SPEED Project Quarterly Report October - December 2012

The project's goal is to increase trade and investment, resulting in a stronger competitive position for Mozambican firms and creating local opportunities for jobs and income growth. SPEED focuses on reforming trade and investment policies and emphasizes the policy implementation process, including monitoring implementation of reforms. The project delivers training and technical assistance that builds the capacity of business associations and corresponding government institutions and catalyzes trade and investment in Mozambique. SPEED also operates a grants fund to complement the training and technical assistance activities with associations and government. The project's approach is demand-driven and flexible, placing a high premium on the use of Mozambican expertise to achieve sustainable results. DAI and Nathan Associates implement the project with the assistance of local contractor SAL & Caldeira. The activities described in this report are divided into four thematic sections: business environment, trade, and investment; tourism and biodiversity; agriculture; and democracy and governance. In the business environment, trade, and investment sector, SPEED works with the private sector and government to improve the business environment via a wide range of partnerships and activities at both the macro and micro level. At the macro level, SPEED worked with the Tax Authority and Customs to improve the country's foreign trade systems, which will help spur competitiveness and economic growth. At the municipal level in Maputo, SPEED supported the government's efforts to improve the country's ranking in the IFC/World Bank's Doing Business report, resulting in concrete recommendations and reforms that are estimated to save businesses around 130 days to obtain their construction permits. SPEED also works to strengthen the key institutions required for a strong business environment. An example includes support to the INCM to improve their ability to set and monitor quality of service standards. In addition, SPEED has invested strongly in building the capacity of CTA, the Confederation of Business Associations, which is the main private sector interlocutor with government on business environment issues. SPEED contributes both the Executive Director and Senior Advisor to CTA, and implements many projects jointly. In the agriculture sector, SPEED's activities center upon direct support to the Ministry of Agriculture's Senior Economic Advisor to the Minister, whose primary responsibility is to develop the Agriculture Investment Plan. The plan aims to increase the competitiveness of agriculture in Mozambique by improving the business environment, increasing access to finance, and enhancing the capacity of farmers and agricultural businesses. SPEED also supports the development of a comprehensive agriculture investment plan, which will provide a framework for investment in the sector. SPEED's efforts in the tourism and biodiversity sector focus on supporting the development of the tourism industry in Mozambique. The project works with the government and private sector to improve the business environment for tourism, including the development of a tourism investment plan and the establishment of a tourism development corporation. SPEED also supports the implementation of the Open Skies initiative, which aims to increase air connectivity between Mozambique and other countries in the region. In the democracy and governance sector, SPEED's efforts focus on supporting the government's efforts to improve the business environment and increase transparency and accountability. The project works with the government and civil society to improve the policy-making process, including the development of a corporate code of ethics and the implementation of a public participation framework. SPEED also supports the publication of a book on public probity law and provides technical assistance to the Attorney General's office. Overall, SPEED's activities aim to improve the business environment in Mozambique, increase trade and investment, and create local opportunities for jobs and income growth. The project's demand-driven and flexible approach, combined with its focus on building the capacity of Mozambican institutions and expertise, positions it well to achieve sustainable results and contribute to the country's economic development.