The second component of the EC-funded Multilateral Trade Assistance Project III (MUTRAP III) will provide US$1.7 million for between 8 and 10 projects to strengthen the capacity of trade policy building for Vietnamese business associations and universities.

The Delegation of the European Commission (EC) to Vietnam held a meeting with representatives from business associations and universities in Hanoi on November 12 to invite tenders for the component.

The project package aims to turn business associations into effective consultants on trade policies and market access issues for the government. It will also help universities to improve the standards of their teaching and research regarding trade policies and laws.

On November 6, the EC held a similar bidding invitation session in Ho Chi Minh City. MUTRAP III, which has a total investment capital of EUR10 million (US$12.7 million), has been implemented since July 2008 and will run until June 2012 with the aim of strengthening the capacity for the Ministry of Industry and Trade in implementing WTO commitments, formulating trade policies and negotiating regional and bilateral free-trade agreements.

Initiated in 1998, MUTRAP is designed to assist Vietnam in carrying out a wide range of activities, from WTO accession negotiations to implementing WTO commitments and addressing post-WTO impacts. The first phase of the project was implemented from 1998 to 2004 and the second phase, from 2005 to 2008.

(CPV/VOV)