Provisional Annotated Agenda
Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting on Intra Africa Trade
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
21 - 22 March 2005
Monday 21 MARCH 2005
1. Opening of the meeting
Opening statement by Mr. Hakim Ben Hammouda, Director of the Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID)
2. Adoption of agenda and programme of work
The Meeting will proceed with the agenda, after comments, if any.
3. Session 1: Highlights on the issues of Intra African Trade
TRID will make a presentation on Intra-African trade. Progress and Challenges
The AU and the RECs will present their perspective on the issue of Intra-Africa Trade
4. Session 2: Presentation of the findings of the report entitled "Trade facilitation in Africa and intra African trade"
Under this agenda item, a report by an ECA staff entitled "Trade facilitation in Africa and intra African trade" will be presented and thereafter discussed.
5. Session 3: REC s' experiences on trade Facilitation
Selected RECs will make presentations on their experiences in the in the area of Trade facilitation, and other means of strengthening their activities, highlighting best practices and particular weaknesses, followed with discussion.
Tuesday 22nd MARCH 2005
7. Session 3: (Continuation of) REC s' experiences on Intra African Trade and trade facilitation
8. Session 4: Way forward on strenghning Intra African Trade and trade facilitation
Under this agenda item, the meeting will draw key conclusions and recommendations on best approaches for Intra African trade and trade facilitation process in the context of the Regional Economic Communities and regional integration. These conclusions and recommendations would then be taken on board in the revision of the studies presented earlier.
9. Closing of the meeting
Under this agenda item, the Director of the Trade and Regional Integration Division will make a few closing remarks.