Geneva — Ahead of the Aid for Trade Global Review, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) today met with the African Group of Ambassadors in Geneva for an exchange of ideas on global rules of trade, as part of his commitment to interact regularly with representatives of African Member States in key diplomatic capitals, such as Addis Ababa, New York and Geneva.
"There is still unfinished business for African countries in ensuring that we have a fair and equitable multilateral trading system," said Mr. Lopes, adding that the transformation of the Continent's economies and the need to engage in the rules of global trade is the raison d'être for the Africa First agenda. "The progress we are making through the African Union Commission the Regional Economic Communities and even at the national level could easily be rolled back if the global rules are designed in such a way that they do not address the various dimensions of asymmetries in the global economy," said Lopes.
In this regard he stressed that the ECA remains focused on engaging its resources on areas that are of priority to African countries.
Mr. Lopes outlined his vision for ECA, which he stressed, is underpinned on an outlook that puts Africa First. He highlighted four key areas of support by the Commission to the African Group in Geneva. These include: technical studies on trade negotiation issues and on the impact of the different options on the table in the context of 'modalities development'.
"ECA will also provide support to high-level brainstorming retreats in the lead up to crucial moments in the negotiations process and provide support towards trade policy and negotiations issues," said Mr. Lopes. He added that the ECA would lend assistance towards the development of African common positions on trade and development issues in the context of the World Trade Organization and UNCTAD.
"A more focused and specialized ECA, that clearly plays a Think Tank role and one that bases its work on rigorous empirical evidence will continue to be at your disposal," said the Executive Secretary and added that ECA aims to invest heavily in statistics and modelling capacities to ensure that the options presented to African countries are robust.
"The African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), which in the new structure of ECA is fully embedded in the Division of Regional Integration and Trade, will have as part of its terms of reference, conduct and disseminate rigorous research on trade and development issues, including negotiations and implementation of agreements," he said.
On other developments at the ECA, he told the group of diplomats that a division, dedicated to Capacity Development will be at their disposal and that the Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) is now mandated to lead all of ECA's training. Meanwhile, the Capacity Development Division and IDEP are institutionalizing a trade policy and negotiations training that member states in Geneva and in Africa can benefit from.
The meeting was facilitated by Ambassador Jean-Marie Ehouzou, Permanent Representative of the African Union; and Ambassador Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco.
