COMCEC Trade Outlook 2019
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The volume of commercial services trade is not at the desired level in the OIC compared to the
other regions in the world. Moreover, its share in the trade volume of the OIC Region is also
below the average with compared to the world, even to the developing countries. Besides, the
commercial services in the OIC is based on only a few sectors, travel and transport. Therefore,
the OIC Member Countries need to diversify the commercial services in order to get the higher
share in this growing market.
The low level of services trade may have many reasons in the OIC. According to the studies
regarding the challenges of the developing countries concerning trade in services, the following
points deserve a special attention:
 Inadequate physical infrastructure (roads, buildings etc.)
 Lack of skilled technical and human resources
 Unpredictable business environment,
 Need for adequate regulations and strong institutions
 Need for comprehensive, integrated and coherent strategy at the national level23
 Inadequate information and technology infrastructure.
Therefore, the OIC Member Countries need to focus creating a more facilitative policy
environment, as well as promoting greater value addition in services value chains in order to
enhance the commercial services sector.
23 UNCTAD, Trade in Services and Employment, 2018