Export and Trade Promotion Background

23 Priorities for Next Reporting Period None

2.6 Export and Trade Promotion Background

Fish export competitiveness. There are a number of issues that broadly fall under a heading of fish export competitiveness in The Gambia and that transcend all of the export fisheries including sole, shrimp, and a few others. One of these issues, which has been raised by the industrial fish processors, is the concern over the current pricing of shrimp on the world market—an issue that cannot be controlled locally. Since the price of fish commodities is determined on the world market, the only factor that can be locally controlled is the cost of capture, processing and marketing of these export products. That said, the high price of electricity—the highest cost factor in fish processing for maintaining freezing facilities, etc.— makes this difficult. Processers are asking for reduced electricity rates to make them more internationally competitive. Report Period Accomplishments In this first year of the Project, a thorough assessment of the issues described above was to be conducted to document in more detail the relative costs in The Gambia vis-à-vis other exporters in the region. The goal was to prepare a policy brief that can clearly document the issues and provide a number of policy alternatives for consideration. The report on competitiveness issues will be initiated in the next reporting period. The report on electricity prices has been canceled for this year as electricity prices were reduced during this reporting period so no longer viewed as a priority for review. Other competitiveness issues are being captured in the sole and shrimp value chain studies. Outputs Expected Year 1 Outputs Actual To Date Report on competitiveness issues for fish export processers in The Gambia Canceled as electricity prices were reduced during this reporting period so no longer viewed as a priority for review Key Results No. Indicator Target Actual Oct09-March10 10 of reports documenting transboundary issues 1 canceled 24 Changes in Program Activities Canceled as electricity prices were reduced during this reporting period so no longer viewed as a priority for review.

2.7 Biodiversity Conservation Background