Effects Of The World Trade Organization’s Initiatives On Trade Facilitation: A Case Of Malawi’s Agricultural Sector

Abstract

Trade facilitation (TF) in the present unprecedented global pandemic disruptive business environment plays a key role in reviving the regional economy. In developing countries, particularly in Southeast Africa, regional trade strategies are essential to restore and revive their economies. TF requires periodic market intelligence information and stakeholder coordination to overcome an unprecedented turbulent business environment. TF measures are the prime rationale for the World Trade Organization (WTO) deliberations and agreements with member countries to expedite movement and clearance check across the borders. This article examines WTO initiatives for TF, particularly in the case of the Malawi agricultural sector. The target respondents are managers and officers involved in the trade development of the Malawi agricultural sector. The designed questionnaire is pre-tested with practitioners, consultants and academicians, and the respondents’ ideas and views (data) have been captured through a survey method using Likert scale type questions. The valid sample for the study is 120, and correlation and regression are conducted to test the statistical significance and their effects on TF in the region.