Experts Stress Strong Political Will and Policy Coordination in Regional Aid for Trade Efforts

8 July 2013
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United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa)
press release

Geneva — A side event held at the ongoing Global Review of Aid for Trade was devoted to the analysis of Aid for Trade perspectives in Central and West Africa. The panel was organized by the Organisation International de la Francophonie (OIF), in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

With a focus on enhancing the development impact of Aid for Trade, the roundtable discussed the key pillars underpinning the Aid for Trade strategies of the ECOWAS and ECCAS Regions. In addition, the roundtable also explored potential synergies at regional and sub-regional level, and debated the means to improve policy coordination and accelerate progress towards the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area.

The panelists stressed the importance of clearly identifying viable regional integration strategies and associated policy priorities. They also emphasized the need to build strong political will behind the regional integration agenda, to make sure the rhetoric is followed by the timely implementation of regional decisions. In his intervention, ECA's Executive Secretary, Mr. Carlos Lopes, put the accent on policy coordination, and on the need to enhance the consistency of trade policy frameworks at national, sub-regional and regional level. He reiterated that regional Aid for Trade strategies represent a powerful tool to promote the realization of a closer integration at the level of each REC and to catalyze the support of the international community around this goal. He further Lopes emphasized the scope for greater synergies across African countries in Aid for Trade activities, particularly for what pertains to the realization of infrastructural projects, the harmonization of technical standards and the realization of trade facilitation activities.

Mr. Lopes underscored the importance of mobilizing domestic capacities to upgrade Africa's trade capacities. He also highlighted the need to forge a worldwide "social contract" that achieves sufficient job creation for Africa's youth.

The session attracted key policy-makers, representatives of both RECs, as well other international organizations.

Read the original article on UNECA.

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