The African Development Institute (EADI), in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Economist, the Sudan Field Office (SDFO) and the World Bank are organizing a training workshop which runs from October 29 to November 1, 2012 in Khartoum on Export Dynamics and Trade Facilitation.

The workshop is attended by experts from the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries. Participants include officials of the IGAD Secretariat, Ministries of Trade, Industry, Chamber of Commerce, other policy makers and private sector interests.

The objective of the workshop is to help IGAD countries to acquire the requisite capacity to review and analyze their contemporary export development and promotion strategies, so as to catalyze their trade for growth and development objectives. The opening session was attended by officials from Sudan's finance and trade and commerce ministries.

Speaking on behalf of the Resident Representative, , the Principal Country Program Officer, Andoh Mensah, drew the participants attention to the low values and volumes of goods traded in the regional markets despite the underlying market potential for both cross border and export trade. Mr. Mensah highlighted impediments to the achievement of Africa's competitiveness through trade in natural resources and primary product.

He reiterated the importance of trade policy reforms but most importantly, the application of appropriate trade facilitation measures such as the removal of "binding constraints to trade," the transition and diversification from traditional to non-traditional exports in order for IGAD countries to maintain a good deal of export dynamism. Other participants include Ms. Susan Emiko (EADI), Ms. Habiba Ben Barka (SAEC) and Mr. Ephrem Asebe, a Consultant from the World Bank.