Addis Ababa — In the run-up to the 9th session of the WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Bali early December 2013, more than 90 delegates of the African Group have gathered in Montreux from 4-5 October to debate key negotiation issues and prepare their contribution to the African Trade Ministerial Conference.

The retreat of ambassadors will be led by Jean Marie Ehouzou, Permanent Representative to the African Union together with Stephen Karingi, Director Regional Integration and Trade Division, Economic Commission for Africa; and African Group Coordinator on WTO issues, Mr. Omar Hilale.

Organized by the African Union Permanent Delegation in Geneva with the technical and financial contribution of the ECA, the High Level Retreat will contribute towards forging a common African position on negotiation issues tabled for Bali. The issues include trade facilitation, proposals on agricultural issues, Special and Differential Treatment and an "LDC package".

In addition to the technical discussions, the retreat will also deliberate on the political climate preceding the WTO Ministerial Conference, and ECA's Executive Secretary Mr. Carlos Lopes will be providing his address in that regard. Another outcome of the retreat will be a contribution to the Conference of African Trade Ministers, to be held in Addis Ababa later this month.

The retreat aims o strengthen the participation of African countries in the negotiation process and asses the progress made in the Doha round. It also offers them the opportunity to set the agenda and take a proactive common approach to achieve a stronger voice and greater African participation in global trade.