CONFÉRENCE DES NATIONS UNIES SUR
LE COMMERCE ET LE DÉVELOPPEMENT
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE
ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
Expert Meeting on Challenges and opportunities for LDCs:
Graduation and Structural transformation
(Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 28 February - 1 March 2012)
Information note
Background:
1. The experts meeting will be organised by UNCTAD with the financial
support of the Common Fund for commodities (CFC) and in collaboration
with UN-ECA and AU.
The event takes place at the United Nations conference Centre in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia from 28 February to 1 March 2012.
2. The meeting is part of the ongoing work of UNCTAD in undertaking sector
specific and country case studies in several LDCs with a view to tracking
socio-economic progress at the national level.
The country cases and sector specific studies provided useful insights into the
most important trade and development challenges as well as policy actions to
address at the national, regional and international levels.
The studies also assisted in organizing meetings of senior experts in Arusha
(Tanzania) in 2008, Kampala (Uganda) in 2009 and a special event on
commodities during the fourth United Nations Conference on LDCs in
Istanbul (Turkey) in May 2011.
Objective and output of the event
3. The main objective of the meeting in Addis Ababa is to set a stage for the
implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA), with a focus on
meeting the agreed objective of enabling half of the LDCs to meet the
graduation criteria by 2020. It will particularly deliberate on key issues of
strategic interest for LDCs and assess the challenges, opportunities and
prospects for graduation.
4. National experts from selected countries with experience in trade and
development policies will bring to the experts meeting substantive and
analytical information on their respective countries' most important challenges,
opportunities and potential for graduation. At the meeting, case studies from
Laos PDR and Nepal in Asia and from Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone in the
African region, as well as other thematic studies, will be thoroughly
discussed. Furthermore, experts from other countries will be encouraged to
make presentations on successful experiences and best practices in trade and
development related issues.
5. The meeting will also provide opportunities to exchange of views on ways and
means of enabling half of the LDCs to meet the graduation target by 2020 with
particular focus on four broad areas: building productive capacities,
leveraging their commodities sector for development, scaling-up of
international support measures (mechanisms) and improving the quality of
domestic policies and their execution. The final outcome of the meeting will
assist the participation of the least developed countries in the 13th session of
the United Nations conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII),
due to take place in Doha, Qatar, from 21 to 26 April 2012.
Documentation
6. UNCTAD will make available an issues note and the Least Developed
Countries 2011 Report to assist the deliberation of participants. It is expected
that the UN-ECA and AU will contribute to background documentation
drawing from their respective expertise and comparative advantages at the
regional level.
7. National experts from selected countries are expected to make presentations on
the recent socio-economic progress, identifying the most important trade and
development challenges facing their respective countries. In this context,
experts from selected LDCs from Africa and Asia will bring to the event
priorities and challenges highlighted in their respective countries' 2020 vision
documents to provide insights into potential for graduation. Regional and
international experts will be invited to make presentations on the specific tasks
assigned to them and based on their respective expertise. All presentations will
be made in the languages they will have been prepared. However, there will be
simultaneous interpretation in English and French during the meeting.
Participation
8. National and international experts, policy advisors from the African and the
Asia Pacific LDCs and the coordination bureau of LDCs from Geneva as well
as relevant UN system agencies and international organizations are expected to
take active part in the meeting.
9. Travel and DSA for both national and international experts as well as the
Coordination bureau of LDCs (From Geneva) for the duration of the meeting
shall be covered by UNCTAD in accordance with the United Nations rules
and regulations.
Visa
10. For meeting participants from countries where there are no Ethiopian
embassies and consular services, efforts will be made to grant visa upon
arrival at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.
Currency
11. The Ethiopian currency is called Birr or the Ethiopian Birr and with the notes
denomination in 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100. All major international currencies are
convertible into birr at local banks and designated hotels at the daily exchange
rates.
Hotel accommodation
12. A hotel block booking for single rooms with breakfast will be provided by
UNCTAD for all funded participants at the Intercontinental Hotel, Kirkos subcity, Kasanchis area, behind UNICEF country office, Telephone number 2511-1550 5066. The hotel is equipped with high speed internet. Transfer from
the airport to/from hotel will be provided by the hotel.
13. Accommodation for self-financed participants can also be booked where all
participants are required to stay for the duration of the event. Please contact
Ms. Corazon Yance Roberts in event that assistance is needed in this regard at
Corazon.Yance.Roberts@unctad.org.
Weather in Addis Ababa
14. The month of February is generally dry and warm in Addis Ababa, with a
daily average temperature of 25 degree Celsius or 77 degree Fahrenheit. Light
tropical clothing would be appropriate. The conference room where the event
is scheduled to be held is air-conditioned and the temperature is maintained in
ideal range.