No 15 - February-May 2008
CONTENTS
Editorial
Editorial
The Agenda for Accra
1
UNCTAD XII
AT A GLANCE
2
Pre events
3
World Investment
Forum 6
Civil Society Forum 6
Focus on Africa 8
Ministerial
Roundtables 9
women in business
Awards Creative Industries
Interview 16
18
A Turning Point for Africa?
20
GHANA AT A GLANCE 22
PRACTICAL
INFORMATION 22
UNCTAD XII
PROGRAMME 24
The Agenda
for Accra
Mr. Supachai Panitchpakdi,
UNCTAD Secretary-General
The economic and financial turmoil of
recent months has given urgent new
meaning to the words “globalization” and
“interdependence”. Concern about the
short- and long-term impact has spread far
beyond stock markets and is increasingly
global. The current crisis speaks volumes
about the need for multilateral monitoring
and intermediation in both the trade and
financial arenas, since they are closely intertwined. Simply put, global stability and
security require global action.
UNCTAD has been addressing these and
other persistent problems for more than
40 years, working to advance development through trade and investment.
But as current difficulties show, there are
new realities to contend with. The world
has been profoundly altered – economically, socially, politically, and even, because
of climate change, physically. There has,
certainly, been much progress. Some developing countries have benefited greatly
from the recent commodity boom, for
example. Many developing countries are
now net exporters of capital, and SouthSouth trade and investment have virtually exploded, transforming the nature of
international economic relations. The new
generation of globalization has resulted in
a better distribution of the benefits: Real
GDP per capita in developing countries
overall increased from $812 in 1980 to
$1,621 in 2006, and poverty has been
substantially reduced, especially in Asia.
Even in Africa, average GDP growth last
year, excluding Nigeria and South Africa, is
estimated at 7%. There is reason to hope
that the Millennium Development Goals
will, in some quarters at least, be achieved
by 2015.
But there is still no room for complacency.
While much good news is heard from the
South, even its growing purchasing power,
and rising demand for its exports from
the rest of the world, may not be enough
to stem the harmful effects of a possibly
global recession. Economic growth in
itself has not necessarily led to poverty reduction or a more equitable distribution of
income. Large swathes of Africa remain
stymied by mounting poverty
or jobless growth, and the
continent as a whole
garnered a paltry 2.7 %
share
UNCTAD XII
SPECIAL ISSUE
of world exports in 2006, down substantially since 1980. In Africa and elsewhere,
there are risks to the recent broad-based
economic expansion, including the build-up
of global current-account imbalances, of
which today’s turmoil is only the latest example. Recent growth momentum may already be faltering, with particularly damaging
fall-out for the poorer developing countries.
The most entrenched developing-country
problems of past decades are acquiring new
forms, and an alarming magnitude.
deepening interdependence. There clearly
are lessons to be learned from globalization in all its manifestations. There is also an
urgent need for solutions to persistent problems and emerging concerns, including the
impact of some aspects of trade liberalization,
commodity dependence, the technology
gap, poor infrastructure and productive
capacity, energy security and migration. It
is our hope that UNCTAD XII will address
the implications of these new realities for
trade and development, tackling the challenges and maximizing the opportunities
raised by globalization.
This is the backdrop for UNCTAD XII,
which marks the Conference’s return to
Africa after 12 years – a continent emblematic of globalization at its best … and
its worst. UNCTAD’s mandate is more
important than ever in today’s context of
UNCTAD XII AT A GLANCE
UNCTAD meets in a ministerial conference every four years to address key
trade and development issues as well as
set the organization’s mandate and work
priorities. The twelfth of these meetings*, UNCTAD XII, will be held in Accra,
Ghana, 20-25 April, 2008. Bringing together heads of government, ministers
and other participants from UNCTAD’s
193 member countries, the conference’s
theme is: Addressing the opportunities and
challenges of globalization for development.
In advance, UNCTAD has organized a
series of pre events, which cover some
of the issues to be discussed in Ghana and
pave the way for in-depth deliberations
at the conference itself. A preparatory
committee has met regularly to seek
consensus among governments on the
UNCTAD XII conclusions, which will be
decided in Ghana.
The conference itself will be made up of
the general debate, where member
States express their views formally at the
highest possible level and the committee
of the whole, which reports back to the
conference on substantive issues, most
notably the negotiating text for conference
conclusions.
During the conference there will be a
high-level segment on Africa, allowing
heads of state and government to consider
how Africa can draw greater benefits
from globalization. There will also be nine
interactive thematic roundtables
on topics defined by the member States
and linked to the four conference sub
themes (see p. 25).
The conference will include a civil
society forum (17-25 April), which will
draw up a statement to be presented to
the conference. A world investment
forum (18-22 April) will explore future
development in flows of foreign direct
investment.
Other key events are the launch of the
first UN multi-agency report on the
creative economy and Creative
Africa, an initiative designed to showcase Africa’s creative industries, such as
art, dance, music and fashion. There will
also be a ceremony for the first Woman
in Business Awards, with the winners
chosen from among owners of firms
that have benefited from the business
development services of UNCTAD’s 27
Empretec Centres.
See UNCTAD NEWS Issue No. 14 for following pre events:
Biofuels: an option for a less carbon-intensive economy, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 4-5 December 2007.
Science, technology, innovation and information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development,
Geneva, Switzerland, 6 December 2007.
Experts Meet on Least Developed Countries, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, 22- 24 October 2007.
India-Africa hydrocarbon conference and exhibition, New Delhi, 6- 7 November 2007.
Trade and development implications of tourism services for developing countries Geneva, Switzerland, 19-20 November 2007.
Global Initiative on Commodities, Brasilia, Brazil, 7 -11 May 2007.
Previous conferences: UNCTAD XI, São Paulo, Brazil, 2004; UNCTAD X, Bangkok, Thailand, 2000; UNCTAD IX, Midrand, South Africa, 1996; UNCTAD VIII, Cartagena
de Indias, Colombia, 1992; UNCTAD VII, Geneva, Switzerland, 1987; UNCTAD VI, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1983; UNCTAD V, Manila, Philippines, 1979; UNCTAD IV, Nairobi,
Kenya, 1976; UNCTAD III, Santiago, Chile, 1972; UNCTAD II, New Delhi, India, 1968; and UNCTAD I, Geneva, 1964.
*
2 - UNCTADnews
PRE EVENTS
Globalization of Port Logistics –
Opportunities and Challenges
for Developing countries
The recent globalization of port services,
a process by which terminal operators
manage facilities in different regions of
the world, has seen several developing
countries become the headquarters to
some of the world’s largest international terminal operators. However, such
trends have created a global dimension
that has brought both opportunities and
challenges
Ports – long a gateway to international
trade – primarily derive their income from
cargo handling. This is currently growing
rapidly due to changes in logistical concepts, such as off-shoring, near-shoring
and just-in-time; shipping concepts, such
as larger specialized ships; and the expansion of world trade. As most international
goods are shipped via maritime transport
this has proved a boom time for ports.
In tandem, port logistics services are gaining in importance and sophistication. Such
services range from towage, stowage and
waste removal to software solutions for
modern container terminals. In addition,
located inside or adjacent to the port,
are Free Trade Zones, which cater for
value added services such as repackaging,
engineering and design, knowledge processing, light manufacturing and processing, warehousing and logistics. All these
factors serve to increase the attractiveness
for shippers to stop en route from origin to
destination. These services have led some
ports to become trans-shipment centres,
or hub ports, serving as vital nodal points
that connect directly to more than 100
countries.
Such trends have combined to produce a
global dimension that has significant implications for developing nations. Ports face
more competition for business, pressure
on infrastructure is growing and there are
questions of whether – and how – to link
up with potentially interested investors.
While in 1993, 42% of world container
throughput passed through state owned
terminals, the percentage was down to
19% by 2006. There are considerable
regional variations, however, between the
situations in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Through partnerships with global terminal
operators, ports in developing countries
can attract foreign investment and gain
knowledge and expertise in a range of
areas linked to logistics services.
Experts on port logistics from over 42
countries met in Geneva on 12 December
2007 to review the current scene and
consider policy responses for developing
countries. They noted that rapid growth
in the amount of containerized goods
handled by ports, which increased by
13.4 percent in 2006, means countries
face pressure to create more container
handling capacity. However, there are
constraints to terminal development,
both logistical and environmental.
Participants at the meeting highlighted the
importance of public-private cooperation and viewed government policies in
the transport sector as crucial in supporting trade and development efforts. They
said such policies should focus primarily
on: coherence, so that transport and port
development are seen as part of a wider
economic development process; an
appropriate regulatory framework conducive to public-private partnerships; and
appropriate facilitation measures aimed at
eliminating restrictive practices, inefficiencies, delays and bottlenecks.
UNCTAD
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Aid for Trade and Development: Global and Regional Perspectives
Negotiations continue at the World Trade
Organization to reach a new international
agreement under the Doha Round that
will further lower international barriers
to trade such as high tariffs and non-tariff
barriers – especially for the benefit of
developing countries.
But it has become clear that this new
pact, when it is finalized, will not be
enough to stimulate trade. Liberalized
trade rules can be a great engine for economic growth and poverty reduction
– experience has shown that – but to join
and run the race in a highly competitive
global economy, developing countries
need help just to get to the starting line.
The Aid for Trade initiative is perceived
as a vast, multi-billion-dollar effort to help
such nations obtain the tools they need to
participate beneficially in global business
activity. Depending on the specific situation of a developing country, Aid for Trade
may include such things as building trade
and trade negotiation expertise; support
in the manufacture of more sophisticated
and globally competitive products and
services; help with roads, railroads, ports,
electricity supply, job training, and customsclearance systems; and assistance on
meeting the costs of adjusting to new
trade rules and regulations.
This meeting, held in Bangkok, Thailand,
on 24-25 January was organized by the
United Nations Executive Committee
on Economic and Social Affairs Working
Group on Trade*. Representatives from
developing countries said the Aid for Trade
initiative was an opportunity to help trade
serve as a catalyst for progress in their nations, especially considering the increased
globalization and economic liberalization
expected to result from the Doha Round
and other trade talks and agreements.
Participants in the meeting said the Aid
for Trade initiative must be sizeable and
an addition to current aid programmes to
respond to the vast needs for trade development in developing countries and
countries with economies in transition.
Speakers, which included international
agencies and representatives of the donor
community, called for national, regional
and global coherence in the Aid for Trade
programme, and said the contribution
of the UN system in implementing Aid
for Trade Initiative through trade-related
technical assistance and capacity building
programmes is particularly important.
They noted that UNCTAD XII can contribute to strengthening such international
efforts.
Making Sustainability Standards Work for Small-Scale Farmers
Agricultural producers and farmers in
developing countries are facing increasingly complex and stringent standards and
codes if they are to market their products
on world markets.
In addition to technical standards, such
as the colour or size of apples, there is
a growing range of quality, environmental
and social requirements. Known as sustainability standards, these include pesticidefree production, child labour bans and
decent pay.
While these help to promote better practices in agriculture, their economic, social
and political impact is all too often over-
looked by wholesalers, governments and
non-governmental organizations. They
can run counter to development strategies aimed at the most disadvantaged
by excluding small farmers in developing
countries from international agricultural
supply chains.
Yet agriculture remains the economic
mainstay and primary source of income
for most developing countries. It is even
more crucial in the world’s poorest countries, where one out of four people lives
and works in rural areas, most often as a
small farmer or landless worker.
Despite the difficulties involved, however,
The group consists of representatives from UNCTAD, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA), United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
Western Asia (ESCWA), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
*
4 - UNCTADnews
UNCTAD experts are convinced that
these new standards offer genuine opportunities for small-scale farmers in the
South. The development of dynamic,
coherent and realistic national strategies,
in partnership with all those concerned,
could promote improved agricultural
production methods, safe and healthy
foods, better working conditions
and more efficient energy and waste
management. Private-public partnerships
can play a key role in this area.
Moreover, growing demand from consumers in the North has brought a boom
in the market for organic products. This
expanded by more than 12% annually in
recent years, far surpassing the 2%-4%
yearly growth rate for traditional agricultural products
This issue will be the focus of a meeting
being held in Arusha, Tanzania, on 7-9
April. Experts will analyze the impact of
sustainability standards on small-scale
farmers and will try to define strategies
that help them maximize benefits while
minimizing costs. The meeting, which
comes just before UNCTAD XII, will
aim to identify win-win solutions at global
level that bring progress toward reducing
extreme agricultural poverty in developing
countries while fostering economic, social
and environmental sustainability.
South-South trade and lessons learned in Asia
Two meetings in advance of UNCTAD XII
will focus on rapidly growing trade
between developing countries in Asia, the
region where South-South trade is having
its greatest impact.
Governments and trade experts will discuss Lessons Learned from South-South
Trade and Regional Trade Agreements in
Asian regions on 25 March in Tokyo, and a
meeting on 2 April in Geneva will review
Lessons Learned from South-South Trade
and the Role of Regional Trade agreements
in Asia. These events are based on the
forthcoming joint UNCTAD/JETRO (Japan
External Trade Organization) publication,
South-South Trade and Regional Trade
Agreements in Asia.
The development “pattern” used to be
largely based on trade between industrialized nations and less-industrialized countries as well as investment flows from the
developed to developing world. But a
complementary pattern began to appear
in the mid-1990s and has rapidly intensified: developing countries trading with
each other and investing in each other.
This South-South trade is currently driven
by Asian economies. China serves as a
general manufacturing hub and India as
a services hub, and exchanges with and
among their neighbours in East Asia and
Southeast Asia account for 70% of the total
value of trade between developing countries. The focus of the two meetings will be
on identifying trends and studying policies
and regional trade agreements in Asia that
might be applied to boosting South-South
commercial exchanges in other regions.
Expansion of South-South trade in Asia
reflects a number of factors, including a
substantial increase in demand for natural
resources from rapidly growing Asian developing countries; an increasing demand
for new markets, particularly in exports of
manufactured goods; strategies for regional
and global supply chains of multinational
companies of the North, as well as of
those of the South; growing interest across
the South in integrating markets through
new bilateral, regional or interregional
trade agreements; and increased access
to market information networks, especially
through the Internet.
Regional trade agreements in Asia have
grown more numerous. There are currently 47 regional trade agreements, and
another 34 at various stages of negotiation
or ratification.
UNCTAD
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World Investment Forum
The World Investment Forum, 19-22 April in Accra, will provide an unprecedented opportunity for senior
policy-makers, investors and investment promotion agencies from 193 countries to meet and interact through
a series of conference, networking and social events.
The forum will focus on the investmentled globalization process, and its trends
and prospects. Particular emphasis will be
placed on how companies, countries and
regions can maximize the opportunities
generated by the process.
Attending the forum will be many prominent figures from the worlds of politics,
business and policy-making, including
John Kufuor, president of Ghana. They
will participate in the various events taking
place during the World Investment
Forum and UNCTAD XII, many of which
will allow for audience participation and
interaction.
To complement the practical experiences
and insights presented by the business
and political leaders, perspectives on globalization will be provided by some of the
world’s foremost advisors on, and analysts of this process, including Goldman
Sachs International, Tata Consultancy
Services and McKinsey&Co. Discussion
and debate during conference sessions will
be moderated by high-profile members
of the international media, including the
Financial Times, BBC and CNBC.
World Investment Forum
Interactive Sessions
Organized by UNCTAD and the World
Association of Investment Promotion
Agencies (WAIPA), three interactive panel
sessions will bring together corporate
executives, ministers, senior officials and
thinkers on the globalization process for
future-orientated discussion of trends
in foreign direct investment (FDI). The
session on Prospects for Global FDI and
new Business Opportunities will explore
future patterns in investment flows, which
sectors and industries will account for
these flows and what the features of the
corporate strategies driving the trends will
be. The session on Global Value Chains:
Opportunities and Challenges for International and Domestic Firms, which is to
be held in collaboration with International
Trade Centre, will examine how international and local firms can seek efficiencies
as production patterns change and services
provision becomes ever more global.
The third session – Africa: a New Emerging
Market for FDI? — will consider the
emerging opportunities in the African
continent and the lessons for transnational corporations (TNCs) and African
countries as they interact more closely.
Participants will focus on how to maximize the positive environmental effects
of FDI. The role of business, government
Investment Advisory Council
This luncheon gathering of high-level
government officials, corporate executives
and senior experts will look at links between
FDI and environmental sustainability.
Civil Society Forum
While heads of governments, ministers and policy makers from around
the world meet in Accra, civil society organizations will use the opportunity
to contribute to the thematic sessions and roundtables of UNCTAD XII.
More importantly, they will explore ways
of engaging more meaningfully with
UNCTAD and its member States to
enhance the impact and effectiveness of
trade and development efforts.
6 - UNCTADnews
The UNCTAD XII Civil Society Forum
will take place 17-25 April in Accra. The
plenary will run from 17 to 19 April at
the Ghana National Theatre, in advance
of the official opening of UNCTAD XII.
Organizations will exchange information, build consensus and finalize a position document to be contributed to the
conference. The document will then be
presented by a member of civil society at
the opening plenary of the UNCTAD XII
Committee of the Whole.
The Civil Society Forum will continue its
activities and meetings 20-25 April at the
and international organizations in promoting
green FDI for sustainable development
will be discussed.
High-Level UNCTAD XII Event:
The Global Leaders’ Investment
Debate
The debate, to be opened by UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon, will bring together
heads of state and government and
corporate leaders to consider the
emerging international investment landscape created by new technologies, the
globalization of production and the rise
of transnational corporations from the
South. It will focus on how the poorest
countries can benefit from this new
Accra Conference Centre, in parallel with
the conference. The Forum will feature
keynote addresses, discussions, debates
and workshops focusing on the theme
and sub-themes of the conference and
addressing urgent concerns related to
trade and development.
The Forum is expected to enhance
cooperation between civil society and
environment. Participants will discuss
what higher levels of foreign direct investment from emerging economies mean
for developing and developed countries,
the changing role of policy-makers both
from home and host countries and how
foreign investment can spur local enterprise development and poverty reduction.
Participants will also address how the UN
can work with governments, TNCs and
other stakeholders to make investment
work for development.
Awards Ceremonies
A social highlight will be the annual WAIPA Awards and gala dinner, to be held on the eve
of Day 1 of the Forum. WAIPA and UNCTAD will recognize three investment promotion
agencies (IPAs) for excellence in this year’s theme: policy advocacy. The 2008 winners
for policy advocacy will be chosen for their dedication and creativity in identifying problems,
dealing with stakeholders, formulating policy remedies, overcoming obstacles, and effecting
change that improves the local business climate and increases the beneficial effect of
investment on development.
UNCTAD and to provide a space for
meaningful dialogue between UNCTAD,
different regional bodies, governments
and other actors.
representing all regions to ensure that
regional positions and perspectives are
reflected in the official statement and
activities of the Forum.
Preparatory activities for the Civil Society
Forum are already under way. The host
network in Accra is working closely with
the UNCTAD Secretariat and with a civil
society International Steering Committee
More information on the Civil Society
Forum and civil society preparation in
UNCTAD XII can be found at www.
unctadxii.org/CSO.
UNCTAD
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Focus on Africa
High-level segment
A key feature of UNCTAD XII will be a
special high-level segment on Africa,
on 21 April. This will bring together
heads of state and government to
focus on the trade and development
needs of African countries.
To be chaired by UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon and moderated by UNCTAD
Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi,
the session reflects the importance
attached to ensuring that African countries
benefit more from globalization.
With its main them of Trade and Development for Africa’s Prosperity: Action and
Direction, the segment aims to strengthen
the international community’s engagement in promoting development friendly
trade and economic growth in Africa. This
should include considering new commitments and initiatives as well as supporting
existing ones.
Despite relatively strong economic
growth rates in recent years, Africa is still
far from reaching the most prominent
of the Millennium Development Goals
– halving poverty by 2015. Faster growth,
while encouraging, is not translating into
significant poverty reduction in much of
Africa. Although there are a number of
reasons for this, a main factor is the failure
to create enough jobs, particularly wellpaid and productive ones. Moreover,
economies remain heavily dependent on
agriculture and extractive industries. This
is reflected in Africa’s export performance,
with the share of global exports declining
from about 6% in 1980 to about 2.7% in
2006. (For a more detailed discussion of
African economic development see interview on page 20).
Meanwhile, the developed world has
yet to follow through on pledges for
substantial increases in official development assistance, which remains a major
source of financing for development and
poverty-reduction programmes in many
low-income African countries. Meeting
the commitment made at the Gleneagles
Group of Eight summit to double aid to
Africa by 2010 remains a challenge.
These are among the issues likely to be
considered during the high-level segment,
where heads of state and government
from a range of developing and developed
countries will make presentations and
participate in a short discussion. The
debate will then be opened up to allow
government leaders in the audience to
address the panellists. A moderator will
summarize briefly the discussions.
High-level workshop for least
developed countries in Africa
Organized by the Government of
Turkey in Izmir on 4-5 March, the
workshop will explore the same theme
as the Conference’s high-level segment
on Africa, but with a focus on development and economic progress in the
34 African LDCs. The workshop will
be attended by ministers and Genevabased ambassadors from these countries, along with representatives of
relevant international organizations.
Workshop on Development Strategies in Africa
Several African countries, mostly North African, and the host nation of UNCTAD XII, Ghana, have already celebrated their 50
years of independence from colonial rule. The watershed for the African independence struggle was, however, 1960 during which
virtually all French colonies and a clutch of others, notably Nigeria, were granted their independence by their then colonial masters.
As we approach this landmark, it is appropriate for African economists to reflect on half a century of post-colonial economic development
on the continent, including the periods of development planning, structural adjustment and poverty reduction strategies.
What happened to the euphoric expectations at the time independence? Why did the dream of economic development and
prosperity that was to be realized after throwing off the colonial yoke fail so spectacularly? Where does Africa go from here?
Africa needs to reinvent itself. The workshop, on 19 April in Accra, will bring together a group of African economists to discuss
lessons from the past and also ways forward. The workshop will consider how African countries can rely more on domestic
resources for development as well as the relevance of the developmental state paradigm that has been so successfully deployed
by newly industrializing economies, and at present by emerging Asian countries, such as China and India.
8 - UNCTADnews
Ministerial Roundtables
In nine interactive sessions, participants will debate pressing economic issues and explore policy responses.
1. Globalization, development and poverty reduction:
their social and gender dimensions
Every day brings new evidence of the
extent to which the world’s economies
and peoples are interconnected. As the
recent financial turmoil has shown, when
individuals in the U.S. are unable to pay
back their house loans, the economic
repercussions can reach the other side
of the world due to integrated financial
markets. Likewise, climate change means
decisions regarding energy use or land
planning in one country have implications
elsewhere.
This interdependence adds complexities
to the drive to promote economic and
social development. Policies – whether
national, regional or international –
cannot be viewed in isolation. Decisions
taken in one country or sector affect
others. Global perspectives, as well as
global policies, are necessary.
This is particularly the case when seeking
to combine poverty reduction and social
justice with economic growth and environmental sustainability. While reconciling
these aims is a challenge, it is crucial if the
benefits of globalization are to be extended
to more people and countries. The
roundtable, on 22 April, is being held in
the context of the first UNCTAD XII subtheme: Enhancing coherence at all levels
for sustainable development and poverty
reduction in global policymaking, including
the contribution of regional approaches.
tion of international financial markets. As a
result, there is a big gap in the system for
governing the international economy.
It will allow participants, including renowned experts, to address key social
and gender issues linked to globalization.
It will provide an opportunity to identify
new ideas and policies, with the aim of
bolstering economic development that
creates more jobs, delivers higher standards
of living and diminishes poverty.
It is therefore essential to examine alternative policy options and possibilities to fill
the gaps in global economic governance.
In addition to reducing the risk of global
financial crises, these policies should focus
on helping countries participate in global
trade and production systems in a way
that better suits their development needs.
In this vein, there is a role for strategic
trade and strengthened market-oriented
industrial policies.
The persistence of wide gaps in income,
both between and within countries, is a
sign that the policy consensus over much
of the past 25 years, centring on liberalized markets and flexible prices, has been
inadequate in tackling the more complex
challenges of globalization.
For example, when seeking to expand
trade between countries, the focus has
been on reducing tariffs and other barriers.
But changes in the rate of exchange between currencies can have as much, if not
more, of an impact on trade flows. While
world trade negotiations establish rules
governing tariffs and other trade policy
variables, there is no similar mechanism
in the monetary and financial sphere for
dealing with exchange rates and regula-
Moreover, economic policies can have
important gender dimensions that are
often not given sufficient attention. Policies
in developing countries to promote small
and medium-sized enterprises tend to
create a larger number of jobs for women
than men, and investment in infrastructure
can fundamentally improve women’s dayto-day lives.
The roundtable is also expected to consider the balance between open global
markets, national policy autonomy and
commitments in the trade and financial
spheres.
2. Creating an institutional environment conducive to
increased foreign investment and sustainable development
The world’s poorer nations have sought
– and have succeeded in attracting – greater
foreign direct investment. The reasons
are clear: such private investment, often
coming from transnational corporations
(TNCs), usually dwarfs other forms of
incoming money such as official development aid, and it usually comes connected with other benefits: employment,
technology, higher quality output, export
markets, etc.
But these wider benefits do not result
automatically from FDI. Developing countries are increasingly adjusting their policies
to ensure that these positive results
occur. At this roundtable, on April 22,
discussion will focus on what developing
UNCTAD
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countries can do to encourage FDI that
leads to infusions of new technology, the
development of a more skilled workforce,
and what are called linkages – partnerships between foreign firms and domestic
businesses that can significantly expand
economic growth and create numerous
jobs.
For example, actions governments can
take include ensuring the proper functioning of markets. In this vein, governments
can pass laws and regulations that ensure
a fair competitive environment for all
businesses, whether foreign- or domesticowned. That encourages outsiders to
come, set up operations, and do business
with local companies.
Another example relates to public-private
partnerships with governments subsidizing
or encouraging the training of workers
so that they have the skills that are in
demand. They can also consider publicprivate partnerships for infrastructure
projects – lacking the resources to build
bridges and roads themselves, they may
contract with foreign firms to carry out
construction for a share of future tolls.
The economic benefits from better transportation usually pay off in the long term
for the host country. More expenditure
on higher education in such fields as
engineering also can reap better results
from FDI.
A further way to achieve greater benefits
from foreign investment is to encourage
the growth of domestic companies and
suppliers that can link up with foreignowned companies. For example, foreignowned textile factories based in developing
countries must meet short fashion cycles
set by clothing chains in the markets they
supply. This often entails outsourcing production of accessories, such as fasteners
and elastics. If these can be found in the
same country, considerable time is saved
and local jobs are created. But this is only
possible if the local manufacturer has the
sophisticated machinery, skilled workforce, finance and quality control to satisfy
international standards. Other sectors
have similar need for good manufacturing
inputs in host countries.
The roundtable will review examples of
countries’ success stories with FDI and
effective government practices from
around the world. It will also discuss what
role the international community can play
in helping governments adapt successful
practices to their contexts.
3. The changing face of commodities in the 21st century
Prices for commodities – raw materials
and basic agricultural products – ended
the 20th Century in the doldrums, due
mainly to sluggish demand growth in
relation to supply. They had been on
a declining trend in real terms since the
1980s. However, since 2002, there has
been a rebound in commodity prices,
driven largely by dynamic new demand
emanating from newly industrialized
developing countries, particularly China.
If the cycle of growth and industrialization in developing countries continues,
the current commodities boom may
mark the beginning of a changed situation
characterized by a long-term resurgence
in the demand for, and hence the value
of, primary commodities in world trade.
This trend may last for the first two
decades of the 21st Century.
Such a development holds out the possibility that low-income commoditydependent developing countries may be
able to generate sufficient gains from commodity trade to launch their economies on
a sustained growth path of rising per
capita income and poverty reduction.
There is always the risk, however, of a
levelling out or decline in commodity
prices, especially given the sector’s
cyclical nature. These prospects raise
opportunities and challenges, as well as
the need for appropriate policy responses.
This roundtable, on 23 April, will review
such issues and consider elements of an
international action plan designed to harness long-lasting development gains from
the current boom in commodity prices
and to address long-standing commodity
trade and development problems.
Capitalizing on the promising current
state of affairs is important, because many
of the world’s poorer nations depend
heavily on exports of farm goods, minerals, metal ores, and – if they are lucky
enough to have them – oil and natural
gas. Some 85 developing countries depend on commodities for more than half
their export earnings. For 70 of them,
more than half of their exports consist
of three or fewer commodities. It
helps them when the news is good, and
UNCTAD’s price index for non-fuel commodities recently reached its highest level
(in current dollars) since 1960. The index is
up 114% since 1992; metal and mineral
prices have climbed 265% over the same
period; and agricultural raw materials
prices have increased by 78%. Oil,
10 - UNCTADnews
4. Emergence of a new South and
South-South trade as a vehicle
for regional and interregional
integration for development
A defining feature of globalization in recent
years has been the emergence of some
developing countries as engines of economic growth, investment and trade. The
rise of the dynamic South – a new breed
of countries with rapid growth rates and
a central place in world trade and investment – is being accompanied by strong
expansion in commerce between developing nations, or South-South trade.
The economic dynamism of countries
such as China, Brazil, India and a number
of newly industrialized nations is creating
new markets, new trading opportunities
and demand growth. This has translated
into a spectacular expansion in SouthSouth merchandise trade during the past
decade, from $577 billion in 1995 to over
$2 trillion in 2006.
In 2006, South-South trade accounted
for 17% of world trade and 46% of
developing countries’ total merchandise
trade. Manufacturing represented almost
half of South-South trade, but the commodity sector, including fuels, is also
driving up interregional trade flows among
countries of the South. For Africa, the
South has become a vital export market.
The South is also playing a bigger role in
flows of investment, both as a recipient
and as a source. And Southern transnational corporations are growing in number
and scale, including through the acquisition
of well-established global brands.
meanwhile, briefly touched the record
price of US$100 per barrel at the start of
2008.
– global demand for raw materials and
more plentiful imported food may well
continue to grow.
A shift in the geography of the commodities trade is under way as well. More
and more of these exports are going from
one developing country to another, based
on the rapid industrial growth in several
emerging economies. Because of their
vast populations of increasingly wealthy
consumers – and because their “industrialization trajectories” continue upward
A major question is how higher commodities prices and South-South trade
can be translated into broader economic
growth and poverty reduction.
The roundtable is expected to review,
among other things, which national and
regional policies on commodities should
be complemented and supported by the
international community.
This roundtable discussion, on 23 April,
comes at a pivotal time for the world
economy. The economic significance of
the dynamic South is such that it offers
the opportunity to sustain global growth
in the event of a slowdown in developed
countries.
At the same time, it is essential to asses
how South-South trade can play a bigger
role in reducing poverty and extending
social and economic development so that
globalization becomes more inclusive.
Appropriate government policies – at
national, regional and interregional levels
– can help sustain South-South trade.
UNCTAD
news - 11
They can also contribute to promoting
further trade between developing countries
in dynamic and new sectors that foster a
more stable and sustainable economy.
Bringing together prominent figures from
the developed and developing world, the
roundtable will seek to promote policy
consensus on opportunities and challenges
arising from expansion of South-South
trade. It will look at policy lessons learned
from successful stories in the South,
including through strengthened SouthSouth trade financing and investment.
The aim will be to propose specific ways
of strengthening regional and global insti-
tutions and instruments to support SouthSouth trade. Moreover, the participants
will consider UNCTAD’s role in further
promoting South-South cooperation,
including by acting as a forum for the
sharing of experiences and perspectives
of South-South regional and interregional
trade agreements.
5. Harnessing knowledge and technology for development
Technological innovation, and the knowledge it is based on, increasingly drive the
world economy.
Currently many poor nations find it a
challenge to import and use technology
that is widespread in industrialized countries. Closing this gap is important, but the
real breakthrough is when a developing
country is able to create technologically
sophisticated products itself, make them
efficiently, and sell them around the
world. Such innovation is how jobs
are created and millions of people can be
lifted out of poverty.
While knowledge, technology and economic growth are more and more interconnected, putting these ingredients together in the developing world is a stiff
challenge. This roundtable discussion, on
24 April, reflects the importance of doing
so. It is based on a sub-theme of
UNCTAD XII which refers to “mobilizing
resources and harnessing knowledge for
development.”
Given the significant “spillover” benefits
that can result, cross-border flows of
knowledge are vital for poorer nations
and trends in which knowledge is privatized and commercialized are a growing
concern. Participants in the roundtable
are expected to discuss measures that
could lower existing barriers to knowledge
transfer.
These proposals include making intellectual property rights more flexible,
based on the development levels of the
nations seeking access. Another option
would be for governments to promote
greater adoption of open-access models
of knowledge such as is now employed
for some types of computer software.
That approach encourages cumulative
innovation in which contributions come
from around the world and are shared by
all. International partnerships, including
public-private arrangements, can spread
research and development programmes
to less-advanced countries, yielding dividends not only in commerce but in such
12 - UNCTADnews
sectors as rural development, environmental protection, and health care. Developing country governments can set up
numerous policies that improve national
abilities to absorb and create scientific and
technological knowledge. And international donors, for their part, can increase
their “knowledge aid” to such countries.
Among other topics likely to be reviewed
at the roundtable are “national systems
of innovation,” which are based on the
concept that knowledge, technology,
new ideas, and entrepreneurial spirit can
feed off each other and lead to economic
expansion. Research indicates that what
is needed is a “critical mass” of ingredients
that developing countries often have in
short supply. These are: a sufficient number of engineers and scientists; sufficient
and accessible financing for entrepreneurs with good ideas; research institutes
where knowledge and technology can be
advanced; infrastructure such as railroads
and ports and broadband Internet access,
a stable, fair network of laws and tax rules
that create a climate in which businesses
can be launched; and a general culture of
entrepreneurship.
The roundtable is expected to recommend ways for governments and others
to foster the role of science, technology,
and information and communications
technology (ICT) in boosting economic
growth in poor nations. Possibilities of
public-private partnerships will also be
explored. Also expected are suggestions
on how regional and international agencies
– including UNCTAD – can cooperate to
spur such progress.
6. Debt management solutions supporting trade and development
Turmoil on the financial markets is back.
Economists are uncertain how far and
how deeply the subprime-mortgage
collapse and a possible recession in the
United States will affect the rest of the
world. But many developing nations still
have significant debt burdens, and the unusually good economic conditions they
have enjoyed the past few years may
be ending. New debt crises resulting
from an economic slowdown cannot be
ruled out. Governments and the international community need to be sure that
such debt is managed so that it does not
overwhelm these countries’ abilities to
cope, and that enough resources remain
available for governments to deal with imperatives such as health care and poverty
reduction.
This roundtable discussion, on 24 April,
will focus on how developing countries
can continue effectively to manage debt,
raise living standards, and expand trade.
Recent high prices for the basic commodities – especially farm goods – that
dominate many poor nations’ exports
may not hold up as the global financial
situation evolves.
In 2006, the external debt of developing
countries decreased as a share of their
gross national products from 29% to
25%. As a group, in some cases helped
by debt-relief measures, these countries
reduced their sovereign external debt
with both official and private creditors.
There also has been a shift towards domestic debt, which is held in a country’s
own currency and may be less subject to
some of the vulnerabilities that can lead
to crises. On the other hand, a number
of developing and transition countries still
maintain large current account deficits and
overvaluation of their currencies. And
there has been an increase in corporate
borrowing. In 1996, only 20% of longterm external debt in these nations was
owed by private borrowers. By 2006,
that share had doubled to 41%. Many
low-income countries remain dependent
on official development assistance, and
while such aid has increased marginally, it
still falls short of what is needed to reach
the pledge to double aid to Africa by
2010. Despite significant individual
exceptions, donor countries as a group
still commit less than the agreed target of
0.7% of their gross national incomes to
official development assistance.
UNCTAD experts caution that policymakers should not be complacent about
recent shifts in the structure of debt,
noting that these changes can lead to new
vulnerabilities. They recommend that
the international community help developing countries to improve their capacity
to record and provide information on
their total public debt. This would
help researchers to identify potential
problems and aid countries in preparing
for possible crises.
Among matters the roundtable is expected
to discuss are the effectiveness of debt
sustainability frameworks in predicting and
preventing potential crises and the role of
effective debt management in steering
through them. Roundtable participants
may also debate whether international
debt-relief measures have been sufficient.
And they may consider whether new
international architecture is needed.
UNCTAD
news - 13
7. Developing productive capacities in least developed countries
The least developed countries are the
world’s poorest 49 countries, most of
which are located in Africa. Their economies have been growing at a record pace
in recent years, but this is not translating
into sustained development. Poverty remains pervasive and economies continue
to be based on exports of primary commodities, such as crude oil and metals,
simple manufactures, such as clothing,
and tourism. This means that LDCs are
highly vulnerable to recurrent shocks and
crises.
Most significantly, current development
policies have led to a form of economic
growth that is not creating jobs. Unemployment is high and the few jobs that do
exist have very low productivity. Statistics
show it is necessary to put together the
result of the annual work of 94 workers
of an LDC to match the value produced
by one worker in a rich country in the
same period.
Policies and strategies to date have failed
to reach the goal of sustainable development.
Therefore LDCs are actively looking for
pragmatic and constructive alternatives
to the prevailing economic model. They
need changes in policies and orientations
14 - UNCTADnews
that lead to improved productivity, higher
value added by domestic producers and
long-term structural change. This should
be accompanied by poverty reduction
and employment creation.
UNCTAD has been active in designing
proposals that contribute to alternative
development strategies and policies. Its
Least Developed Countries Report of
2006 and 2007 argued that to achieve
sustained development and poverty reduction in the LDCs, policies must focus
on the development of productive
capacities. This means setting as a priority
the diversification of economic activities
by strengthening investment and accelerating adoption of new technologies. In
turn, this should alter the structure of the
economy, by developing sectors that are
more productive and have higher domestic value added. Such a process would
generate more employment and reduce
poverty. For this change in development
strategies to be effective, different policies
must be adopted not only by LDC governments, but also by the international
community, including donor countries
and international institutions.
The roundtable, on 24 April, is expected
to discuss ways in which this new
approach to the development of LDCs
can be put into practice. This could
include re-orienting official development
assistance to LDCs towards science, technology and innovation. These are essential
for economic growth and a requisite to
developing productive capacities, yet
have been neglected in development
policies and in aid allocations. Refocusing
development aid would therefore be an
effective means of poverty reduction.
Another initiative for discussion involves
setting up research-oriented networks
and alliances between research and development institutes in LDCs and other
countries in the area of science, technology
and innovation. This approach has the
advantage of pooling the efforts of these
countries, which have very limited resources to spend on research and development. Also for consideration are new
policies to overcome the main constraints
to development of productive capacities
in LDCs, particularly lack of infrastructure,
incipient development of the financial
sector and virtual absence of small and
medium-sized enterprises.
8-9. Strengthening UNCTAD :
enhancing its development role and its impact and institutional effectiveness
Since its creation in 1964, UNCTAD has
sought to help developing countries participate successfully in the world economy. The focus has been on ensuring that
trade becomes an effective instrument for
economic development.
This process of promoting trade and economic development cuts across an array of
policy issues, including finance, technology,
investment and sustainable development.
These need to be treated in a coherent
manner if economic development is to be
broad-based and sustainable.
In today’s highly integrated and rapidly
changing global environment, UNCTAD’s
core role and mandates remain as relevant
as ever, if not more. These two roundtables, on 25 April, will consider how to
enhance UNCTAD’s development role
(Roundtable 8) as well as its impact and
institutional effectiveness (Roundtable 9).
Recent years have seen strong rates of
economic growth in much of the developing world, extraordinary expansion of
exports from some developing countries
and the growth of South-South trade.
Despite these promising trends, however,
poverty levels remain stubbornly high in
many developing countries, particularly
the least developed. Moreover, inequalities
between and within countries have
widened.
As a result, it is clear that existing policies
have been insufficient in light of the persistent challenges faced by developing
countries. If real inroads are to be made
in ensuring that economic growth translates into poverty reduction and more
and better jobs, action is needed at both
global and national levels.
UNCTAD can contribute on both these
fronts. At a global level, there is a need for
more policy coherence and equity, which
can be achieved by giving developing
countries a greater voice in international
decision-making. There is also a need for
regular analysis and identification of policy
options on development processes. At
the national level, UNCTAD has always
maintained that developing countries
themselves should be responsible for
designing their own development strategies that reflect their specific needs and
concerns.
The strength of UNCTAD’s development work lies in its integrated approach
to trade and development and its role as
the only intergovernmental forum within
the UN for addressing trade, development and other interrelated issues. There
is also a structurally built-in coherence
between the three pillars of UNCTAD’s
main areas of work – research and policy
analysis, intergovernmental consensusbuilding processes and technical cooperation activities. Any effort to enhance
the impact and institutional effectiveness
of UNCTAD should seek to strengthen
these pillars and forge greater coherence
between them.
Roundtable 8 will consider how UNCTAD
can reinforce its development role both
at global and national levels. It will also
look at how the new realities in the global
economy affect the development role and
impact of UNCTAD. Roundtable 9 will
address how to ensure that UNCTAD’s
research and policy analysis work, often
characterized by innovative thinking, continues to meet the needs of developing
countries in a fast changing international
environment. The roundtable will also
consider whether UNCTAD’s intergovernmental machinery needs strengthening and how to reinforce UNCTAD’s
role in providing technical assistance to
developing countries.
UNCTAD
news - 15
WOMEN IN BUSINESS Awards
The winners of the first Women in Business Awards will be chosen from
among owners of firms that have benefited from the business development
services of UNCTAD’s 27 Empretec Centres. The three finalists will be
invited to attend the awards ceremony at UNCTAD XII in Accra,
on 21 April. An independent panel of experts in entrepreneurship will
choose the winner and also award second- and third-place prizes.
Paola Borges Barcellos Tucunduva, Brazil
ROTOVIC - Uniforme Lavandería e Locação Ltda
ROTOVIC is a laundry business specializing in work uniforms and uniform rental.
It is a pioneer in the use of fire-resistant uniforms, operates in an environmentally
friendly fashion – such as by recycling water – and has 235 employees. Its
goal is to concentrate increasingly on health and safety services by expanding
rentals of protective work uniforms, providing industrial laundry services, and
maintaining safety equipment.
The firm reflects Brazil’s expanding growth in the business service sector. Services
are now the largest component of the country’s economy, accounting for 66% of
gross domestic product and for 67% of employment. Such a pattern is typical of
urbanization, and 75% of Brazil’s population lives in cities.
Messeret
Belihu,
Ethiopia
Ras
Amba
Hotel
Ras Amba is a well-known three-star hotel in the
Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. It provides jobs
for 65 people, over half of whom are women. The
hotel also has a restaurant, a wedding and meeting
hall, a catering service and an airport shuttle
service. It recently bought additional land and
construction has begun on an expansion intended
to upgrade to four-star status.
The business was established in response to the
growing need for hotel accommodation in Addis
Ababa, in part to because of expanding tourism.
The number of international visitors to Ethiopia
rose by 23.5% in 2005-2007. While much
recent hotel construction in Addis Ababa is by large
international investors, Ras Amba is locally
owned and managed.
Sana Zaal Burgan, Jordan
Dédé
Léa
Edith
Medji,
Benin
Mon
petit
Bénin
Based in Cotonou, the firm produces fruit juices
and chips. Its major product is natural baobab
juice, which is bottled and has a long shelf life.
Company objectives include promoting local
products, extending the health benefits of baobab
and other fruit juices to greater numbers of
people, and providing extra income for rural
women in Benin. Supplies of baobab tree pulp are
provided by groups of women in the countryside
who are thus encouraged to maintain baobabs.
The firm has 13 employees and is seeking to add
handicapped staff as it expands.
Mon petit Bénin is a firm that adds processing, or
“value added,” to agriculture, which is the mainstay of Benin’s economy. A good harvest in 2007
helped the country’s economy grow by more than
5%. Agribusiness is a promising export sector,
and Mon petit Bénin, following recent upgrades
to its production processes to comply with international standards, recently began exporting to
the United States.
16 - UNCTADnews
Med Grant
Med Grant, based in the Jordanian capital of Amman, promotes medical
services in Jordan, especially to international “medical tourism” clients. Its
activities are focused on a website called JoHealth.com, through which it
provides accurate and trustworthy information and through which patients
from all over the world can arrange for treatment within the country. It
summarizes scientific research carried out by Jordanian doctors and provides a marketplace where buyers of medical equipment can find suppliers. It also does charity work, particularly related to disease prevention, cancer, drugs, and women’s health. The business has an estimated value of
US$450,000.
Jordan’s modern medical system and well-trained doctors have become a major source of foreign income. Some
100,000 foreign patients visited annually between 2002 and 2007, and Med Grant has found a successful niche
in matching patients with potential providers of health care. The goal set by Jordan’s medical tourism sector is
to expand earnings to US$1 billion per year; worldwide, medical tourism resulted in 19 million voyages in 2005
and income of US$20 billion.
Augustine E. Hammond, Ghana
Jem Afrik Creations Ltd.
Jem Afrik designs and produces afro-ethnic clothing ranging from casual
wear to business apparel to evening dresses. It began with a single employee
behind a rented sewing machine in 1986, and now has 55 permanent
employees, 15 trained and mentored workers who have set up their own
businesses and function as subcontractors, and registered sales representatives
in the United States, the Caribbean, and southern Africa.
Ghana’s garment industry, driven in part by the popularity of traditional Ghanaian designs, has been growing
rapidly and now is a major contributor to the country’s exports. Aided by international trade agreements such
as the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the nation’s textile and apparel exports to the United States
surged from US$550,000 in 2002 to $7.4 million in 2004. It is estimated that over 70,000 jobs will be created by
the domestic garment and textile industry over the next four years.
Paully Apea-Kubi, Ghana
Ebenut Ghana Ltd.
This firm, based in Accra, produces and packages dried fruits, nuts, and
vegetables. These include coconut, mango, papaya, pineapple, banana, eggplant,
tomatoes, peppers, and spicy plantain chips. Ebenut Ghana ships 10 tons of
these products every five weeks to the United Kingdom, the United States,
and Senegal. Domestic sales are also extensive. The firm’s goal is to triple
its current output.
Ghana has rich farmland and has traditionally depended on its agricultural sector. It is the third largest exporter
of pineapples to the European Union. These exports have grown by 45% over the last five years and brought in
US$42 million in earnings.
Ebenut capitalizes on fresh fruit left over after harvesting; this often-wasted produce is now bought and
preserved, resulting in marketable and popular products and increased farmers’ incomes.
Sapphira Nyabunwa, Uganda
Safi Cleaning Services Ltd.
This firm, based in the capital of Kampala, provides professional cleaning
services, including lawn cleaning, fumigation, garbage collection, dry
cleaning, and commercial laundry work. Its corporate clientele include
Shell Uganda, Stanbic Bank, Total Uganda, the World Food Programme,
Celtel Uganda, Uganda Telecom, three major hospitals, and the British High
Commission. It has 800 employees around the country and a monthly
turnover of US$88,000.
Safi Cleaning is reflective of Uganda’s expanding service sector. Services accounted for 48% of the country’s gross
domestic product in 2006 and for eight out of 10 new jobs created. Such firms also help sustain the nation’s
manufacturing sector – they purchase 60% of the equipment and supplies produced by Ugandan manufacturers.
Emelda Nyasha
Nyamupingidza,
Zimbabwe
Nyaya Industries
t/a Zesk Products
Nyaya Industries is
a regional firm based in Harare which makes
candles and polishing products. It has registered
affiliates in Mozambique and Malawi. Its founder,
a trained chemist, started the business after she
noticed a dearth of quality candles and polishes
in Zimbabwe in the early 1990s. She considers
the country’s current economic hardships as “a
challenge, not a deterrent.” Her business now
employs more than 150 people and each month
exports 56 tons of candles to Malawi.
In many African countries, including Zimbabwe,
candles are a basic necessity in rural areas, which
often have no electricity. Nyaya Industries is the
largest candle maker and second largest polish
maker in Zimbabwe. While other companies
concentrated on urban customers, Nyaya began
producing a smaller and cheaper candle for the
four-fifths of Zimbabweans who live in the countryside. The company continues to provide significant
employment during the recent difficult economic
period.
Irene
BacchusHolder,
Guyana
Irene’s
Creative
Handicraft
This business, which is based in the city of Linden
and now employs five people, began when Ms.
Bacchus-Holder offered gifts made of wood from
Guyana’s rain forest to several friends. She was
encouraged to produce and sell similar items;
and when she showed samples to a leading shop
it immediately placed an order. The handicrafts
are decorative or functional, are based on original
designs, and are made of rare – but not endangered – native wood species. Often they are used
as corporate gifts. The government of Guyana
offered them as gifts to delegates attending an international summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2007.
Guyana’s native handicraft sector is a major
source of income for the country’s indigenous
peoples. It also creates job opportunities for
women, who are often left out of the formal employment sector. There is a tradition of woodworking. Growth in the country’s tourism industry
is expected to boost sales of these crafts, and the
country’s rain forest abounds in rare, beautiful
species of wood, many of which are unknown to
the rest of the world.
Elba Rosa Torrado, Argentina
Se hace camino al andar
The firm, whose title roughly translates as “make your own road as you go,” is
based in Buenos Aires and provides services to other entrepreneurs through a
website and a worldwide radio broadcast via the Internet. It arranges thematic
events, organizes business awards, publishes magazines, and provides consulting
on entrepreneurship.
The company meets a need in Argentina’s thriving entrepreneurial sector,
where small- and medium-sized firms account for 84% of the country’s enterprises
and contribute 40% of the country’s gross domestic product.
EMPRETEC
Empretec was launched in Argentina in 1988. It is a pioneering UNCTAD programme
– aided by much private and public support – that promotes and enables entrepreneurship in developing countries. Years of research have shown that healthy economic
growth depends on the creation of small- and medium-sized businesses. Empretec gives
practical and behavioural advice on such matters as opportunity-seeking and initiative;
persistence; fulfilment of commitments; demand for quality and efficiency; calculated
risks; goal-setting; information-seeking; systematic planning and monitoring; persuasion
and networking; and independence and self-confidence. Empretec affiliates have nurtured
over 120,000 entrepreneurs in 27 developing countries with the help of more than 600
local certified trainers.
UNCTAD
news - 17
Creative Industries
Promoting development through creativity is at the heart of a bold and
far-reaching initiative linked to UNCTAD XII. In January, the Secretary-General’s
high-level panel on the creative economy and industries for development brought
together ministers, international experts and members of the artistic community to
consider how developing countries can bolster the competitiveness of their creative
industries to foster socio-economic growth. Accra sees the launch of Creative Africa,
which will put the spotlight on Africa’s varied and dynamic creative sector through a
series of exciting cultural events. Also to be unveiled in Ghana is the UN’s first
multi-agency study on the creative economy.
Launch of first UN multi-agency report
The study, Creative Economy Report 2007: The Challenge
of Assessing the Creative Economy – Towards Informed
Policymaking, will be launched jointly on April 20 in
Accra at a press conference to be given by Supachai
Panitchpakdi, UNCTAD Secretary-General, and
Kemal Dervis, Administrator of the UN Development
Programme (UNDP).
Creativity as Driver
of Economic Growth
Long venerated for its cultural and artistic
value, creativity is now playing an increasingly dynamic economic role, providing
developing countries with the opportunity
to transform untapped creative resources
into growth.
Creative industries span a multitude of
activities ranging from traditional folk art,
cultural festivities, books, paintings, music
and performing arts to more technologyintensive sectors, such as design and the
audio-visual industry, including film, television and radio. Also involved are the
service-oriented fields of architecture,
advertising and new media products, such
as digital animation and video-games.
A recent and evolving concept, the creative
economy reflects that idea that creative
assets can generate economic growth,
job creation and export earnings while
at the same time promoting social inclusion, cultural diversity and human
development.
Globalization and connectivity are helping
to make creative industries one of the
18 - UNCTADnews
world’s most dynamic sectors. According
to preliminary UNCTAD figures, international trade in creative goods and services surged to US$445.2 billion in 2005
from US$234.8 billion in 1996, with an
unprecedented average growth rate of
8.7% a year from 2000 to 2005.
Although developed countries continue
to dominate the global market for creative products, exports from developing
countries are gaining ground, rising to
US$136.2 billion in 2005 from US$55.9
billion in 1996. This mainly reflects the
remarkable export performance of China,
the world’s leading exporter of creative
goods in 2005, as well as strong gains
elsewhere in Asia.
The picture is less positive in many other
developing countries, which are not yet in
a position to harness their creative capacities for development. Africa, for example,
accounted for less than 1% of world trade
in creative products in 2000-2005.
Hence, there is a need to raise awareness among decision makers about the
importance of fostering a sector with such
rich and varied potential. This was among
the aims of a meeting on The Creative
Economy and Industries for Development,
organized by UNCTAD in Geneva (1415 January). Among those participating
were Ghana’s minister of culture, Sampson
Kwaku Boafo; Bulgarian vice-minister
of culture, Yavor Milushev; members of
the artistic community and experts from
international organizations. The meeting’s
conclusions and analysis are expected to
feed into discussions on this theme at
UNCTAD XII.
Considering issues linked to creative industries is all the more relevant because of
the external and internal constraints faced
by developing countries in this domain.
These include lack of access to markets
and non-competitive business practices,
particularly in the audiovisual and digital
industries, the concentration of marketing
channels and distribution networks in a
few major markets, limited funds for creative industries from regional and multilateral creditors and technological exclusion. In addition, the sector’s revenues
– which largely originate from copyrights,
licences, and marketing and distribution –
often fail to reach creators in developing
countries.
Creative Africa
This is an initiative of the UNCTAD secretariat to
bring greater pragmatism to the policy debate. It will
showcase the diversity of Africa’s abundant creative
talent as well as the vigour of its creative industries.
Creative Africa is based on close partnership between
UNCTAD, African artists, the government of Ghana and
Agoralumiere International, a non-profit organization
that aims to promote Pan-African creative economies
through cultural diversity. Creative Africa will bring a series
of cultural events to UNCTAD XII in Accra. It is
hoped that the initiative will mark a starting point
for further promotion and development of Africa’s
creative sector on the world stage.
on the Creative Economy
Given the broad-based nature of the creative economy, the report seeks to present a UNwide perspective. Based on a partnership between UNCTAD and the UNDP, the report
also includes contributions from UNESCO, the World Intellectual Property Organization
and the International Trade Centre. Reflecting pioneering trade analysis, the report will
present an economic and statistical assessment of creative industries world-wide as well
as an overview of how developing countries can benefit better from trade in creative products and services for developmental needs.
Contemporary Art Exhibit
Organized in cooperation with Dak’Art
Biennal, the African art exhibit held in
Dakar, Senegal every two years, the show
will include plastic arts and design. In addition to revealing the breadth of African
talent in this field, the exhibit will point the
way to new approaches in art and design
and raise public awareness about contemporary creations. Works by the following
artists will be on show: Ludovic Fadairo
(Benin), Joel Mpah-Dooh (Cameroon),
Bill Kouelany (Congo), Freddy Tsimba
(Democratic Republic of the Congo),
Jacques Samir Stenka (Côte d’Ivoire),
Brahim El-Anatsui (Ghana), Abdoulaye
Konaté (Mali), Bruce Onobrakpeya
(Nigeria), Souleymane Keita (Senegal),
Sokey Edorh (Togo).
Fashion Shows
Anggy Haif, based in Yaoundé, Cameroon,
is a self-taught designer, singer, composer
and model who aims to promote African
culture through fashion and music. On
the fashion front, he marries modern textiles with natural materials, such as raphia,
roots, liana, leaves and other gathered
items. On the music front, he links modern
and traditional sounds and is part of the
Abialy percussion group.
A well-known fashion designer, Niger’s
Alphadi is devoted to bringing African
fashion to the fore. In his many travels
around the continent by caravan, he
searches out and promotes talent and
lobbies decision-makers on the contribution fashion makes to economic development, particularly given the job-creating
potential of areas such as textiles, jewellery and leather goods.
Kofi Ansah, an avant-garde Ghanaian
designer, is well known internationally.
Born to a family of artists, he graduated
with honours from Chelsea School of Art
in fashion design and design technology.
After 20 years in Europe where he
worked for Guy Laroche in Paris and
Cecil Gee in London, he returned to
Ghana in 1992 to contribute to the development of the Ghanaian clothes industry.
Concerts
Femi Kuti is an exhilarating performer of
afro-beat, the mixture of funk, jazz and
traditional African music pioneered by his
father, the famous Nigerian saxophonist
Fela Kuti. A politically engaged musician,
Femi Kuti runs New Africa Shrine, a charity
based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Youssou N’Dour is a singer and percussionist who helped develop popular
music in his native Senegal. Known in the
Wolof language as mbalax, this blends the
country’s traditional griot percussion and
praise-singing with Afro-Cuban arrangements and flavours. (Concert to be confirmed.)
With his Afro Pop sound, Kojo Antwi
blends West African music and AfroAmerican rhythm and blues. Over two
decades, the Ghanaian musician has gone
from bubbly vocalist through introspective songwriter and lead singer to consummate musician, arranger, producer
and enigmatic performer.
Dance
Resident at the National Theatre of
Ghana, the Ghana Dance Ensemble has
performed worldwide. With works that
combine ancient folk and contemporary
dance forms, the group has proved itself
a worthy ambassador of Ghana.
An Afro-oriental dancer, Dina Talaat is a
star of the oriental dance in Egypt.
UNCTAD
news - 19
Interview
A Turning Point
for Africa?
Charles Gore*
Over the past few years, Africa
has sustained a strong economic
performance and some observers
now say that the continent has
reached a development turningpoint and moved to a path of
faster and steadier growth. Do
you agree?
C. Gore: The recent high rates of GDP
growth are very welcome. Improvements
are particularly notable in sub-Saharan
Africa. The UN’s World Economic
Situation and Prospects 2008 estimates
that average GDP growth, excluding
Nigeria and South Africa, reached 7% in
2007. But I have three caveats.
Firstly, there is increasing divergence
within Africa, with oil and mineral exporters doing particularly well owing to
high prices. Secondly, the growth success
is not yet translating into broad-based
improvements in human well-being.
Despite rapid growth, many African
countries are facing an intensifying employment crisis due to their inability to
create sufficient productive jobs for the
rapidly expanding population of working
age. In the past, the major mechanism for
absorbing labour was through expansion
of the land area used for agriculture. But
there is now accelerating urbanization
without industrialization. The capacity
of agriculture to absorb new entrants to
labour markets is diminishing as the limits
of cultivable land are reached and as land
quality and average farm size decline.
This process will be aggravated by climate
change. Yet the booming urban services
sector mainly consists of low-productivity
informal activities such as petty trade.
This precarious employment situation is
the root cause of Africa’s persistent poverty
problem, and also a basic source of
political instability. Thirdly, it is clear that
in the past many African countries have
experienced growth spurts which have
*
Fresh Policies Needed to Sustain
Economic Growth and Widen Its Impact
been followed by growth collapses. This
is because Africa’s growth performance
continues to depend mainly on external
factors, in particular commodity prices
and resource inflows.
A development turning-point will be
reached when domestic savings and investment rise, technological capabilities of
domestic firms improve and production
is diversified to absorb the growing number of workers outside of agriculture and
reduce commodity dependence. But this
cannot be achieved with the continuation
of current policies. Instead it requires new
national and international policies which
build on the growth success of the recent
past. In short, a development turningpoint is possible. But it requires that
the present moment becomes a policy
turning-point.
According to UNCTAD’s annual
Africa reports, what fresh policies
are necessary at the national level?
S. Gayi: Africa has to implement policies
that get it out of its commodity dependence irrespective of developments in the
emerging markets of China and India, as
historically, commodity booms have been
shorter than slump cycles. This implies
two things. First, diversifying both horizontally and vertically into market dynamic
products; and second, attaining a more
skill- and technology-intensive production
profile which is consistent with higher value
added exports and strong productivity
growth. Governments should facilitate
the emergence of this production profile
through an integrated programme
of supply-side measures consisting, for
example, of fiscal and other incentives,
extension services, trade facilitation,
market research and quality control.
In the case of natural resource exploitation
and foreign direct investment (FDI), it is
necessary to reverse the current sectoral
Sam Gayi*
approach to attracting FDI in favour of a
holistic one. That is, an approach that emphasizes the contribution of the natural
resource sector to much wider development objectives through links to the rest
of the economy, including higher value
added processing activities. Inevitably, this
entails a more balanced, and more strategic, approach to FDI tailored to African
social and economic conditions and
development challenges.
Considering the serious questions being
raised about the efficacy, quality and
developmental impact of both official
development assistance (ODA) and FDI,
and the conditions attached to these,
African countries have to make efforts to
increase their total envelope of domestic
resources. This is not only to reduce dependence on such external funds but also
to diversify their development resources.
Domestic resources must then be channelled to productive investments to
increase their efficiency. In the medium to
long term, the ability of African countries
to finance autonomously an increasing
share of their development needs would
allow much-needed flexibility in formulating and implementing policies that
address their economic, social and other
developmental needs. Considering the
multiple challenges facing Africa, countries
have to adopt an appropriate “policy mix”
or “diversity of policies” tailored to their
specific situations, rather than a one-sizefits-all approach. This highlights the need
for more space for African countries to
design and implement policies that make
optimal use of available resources in a
way that leads to a virtuous circle of
accumulation, investment, growth and
poverty reduction drawing on the model
of developmental states. Considering
the level of external integration already
attained by African countries, the main
objective of African development should
be to strengthen links between profit,
harles Gore is Special Coordinator for Cross-Sectoral Issues in the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes;
C
Samuel Gayi is Senior Economic Affairs Officer in the same Division and team leader of the Economic Development in Africa Report.
20 - UNCTADnews
investment and exports, in such a way
that internal integration is deepened.
such states there is room for errors as the
emphasis is on “learning by doing”.
What do you mean by a
developmental state?
S. Gayi: It is important to mention from
the outset that a developmental state is
not a socialist state as some observers
have sought to portray it. The concept
emanates from analytical insights into the
rapid economic development of a group
of previously poor countries in East Asia,
which became known as the newly industrializing economies (NIEs). The ideology
of a developmental state is fundamentally
“developmentalist”, as its major preoccupation is to ensure sustained economic
growth and development based on high
rates of accumulation, industrialization
and structural change. Such a state has,
or develops, the capacity to implement
economic policies that effectively deliver
development, which in turn gives it legitimacy. An important characteristic of a
developmental state is that institutional
reforms and policy interventions revolve
around a “profit–investment nexus”, an
accumulation dynamic, which is critical to
the growth process. Second, it establishes
and maintains close and interdependent
links between exports and investments;
that is, an “export–investment nexus”.
Finally, the process of managing “economic
rents” ensures their beneficial impact on
the development process. The concept
centres on the belief that neither the
“market” nor the “state” can by itself deliver the ultimate goal of development. As
such, the real path to sustainable growth
and development should involve a pragmatic mix of markets and state action,
taking into consideration country-specific
development challenges. Strategic industrial policies are thus key to the running
of a developmental state – although the
term may no longer fashionable in the
conventional economic development
policy debate!
Furthermore, the experiences of the NIEs
suggest that such a state is selective in its
liberalization and export-oriented strategies, often ensuring the development of a
competitive sector before opening it up.
Typically, heterodox economic policies,
such as state intervention targeted on
growth and political rent-seeking, were
subjected to market discipline. An aspect
of these states not often discussed is the
“trial and error” nature of policymaking,
which is an important feature of even the
most successful developmental states. In
What recommendations do
the Africa reports make on how
the international community can
help spur the kind of growth that
leads to sustainable development
and poverty reduction?
S. Gayi: The Economic Development in
Africa series, since its inception in 2000,
has made several practical policy proposals
that have been influential in shaping the
debate on Africa’s development, and the
associated international community’s policy
response. For the sake of this interview, I’ll
just mention a few examples. This report
was the first to propose a doubling of aid to
Africa as means of plugging the continent’s
development resource gap. This was
later taken up and endorsed by the Group
of Eight summit at Gleneagles in 2005. The
report was one of the earliest exponents of
the shortcomings of the Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and recommended a 100 % debt cancellation for
heavily indebted poor and middle income
African countries. This was later endorsed
by non-governmental and civil society organizations and the rest of the international
community. The report’s recommendation
on “multilateralization” of aid to improve
its quality and delivery has also generated
keen interest in the aid and development
community.
In general, however, the recommendations
of the series revolve around rolling back
conditions associated with ODA, FDI
and loans from international financial
institutions. Such obligations often are not
in line with the development priorities of
Africa and do not allow enough flexibility
in meeting international trade and finance
commitments. In short, the international
community should ensure that these
countries have sufficient “policy space” or
policy autonomy to design and implement
development policies that respond to their
genuine development priorities of structural economic transformation, sustainable
development and poverty reduction.
Do you think it is politically realistic
to envisage a policy turning-point at
the present moment? (CG)
C. Gore: I am optimistic. If one looks
back at the evolution of development
thinking, it is clear that there have been
two major policy patterns which each
lasted about twenty-five years. The year
2007 was in fact the 25th anniversary of
the introduction of structural adjustment
policies, which sought to promote stabilization, liberalization and privatization.
These have evolved from first-generation
to second-generation reforms, and also
incorporated new social elements in the
guise of poverty reduction strategies. But
there is a wide desire at the country level
to move beyond this now. In fact I believe
we are in the midst of a fundamental shift
in approach and assumptions. Theorists
and practitioners are reassessing the lessons and limits of past economic reforms
and understanding better the policy ingredients of heterodox successes, notably in
East Asia. What will emerge in terms of
new policy directions is difficult to say. But
it is clear that African Ministers of Finance,
Planning and Economic Development are
very concerned with the problem of “jobless growth”, and they must innovate to
address this phenomenon after undertaking deep trade and financial liberalization.
New approaches to African development
will certainly be part of the emerging shift
in development thinking and practice, and
policy entrepreneurs on the continent
who create new home-grown development
strategies will also actively contribute to
that shift. It is a propitious moment to be
holding UNCTAD XII in Accra.
AFRICA REPORT
Economic Development in Africa 2007 recommends a shift in
African development strategies towards greater use of domestic
financial resources. Over the long term this approach can
achieve sustained and higher rates of economic growth and will
reduce dependence on overseas aid. The domestic resources
of most African countries are greater than realized, and if their
potential is captured, they can provide the type of development
most needed, with the countries themselves owning the process.
The key is the establishment of a developmental state, an
approach to governance and economic progress that has resulted
in phenomenal growth in several Asian nations.
UNCTAD
news - 21
Ghana AT A GLANCE
Ghana is located on the West coast of
Africa. Its total land area is similar in size
to Great Britain – with a population of
approximately 21 million people (July
2005 estimate). The capital is Accra.
Northern Ghana is predominantly savannah and the middle section is typical
rainforest, while the coastal section has
thicket interspersed with savannah. The
Volta River basin dominates the country’s
river system and includes the 8,480 km2
Volta Lake which is the largest artificial
lake in the world.
Formerly called the Gold Coast, Ghana
became the first sub-Saharan country in
colonial Africa to gain its independence
from British colonial rule on 6 March 1957.
On 8 March 1957, Ghana joined the UN.
It practices a multiparty parliamentary
democracy based on a constitution. The
presidency has a four-year term with
a maximum of two terms. Parliament
consists of a 230-seat National Assembly,
which has a four-year term. The legal
system is based on English common law.
More than 100 languages and dialects are
spoken in Ghana. English is the country’s
official language and predominates government and business affairs. It is also the
standard language used for educational
instruction. Ghana’s constitution guarantees
freedom of religion. The most practiced
religion is Christianity, followed by Islam
and Traditional Religion.
The Ghanaian economy is a free market
system that encourages private sector led
economic development and strives to
attract foreign direct investment. Natural
resources include rich mineral resources
(gold, diamonds, manganese, limestone,
bauxite, iron ore, clay and granite deposits),
extensive forests, rich marine fishing,
beautiful landscapes and rich culture and
traditions. Ghana’s most prized possession
is the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality of its
warm-hearted people.
Ghana has an independent media. There
are over 50 newspapers, some of which
are published by state-owned enterprises.
There are a number of TV and radio
stations, some of which are also state
owned.
Practical Information
Flights
Ghana does not have a national airline.
All participants have to book their own
tickets through a local travel agent or by
booking a ticket online.
There will be a welcome desk for participants
at the airport and a shuttle bus between the
airport and the hotels/conference centre.
Hotel reservation
Information on hotels and guest houses
can be found on the government of
Ghana’s website for the conference. For
more information:
www.unctadxii.org/accommodation
Visa
Many participants will require an entry visa into
Ghana. Please check with your local Ghanaian
Embassy or Consulate whether you require
a visa and allow enough time to obtain one
(approximately four working days in Geneva
but maybe more elsewhere). For more information: http://ghanaconferences.com/unctadxii/
Participants_Info.aspx
Health
A yellow fever vaccination (valid for 10
years) is obligatory to obtain your visa. This
should be done at least 10 days before you
travel. Other recommended vaccinations are
hepatitis A (valid for life), diphtheria/tetanus/
polio (valid 10 years), and typhoid (valid three
years) if you are travelling for more than three
weeks. You should also take preventative
medicine against malaria.
22 - UNCTADnews
There will be a medical centre at the
conference however it is recommended that
you take the following basic medicines with:
anti-mosquito spray, anti-diarrhoea pills and a
pain killer such as paracetamol.
It is recommended that you only drink bottled
water, do not drink tap water, do not to have
drinks with ice cubes, do not eat salads, eat
cooked food hot and fruit that can be peeled.
Foreign exchange
The official unit of currency of Ghana is now
the new Ghanaian cedi (GHC) introduced on
3 July 2007.
1US$ = approximately 1 new Ghanaian Cedi
and 1 Sfr. = approximately 0.9 new Ghanaian
Cedi (as of January 2008)
Travellers to Ghana are allowed by law to bring
with them any amount of foreign exchange
into the country which can be changed.
Banks are usually open from 8.30 a.m. to
3 p.m., Monday to Friday. There will be a
bank at the conference centre. Credit cards
can be used but this can be risky as credit card
fraud is common. Unused local currency can
be re-exchanged on proof of
authorised exchange
(visitors are advised to
retain all currency
exchange receipts).
A list of banks
in Ghana can
be found at:
http://www.ghanaembassy.or.jp/business/
bank.html or
http://www.ghanamartplaza.com/Banks.htm
Telephone, fax and telex services are
available in all main towns, and hotels. Most
major hotels also have business centres, which
provide secretarial and courier services. Internet cafes are on the increase throughout the
country. There will be several cyber cafés at
the conference centre and WiFi throughout.
There are several GSM cell phone operators
across Ghana that have roaming agreements
with most international networks. Phones can
be rented in Accra.
The international dialling code for Ghana is
+233. Accra’s city code is 21. The outgoing
code is 00. The telephone system is relatively
reliable, but most people use mobile phones.
The electric voltage used in Ghana is 220V.
They use three-pronged British plugs so
you may need to buy an adaptor for your
electronic equipment.
UNCTAD XII PROGRAMME
Addressing the opportunities and challenges
of globalization for development
Sub-theme 1
Enhancing coherence at all levels for sustainable economic
development and poverty reduction in global policymaking,
including the contribution of regional approaches
Roundtables 1 and 6
Sub-theme 3
Enhancing the enabling environment at all levels to strengthen
productive capacity, trade and investment: mobilizing resources
and harnessing knowledge for development
Roundtables 2, 5 and 7
Sub-theme 2
Key trade and development issues and the new realities in the
geography of the world economy
Roundtables 3 and 4
Sub-theme 4
Strengthening UNCTAD: enhancing its development role, impact
and institutional effectiveness
Roundtables 8 and 9
pre events
April
April
April
MORNING
11:00
UNCTAD XII
Flag raising Ceremony
MORNING
MORNING
10:00 - 13:00
World Investment Forum
10:00-10:30
Opening and welcome addresses
10:30-13:00
Session I
Prospects for global FDI
and new business opportunities
10:00 - 13:00
G77 ministerial meeting
THURSDAY 17
The Civil Society Forum
(17 to 25 April)
April
Friday 18
MORNING
10:00 - 13:00
The World Association
of Investment
Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)
Capacity-building workshops
on investment (in parallel)
- Improving your country’s investment
climate
- How to turn global trends into local
prosperity
- Lessons learned from best IPA practices
around the world
- Emerging markets
AFTERNOON
14:00 - 15:45
Regional meetings of WAIPA
members
16:00 - 18:00
General Assembly of the World
Association of Investment
Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)
20:00
Gala dinner and awards recognizing excellence among investment
promotion agencies (by invitation)
Saturday 19
Sunday 20
10:00 - 13:00
World Investment Forum
(continued)
Session III
Africa: a new emerging market for FDI
10:00 - 13:00
High-level meeting
Organized by UN-OHRLLS
and AITIC on Trade Facilitation
and Aid for Trade (by invitation)
12:30
Creative Africa
Inauguration: exhibition of African art
Launch of the Creative Economy
Report
13:00 - 15:00
World Investment Forum
Business networking buffet
13:00 - 15:00
World Investment Forum
Investment Advisory Council
(by invitation)
AFTERNOON
15:00 - 17:00
Ministerial meeting
of LDC delegations
15:00 - 18:00
World Investment Forum
Session II
Global value chains
20:00 - 22:00
World Investment Forum
Business networking dinner
(by invitation)
10:00 - 18:00
UNCTAD XII pre-event
on development strategies
in Africa
(UNCTAD XII pre-event, off-site)
UNCTAD
news - 23
MAIN events
April
April
April
AFTERNOON
MORNING
MORNING
15:00 - 16:30
UNCTAD XII
Opening Ceremony
10:00 - 13:00
High-level segment
Trade and development for Africa’s
prosperity: action and direction
10:00 - 13:00
Interactive Thematic
Roundtable 1
Globalization, development and
poverty reduction: their social and
gender dimensions
SUNDAY 20
Statements by
- H.E. Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
President of Brazil
- H.E. Mr. John Ko Agyekum Kufuor,
President of Ghana
- Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General
of the United Nations
Followed by
16:30 - 18:30
First plenary for procedural
matters:
- Adoption of agenda
- Election of the Bureau
and conference officers
- Organization of work
- Establishment of the Credentials
Committee
20:00 - 22:00
Welcome reception
by the host country
MONDAY 21
13:30 - 15:00
Luncheon for for Heads of State,
Government and Heads
of Delegation
Keynote speaker
Mr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri,
Chairman,
Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change
AFTERNOON
15:30 - 18:3 0
Opening plenary of the
Committee of the Whole
Statement by Mr. Supachai
Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General
of UNCTAD
16:00 - 19:00
General debate opening
(webcast)
16:00 - 19:00
World Investment Forum
(continued)
Global Leaders Investment Debate
Opening address by Mr. Ban Ki-Moon,
Secretary-General of the United
Nations
19:00 - 19:30
World Investment Forum
(continued)
Women in Business Awards
tuesday 22
10:00 - 13:00
General debate (continued)
10:00 - 13:00
Committee of the Whole
(continued)
12:00 - 13:00
Special event
Launching of the United Nations
Chief Executives Board (CEB)
Interagency
Cluster on Trade and Productive
Capacity
13:00 - 15:00
Lunchtime events (in parallel)
- Delivering on development:
the role of UNCTAD
- Trade and gender: perspectives
for sustainable growth and poverty
reduction
- Making sustainability standards work
for pro-poor agricultural trade and
development
AFTERNOON
15:00 - 18:00
Interactive Thematic
Roundtable 2
Creating an institutional environment
conducive to increased foreign
investment and sustainable development
15:00 - 18:00
General debate (continued)
15:00 - 18:00
Committee of the Whole
(continued)
20:00 - 22:00
Creative Africa:
concert and fashion show
24 - UNCTADnews
April
April
April
MORNING
MORNING
MORNING
10:00 - 13:00
Interactive Thematic
Roundtable 3
The changing face of commodities
in the 21st century
10:00 - 13:00
Interactive Thematic
Roundtable 5
Harnessing knowledge and
technology for development
10:00 - 13:00
Interactive Thematic
Roundtable 8
Strengthening UNCTAD:
enhancing its development role
10:00 - 13:00
General debate (continued)
10:00 - 13:00
General debate (continued)
10:00 - 13:00
Committee of the Whole
(continued)
10:00 - 13:00
Committee of the Whole
(continued)
10:00 - 13:00
Closing plenary of the
Committee of the Whole
13:00 - 15:00
Lunchtime events
(in parallel)
- Aid for Trade: perspectives of
Regional Commissions (organized
by UN Regional Commissions)
- COMPAL: what type of deliverables
on competition law and policy?
followed by Making Trade Work
for Biodiversity Sustainable Use
13:00 - 15:00
Lunchtime event
Potential and prospects for
trade and investment among
developing countries and transition
economies
AFTERNOON
AFTERNOON
AFTERNOON
15:00 - 18:00
Interactive Thematic
Roundtable 4
Emergence of a new South and
South-South trade as a vehicle for
regional and interregional integration
for development
15:00 - 17:00
Interactive Thematic
Roundtable 6
Debt management solutions
supporting trade and development
15:30 - 17:30
Interactive Thematic
Roundtable 9
Strengthening UNCTAD: enhancing
its impact and institutional effectiveness
15:00 - 18:00
General debate (continued)
17:30 - 20:00
15:00 - 18:00
General debate (continued)
15:00 - 18:00
Committee of the Whole
(continued)
WEDNESDAY 23
15:00 - 18:00
Committee of the Whole
(continued)
18:00 - 19:00
Global System of Trade
Preferences (GSTP)
ministerial session
THURSDAY 24
FRIDAY 25
13:00 - 15:00
Lunchtime event
Amandla (light) project initiative
with Philips Corporation and
exhibition of corporate responsibility
products
13:00 - 15:00
Lunchtime event
UNCTAD EMPRETEC
Africa Forum Launch
17:00 - 19:00
Interactive Thematic
Roundtable 7
Developing productive capacities
in least developed countries
UNCTAD XII
Closing plenary
Followed by:
Closing ceremony
UNCTAD
news - 25
Weather
Registration
Although Ghana has a tropical climate and
April is during the rainy season, showers
should be few and far between and are short
lived. It should be warm, somewhere between
25°C and 31°C. However, there will be air
conditioning at the conference centre, so
make sure you bring something to wear over
your summer clothes. Local time is Greenwich
Mean Time (GMT).
Member States and other participants
To register for the conference you need to send a letter of credentials and a completed
registration form to the address below before 4 April.
The letter of credentials should be signed by the Head of State/Government/Minister
of Foreign Affairs for member States and by head of organizations for all other participants.
More information on Ghana can be found at:
http://www.touringghana.com/default.asp
http://www.ghanaconferences.com/unctadxii/
About_Ghana.aspx
Office E-3061 - Palais des Nations - CH-1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland
Fax: (+41 22) 917 0214 - E-mail: register@unctad.org
Detailed instructions on how to register for the Conference and the registration form
can be found at: http://www.unctadxii.org/registration
Media
Bona fide representatives of the mass media – press, photo, radio, television and film
– will need to be accredited for the coverage of the Conference.
A completed applications form, together with a letter of assignment on official letterhead from the Editor or Bureau Chief should be sent before or on 11 April 2008 by
fax to:
United Nations Office at Geneva - Information Service, Room C323,
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland - Fax: (+41) 22 917 00 73 or 917 00 31
Email: cfegli@unog.ch
The press pass will be issued at the International Conference site upon presentation of
two forms of photo ID
After 14 April 2008, media can apply for accreditation directly at the Conference site
with a completed application form, letter of assignment and two forms of photo ID.
The media accreditation form and all other information concerning media attendance
at the conference can be found at www.unctadxii.org/mediaaccreditation.
For more information:
UNCTAD Communication and Information Unit
Intergovernmental Affairs and Outreach Service
E-7091 - Palais des Nations - 8-14, Av. de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10 - Switzerland - Tel: +41 22 917 5828
Fax: +41 22 917 0051 - Email: unctadpress@unctad.org
UNCTAD Website:
http://www.unctad.org
Press release and publications are available online:
http://www.unctad.org/press
and http://www.unctad.org/mainpublications
Unctad News is published bi-monthly in English, French and Spanish.
Editor in Chief: Muriel Scibilia
Contributors: Caridad Gaechter, Catherine Sibut-Pinote, Alan Sternberg, Amanda Weber, Julie Wolf
Photo credits: P. Virot, WIBH: page 1, 4, 10, 13, 20 - © ILO / M. Crozet: page 2, 6, 8 - G. Fischer: page 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18
Stockxpert: page 7 - J. P. Escard: page 15
Susan Levan/Photodisc/Getty Images: page 18 - Marco Benvenuti: page 19 - Alphadi: page 19 - ©ICI: page 22, 26
26 - UNCTADnews
Designed by UNCTAD and printed by the Publishing Service, United Nations, Geneva — January 2008 - UNCTAD/IAOS/MISC/2007/21
UNCTAD XII Website:
http://www.unctadxii.org