T R A D E I N S E R V I C E S N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 E-GOVERNANCE Trade and Nurses TRADE IN EDUCATION SERVICES Balance of Trade in Services BELIZE COALTION OF SERVICES PROVIDERS Management D I R E C T O R A T E G E N E R A L Consulting F O R F O R E I G N T R A D E I S S U E 3 TRADE IN SPORTING SERVICES Editorial Team: Contributers: Cindy Novelo, Trade Economist, Latin America Unit Alexia Peralta, Project Officer, Public- Private Desk in the Office of the Harnadar Singh Tut, Intern Prime Minister. Technical Secretariat to the Economic Development Andy Sutherland, Director General Council. Nurses and Midwives Council of Belize Belize Coaltiion of Service Providers (NMCB) Ministry of Education,Youth, Sports Tricia Gideon, Trade Economist, and Culture CARICOM CSME Unit, Directorate General for Foreign Trade (DGFT) Belize Coalition of Service Providers The National Sports Council of Belize Creative Team: Tricia Gideon, Trade Economist, CARICOM/CSME Unit Produced and published by the Directorate General for Foreign Trade CONTENTS 01 E-Governance: A Brave New World 03 Trade and Nurses 09 Trade in Education Services 16 Balance of Trade in Services 17 Belize Coalition of Service Providers (BCSP) 19 Top 10 Achievements for the BCSP in 2020 20 Management Consulting 27 Trade in Sporting Services 01 | WWW.DGFT.GOV.BZ E-GOVERNANCE A B R A V E N E W W O R L D By Alexia Peralta Many nations, especially the Republic of Project Officer, Public-Private Desk in the Estonia being the model in e-Government, are Office of the Prime Minister. Technical making strides in their efforts to utilize the Secretariat to the Economic Development power of e-Government to drive economic and Council. social transformation by transforming Long lines, spaces overcrowded with storage themselves into a digital society. boxes, slow service, costly transactions and endless paper work…these are some of the These success stories have proven that e- problems currently faced when trying to access Government can help governments achieve public service. We have all been there. If only improved efficiencies and reductions in there was a solution… a solution that would processes and costs in the delivery of reduce the need to stand in a queue in a services. By transforming themselves into a congested government office to submit paper digital society, these nations have experienced work in order to access a basic service such an exponential growth in GDP, improved data as renewing your driver’s license. As a matter sharing and communication and greater of fact, the solution already exists in countries transparency through better formalization of around the world - Electronic Government! business activity, increased productivity and participation by the people. If this is clearly the E-Government is the new and ambitious way way towards economic and social of utilizing Information and Communication development, then what is the Government of Technology (ICT) to bring governments closer Belize doing to harness the power of e- to its people. Belize currently boasts nation- Government to transform our paper-based wide fibre optic connectivity for high-speed society towards a new and efficient digital broadband internet that will allow for major society? improvements in the delivery of government services. Basic services - application for birth The Government of Belize through the Central certificates, permits and licenses, passports Information Technology Office (CITO) has and visas, the filing for payments and refund of already begun transforming our society taxes, and so on - can be automated and through international partnerships, policies delivered through secure, efficient and cost- and projects aimed at leveraging the power of effective online portals. ICT to improve efficiencies across various public services. 02 | WWW.DGFT.GOV.BZ In fact, the Government of Belize has Other government initiatives include the partnered with the Government of the Republic amalgamation of the Income and Business of China (Taiwan) through a bilateral Tax Departments to the newly improved Belize agreement to promote cooperation in the area Tax Service and automation of operational of Information and Communication Technology processes being led by the Ministry of Finance (ICT). Other key foundational initiatives include and the launch of an improved user-friendly the development of a National E-Government website by the Ministry of Natural Resources Policy, Strategy and Plan of Action, and the allowing for improved communication and current development of an e-Government enhanced efficiency and responsiveness in Road Map aimed to guide us towards an e- the delivery of their services. Government platform in Belize. In addition, a number of upcoming projects While strides have been made in setting the including the full roll out of Microsoft Office framework for e-Government, it is safe to say 365, implementation of the Belize Motor that public administrations still face challenges Vehicle Service Platform and the e-Portal will in accessing the technology and expertise to ensure that the public sector is up to date with convert its paper-based services to e-services. the pace of technological developments. The Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Ultimately, these projects will facilitate the Registry is a prime example, which has transformation of public administration, resulted in a cumbersome first interaction thereby making it easier for end-users. between business owners and government for the registration of a business. Often times this The roll-out of eGovernment in Belize will not inefficient service delivery determines the only see the adaptation of technology to fit the willingness of private sector to formalize. The work of government, but also transform the Economic Development Council (EDC), government to better fit the technological through its secretariat, the Public-Private Desk, demands of the twenty-first century. This is in partnership with the Compete Caribbean our chance to transform the way citizens Partnership Facility II and the Inter-American interact with government, but also to alter the Development Bank has led the way in way government sees itself and the way leveraging ICT as a means to re-engineer and government delivers services in a citizen- digitize the business registration process to centric way that satisfies end users by achieve improved efficiencies through the enabling government workers to adapt to the reduction of processes and time, making digital age. registering your business easier and quicker than ever before. , 03 | WWW.DGFT.GOV.BZ T R A D E A N D 72% of health services were N U R S E S traded primarily by developed countries. By Tricia Gideon Trade Economists, CARICOM/CSME Unit, Directorate General for Foreign Trade (DGFT) The productivity of an economy’s labour force depends on how educated, skilled and healthy it is. These characteristics also feed into the quality of a country’s educational and health systems. Education, health and environmental services account for a small share of trade at present but are rising rapidly. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO) 2019 report, trade in health services, from complex surgery to rejuvenation treatments, was estimated at US$54 billion in 2017, with a share in world trade in services of only 0.4%; however, with a steady annual average growth of 11% since 2005. Globally, more than 72% of health services were traded primarily by developed economies through affiliated hospitals and medical centres in other countries. [1] [1] World Trade Organization, (2019). World Trade eport 2019: The Future of Services Trade.. Available at https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/03_wtr19 _2_e.pdf. Accessed on the 25 March 2020. 04 | WWW.DGFT.GOV.BZ According to the Caribbean Council, by Health Services are traded on the 2021, the global health tourism market is international market through four modes. estimated to generate between US$46.6 The first mode is cross border delivery which billion and US$125 billion per annum, with a specifically covers shipment of laboratory compound annual growth rate between 13% samples, diagnosis, second opinions and and 19%. Caribbean countries that are well clinical consultation results through connected by air have advanced medical traditional mail and electronic channels. [3] facilities and are able to attract well qualified The second mode is the consumption of physicians, as well as support staff and health services abroad which covers a therapists will be well placed to capitalise on patient’s movement to another nation to all aspects of health tourism. [2] receive medical treatment. The third mode is commercial presence, which covers the establishment of health facilities in foreign countries. The fourth mode is the movement of health personnel, which is the establishment of any health personnel in another country. Internationally, Belize has made commitments in trade in health services in the areas of general medical services (CPC 93121), neuro-surgery (CPC 93121**), [2] The Caribbean Council, (2019). The Challenge of epidemiological services (CPC 93121**), and Developing Health Tourism. Available at https://www.caribbean-council.org/challenge- CATSCAN services (CPC 93122**). Belize developing-health-tourism/ . Accessed on the 26 has liberalized modes 1, 2 and 3 for these March 2020. sectors. However, in the areas of mode 4, [3] Chanda, Rupa (2001). Trade due to the sensitivity of the movement of in Health Services. World Health Organization. persons across borders and to protect the Available at local labour force, most countries have put in ttps://www.who.int/bulletin/archives/en/80(2)158.pdf place restrictions to protect its senior and [4] World Trade Organization online information. managerial personnel and technical Available at experts. [4] https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/serv_co mmitments_e.htm] Accessed on the 25 March 2020.