ACCELERATED PROGRAM FOR ECONOMIC INTEGRATION (APEI)

Transcription

1 ACCELERATED PROGRAM FOR ECONOMIC INTEGRATION (APEI) VALIDATION WORKSHOP ON THE DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) FOR FACILITATION OF MOVEMENT OF PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE BETWEEN THE APEI COUNTRIES Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel, Port Louis, Mauritius 17th-18th August 2015

2 VALIDATION WORKSHOP ON THE DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) FOR FACILITATION OF MOVEMENT OF PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESS PEOPLE BETWEEN THE APEI COUNTRIES 17 th -18 th AUGUST 2015, LABOURDONNAIS WATERFRONT HOTEL PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS Contents Table of Abbreviations... 3 Introduction... 4 Country highlights on reports and implementation status of APEI and other regional economic integration protocols - Trade in services/movement, establishment and residence of business people and professionals... 4 Presentation of the proposed MOU for facilitation of movement of professionals and business people between the APEI countries TMP Work Program... 6 Way Forward... 6 Annex 1: Agenda... i Annex 2: List of Participants... i Annex 3: Draft Memorandum of Understanding... i Page 2 of 7

3 Table of Abbreviations APEI DGF ICT IOM MOU NWG RMCE RWG TMP TOR Accelerated Program for Economic Integration Development Grant Facility Information and communications technology International Organisation for Migration Memorandum of Understand National Working Group Regional Multi Disciplinary Centre of Excellence Regional Working Group Talent Mobility Partnership Terms of reference Page 3 of 7

4 Introduction 1. The Accelerated Program for Economic Integration (APEI) workshop on the validation of the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the facilitation of movement of business people and professionals was held in Port Louis, Mauritius on 17 th and 18 th August. Delegates from Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and Zambia, along with a representative of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), attended the workshop. The workshop agenda and list of participants are attached as Annex I and Annex II, respectively. 2. The Chairperson of the APEI committee welcomed the delegates and, in her opening remarks, expressed her gratitude to the Regional Multi-Disciplinary Centre of Excellence (RMCE) and relevant authorities in Mauritius for the support to organise the workshop. The Deputy Director of Trade Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Mauritius, Mr. N. Boodhoo on behalf of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mauritius welcomed the delegates to Mauritius and expressed his satisfaction that the validation workshop that was long outstanding is taking place. He also stressed on the importance of the Talent Mobility Partnership (TMP) program for the APEI and wished that the workshop will clear outstanding issues of the MOU which is one of the primary objectives of the APEI. 3. The RMCE Officer-in-charge, Mr. P. Hurry expressed his gratitude for the funding made available through the World Bank s Development Grant Facility (DGF) for the TMP. He informed the participants that the TMP program was also being implemented in East and West Africa and the APEI could exchange knowledge and experiences with these regions. 4. The workshop adopted the agenda of the meeting, which is attached as Annex I. Country highlights on reports and implementation status of APEI and other regional economic integration protocols - Trade in services/movement, establishment and residence of business people and professionals 5. Progress achieved on the movement of businesspersons and professionals are as follows: Malawi: TORs on transport sector are being implemented and awaiting comments from APEI Member states. Cabinet approved delegations of work and business residence permits to the Chief Immigration Officer. Presently, all APEI member states do not require visa to enter Malawi. Work is in progress for the launching of E-Visa. Page 4 of 7

5 Seychelles: Seychelles is in the process of harmonising its immigration laws since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO). Only one permit is issued for both the resident and work permits and is called the Gainful Occupation permit. Mauritius: Following the establishment of a new Government in December 2014, a new national coordinator has been appointed for the APEI. National Working Group (NWG) and other sub working groups meetings are held on the implementation of the APEI and TMP MOU requirements. Visa requirements to enter Mauritius have been eliminated for most African countries. The country is already implementing most of the requirements in the MOU. The private sector and the relevant authorities are working in close collaboration to achieve the desired objective of the proposed MOU. Zambia: The proposed MOU is generally in line with the laws and policies of the country. The current status of the country is that entry visas are not a requirement for APEI countries. Business visits are free up to 30 days within a given period of 12 months. Ordinary visits are free until 90 days within any given period of 12 months. Over and above the 30 days and 90 days respectively, there is a provision for various short term and long term permits under the Immigration and Deportation Act of Zambia. To promote efficiency, an Electronic Visa System is expected to be launched in September Mozambique: MOU is a big challenge and clarifications were sought. The Government passed a new legislation regarding the facilitation of movement of foreigners regarding work permit and visas. 6 Additional discussion was held regarding occupation and work permits: Mauritius further highlighted that non-citizens require either an occupation permit or a work permit. The Occupation Permit is a combined work and residence permit applicable to professionals drawing a monthly salary above MUR45,000/-, except for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector where the minimum monthly salary is MUR30,000/-. However, low skilled foreign workers require a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training as well as a residence permit issued by the Passport and Immigration Office. Measures are being taken to streamline the issuance of work permits. Page 5 of 7

6 Presentation of the proposed MOU for facilitation of movement of professionals and business people between the APEI countries 7 RMCE introduced the draft MOU, which was examined clause by clause, under the guidance of the Chairperson. The draft of the revised MOU with track changes is enclosed as Annex III to this report TMP Work Program 8 The APEI countries were reminded of the DGF resources for 2015 and the need to discuss with RMCE how best to use the grant to address needs at country level and also for common interests at the regional (APEI) level. The resources could be used to strengthen national working group (NWG) activities and therefore increasing country ownership, and engaging local consultants to support NWG activities, among others. 9 In response, some of the countries indicated tentative areas where the DGF resources could be applied, such as organizing national sensitization workshops to build awareness on the APEI, engaging consultants to carry out core activities, producing handbooks on the APEI MOU, etc. Way Forward 10 The workshop mandated the RMCE to circulate the draft MOU with comments to all countries for consultation at national level. It was also agreed that countries should submit their comments to RMCE by 20 th Sep 2015 for a revised version following which a workshop will be organised by beginning November 2015 to finalise the MOU. RMCE will also schedule videoconferences as may be necessary. Page 6 of 7

7 Annex 1: Agenda Annex 2: List of Participants Annex 3: Draft Memorandum of Understanding i P age