PDP provided assistance to the Government of Eritrea in formulating a fisheries infrastructure development program. This involved a review of the current sea fishing operations in Eritrea and their profitability, and assessment of the requirements of port facilities for present and future expansion of the fleets. PDP’s assistance extended to the development of essential fish landing, handling and processing infrastructure, involving the preparation of preliminary drawings and cost estimates, drawing-up of operational plans and evaluation of the need for cold storage, ice production and handling facilities.

PDP undertook the first comprehensive study of marketing and distribution of commodities and manufacturer/ industrial goods in Ethiopia, focusing on pricing of manufactured products and tracing observed retail prices in both official and unofficial markets back to cost of production and cost of importing. The consultants analysed resource flows, pricing and margins for key commodities and constructed a database covering flows and pricing structures of agricultural commodities, semi-processed goods and manufactured goods. A comprehensive program of price and marketing reforms was prepared including policy formulation concerning price controls and the establishment of a mechanism of efficient resource allocation, and liberalisation of trading procedures for commercial trading entities.

PDP undertook a comprehensive analysis of industrial structure, covering the entire economy, and prepared effects of assistance measures based on estimates of effective rates of protection (EPR) and domestic resource costs (DRCs). A macro model was prepared detailing the results for all major industry groupings, involving policy formulation and modelling in each industry group and external sector, and analysis of financing requirements in priority policy areas. A restructuring proposal was also presented for public enterprises.

PDP provided the services of a Policy/Industry Economist as part of a major World Bank study of the Ghanaian economy. Comprehensive sector modelling was carried out, with a macro model of the economy used as the base for analysis of industry structures, constraints and restructuring requirements. Industry assistance measures including EPRs and tariff studies were analysed, together with industry performance under alternative policy regimes. A sector model was constructed incorporating trading systems prices, resource stocks and flows effects of internal and external policy changes and a policy framework developed.

PDP undertook a major analytical study aimed at rationalising price controls at import, ex-farm, wholesale and retail levels in order to provide an improved set of incentives at the producer level. The study provided quantitative estimates of the ways in which higher produced prices would induce an increased supply response, which would in turn result in lower consumer prices. Effects on secondary markets and commodity markets were also analysed in detail.

PDP provided the services of a Fisheries Specialist as part of a FAO Investment Centre mission to prepare a marine fisheries investment project. The Fisheries Specialist undertook a review of the constraints and potential for fish production in the project area, analysis of potential investments in fish production, boat building, fish processing and export marketing, and a study of the capacity of the People’s Bank of Zanzibar to deliver loans to qualified investors.