The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) has policy, implementation, regulation and
monitoring roles encompassing a broad mandate, which includes foreign and domestic
trade, industrial/private sector development and investment. In fulfilling these roles, there is a
strong need for policy research and analysis that can provide a sound basis for evidencebased,
economic decision-making by the MIT. Currently, economic policy research and
analysis is spread widely among many Government institutions, is often conducted on an adhoc
basis, is frequently undertaken in response to immediate crises, and may not always
take into account the government’s major interests and goals for sustainable economic
growth. To meet the need for policy analysis, the MIT has indicated its intention to develop
an Economic Policy Research Unit (EPRU) within the Ministry.