
International trade and trade facilitation;
International support measures.
However, in order to carry out institutional and capacity
building smoothly, we expect that the Think Tank will focus
first on trade issues of the LLDCs which are more relevant and
can be more value-added, given the ongoing negotiations at
the WTO on Trade Facilitation.
Feasibility study* conducted by UNDP suggests the following mission
statement and key activities:
“Using top-quality research and advocacy the Institute endeavors to
improve the ability of landlocked developing countries to benefit from
international trade, with the ultimate aim of raising human
development and reducing poverty.”
Key activities should include:



Research papers and briefings on trade-related issues of LLDCs
Domestic and international advocacy on LLDCs
Promoting trade-related interests of LLDCs in international forums
including the WTO and UN
* PROPOSAL TO LAUNCH THINK TANK ON TRADE AND LANDLOCKED DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (LLDCs) IN
ULAANBAATAR, UNDP Mongolia; Daniel Gay & Haliun Dalantai
Short and medium-term goals




Publish policy paper on trade-related issues facing Mongolia
Compile and publish briefings and research papers on trade and
LLDCs
Establish a website
With support and assistance of UNOHRLLS, establish and
maintain regular contacts with LLDCs representatives, as well as
transit and donor countries




Help formulate and express the interests of LLDCs in
international forums, identify priority areas, and deliver
material or advocacy work related to those areas
Establish and maintain relations with a Group of LLDCs at the
UN Headquarters in New York, and with informal group of
such countries at the WTO in Geneva
Establish and develop a network with other institutions,
universities and consultants working in related areas
Achieve formal consultative status at the UN Economic and
Social Council
Long-term Goals
Can include the following:



Expand, if demand exists, to a fully-fledged
research institute and aim to attract visiting
professors on a regular basis
Publish a series of high-quality research papers on
trade and landlocked issues, through peer-reviewed
journals or as a book
Establish a reputation as a foremost international
institution on research and analysis on trade and
LLDCs
Operationalization
Above-mentioned Feasibility study suggests that
the Think Tank should initially consist of three staff:
director, one analyst and an operations/administrative
officer. Consultants should be recruited. Board of
governors, and an advisory council may be set up.
At the beginning stage, the Think Tank is currently
operating with interim director and one analyst, who
are fixed term staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade.
Financing Issues




Under this base-case scenario funding from the
Government is expected to be approximately US$93,000 in
the first year of operations using government rates and
US$177,000 using domestic commercial rates
Voluntary support from fellow LLDCs will be a key to
mobilize other resources
A second scenario is also presented: given additional donor
funding, staffing levels can be expanded during the second
year and the level of activities increased. Another four staff
at commercial rates would require additional external
donor financing of US$200,000 during year two
Ideally government and donor funding will remain at these
levels over the medium to long term. Five years of funding
would total to US$1.84 million. In the event of international
funding being secured, a trust fund may be set up under
international oversight
Creating links with other
institutions
Domestic









National Development and Innovation Committee
Institute of Strategic Studies
Transit Mongolia Programme
National University of Mongolia
Mongolian Development Research Centre
Mongolian University of Science and Technology
Centre for Policy Research
Proposed Mongolian Economic Policy Analysis Institute
Proposed Mongolian Centre for Responsible Mining
International
-
UNCTAD
WTO
UN Regional Commissions
UNDP and its Regional Bureaux
World Bank and Regional Development Banks
LLDCs, including their academia
International and regional research organizations and
programmes such as South Centre, ITC, AITIC and Central Asia
Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Programme
Way forward
What status would the Think Tank have?
There could be two options:
a/ determine its mandate and status through establishment
of intergovernmental agreement between LLDCs or
UNGA resolution
In this case, South Centre seems to be a wellfunctioning example. Collective effort and active support
of LLDCs is essential.
Mongolia desires an intergovernmental status to the
extent possible.
b/ Think Tank could be a research centre with public and
academic involvement.
Way forward



Enhance cooperation between national officials of
LLDCs by exchanging information and experience
through Think Tank’s website that will be soon
established
Documents containing information on Think Tank’s
activities will be sent by the Permanent Mission of
Mongolia in NY and Geneva
Mongolia is actively looking for funding. Some
donor countries and international organizations
expressed their readiness to make financial
contribution
International Think Tank
for the Landlocked Developing Countries
Contact details
Mr. Suren Badral
Interim Director of International Think Tank for LLDCs
Department of International Organizations
Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Tel: 976-51 262657
[email protected]
Thank you for your kind attention.