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Statement

by Mr. Yves Boulanger
Ambassador of Canada

Mr. Executive Secretary of the ECA,

Madam Commissioner for Trade and Industry,

Ambassadors and Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf the Canadian government, I am immensely delighted to be here today to co-host the African Trade Policy Centre Partners Roundtable.

We all recognize that trade is a key factor for economic growth, and can help to alleviate poverty. While trade is not an end in itself, it can enhance a country's access to a wider range of goods and services, technologies and knowledge to stimulate the private sector, create jobs. It can also foster learning. It attracts private capital and contributes to increased foreign exchange. Above all, it generates the resources required for sustainable development and poverty alleviation, a matter of immense importance for African countries.

Canada is pleased to be able to continue its leadership role in accompanying Africa on its development journey. Canada's development assistance includes a number of trade-related programming, most of which are funded through the $500 Canada Fund for Africa initiative announced at the 2002 G8 Summit in Kananaskis.

The Canada Fund for Africa focuses on large-scale and innovative programming and responds to Africa's framework for development, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and related G8 Africa Action Plan. It responds directly to the desire of Africans to generate new economic growth, particularly through increased international trade and investments.

Through the Canada Fund for Africa, Canada is supporting three trade related initiatives that aim to level the playing field by helping Africa increase its capacity to find new markets, develop new products, develop and implement trade strategies, policies and programs, and negotiated new trade agreements.

First, Canada is helping Africans to improve their capacity to do business internationally and promote their exports through the Programme for building African Capacity for Trade (PACT). This is a joint initiative of the UN International Trade Centre and the Trade Facilitation Office Canada. These organizations provide technical assistance to small and medium-sized African businesses and the institutions that support them in order to enhance the competitiveness of African enterprises and promote concrete business opportunities.

Secondly, through the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Program (JITAP), sixteen African countries are accelerating the participation of their economies in the multilateral trading system. This programme is being implemented by the UN International Trade Centre, the UN Conference on Trade and Development and the World Trade Organisation. Working with governments, business organisations, and civil society in dealing with trade issues, JITAP is strengthening the capacities of these countries through training in negotiating and implementing trade agreements and formulating trade policy.

Thirdly, the establishment of the African Trade Policy Centre (and the reason why we are here today) within the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa aims to increase the capacity of Africans to represent their interests in negotiating trade agreements, and to integrate trade within Africa and with the rest of the world. Let me say that after three years in operation, the African Trade Policy Centre has shown significant progress in providing efficient advisory and technical services, conducting high quality research on trade related issues, and raising awareness on trade issues within the continent.

Another trade related programming funded by Canada is the Integrated Framework, a multilateral initiative whose objective is to increase the trade benefits in developing countries, especially the Least Developed Countries. The Integrated Framework addresses three sets of issues: 1) advice on the prioritization and pacing of trade liberalization in specific areas, 2) provide diagnostics on trade related priorities, and 3) help implement important trade-related initiatives.

Let me conclude by saying that this event provides an excellent opportunity for donor countries to learn more about the work being undertaken by the African Trade Policy Centre, the benefits for African countries and the potential for future collaboration. I would also take this opportunity to invite other donor countries to do their best to support the African Trade Policy Centre and other trade initiatives.

Thank the organizers of this roundtable and special thanks to the ECA and to its Executive Secretary.