Press Release Discussions to focus on Electronic trade, Financing the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and the risks and opportunities presented by climate change, as experts from West Africa meet from 11 – 15 June 2007 at the Palais des Congrès in Niamey, Niger The ECA Office for West Africa will be holding the Tenth meeting of its Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) from West Africa in Niamey, Niger from 13 to 15 June 2007. In addition to the Activity Report of the Office and other statutory documents, this year's session will consider the report on social and economic conditions in West Africa and prospects for 2007. Experts from the Member countries and intergovernmental organisations will have an opportunity to exchange views on current developments, discuss structural rigidities and economic difficulties in the sub-region, and work out appropriate ways to address these issues. Of particular interest will be their discussions and experience sharing on the thematic part of the report on the theme, « What Fiscal Space for Financing the MDGs and NEPAD in West Africa?  », which looks at alternative strategies to the efforts being made by States to finance the MDGs and NEPAD. This Tenth ICE Meeting will also serve as a forum for a high level panel discussion on the risks and opportunities that changes in climate present for West African countries. Ahead of the ICE, an Ad hoc Experts Meeting will take place from 11 to 12 June 2007 on the theme, “ Electronic Commerce as a Potential Tool for Promoting Intra-Regional Trade in West Africa ". Essentially, this meeting will review a technical document that the ECA-WA has prepared to show that, by linking producers with their markets, electronic commerce can substantially reduce transaction costs and significantly increase intra-regional trade; this virtual commerce offers real advantages for SME/SMIs and can stimulate employment creation in West Africa. The recommendations of the study will be circulated widely among public and private economic operators in the sub-region to encourage them to take appropriate action. It will be recalled that the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts is a subsidiary organ of the Conference of African Ministers of Planning and Development instituted in each of the continent's five (5) regions to provide the ECA with a forum to deliberate on issues at the sub-regional level. Each year, the Committee assembles experts from the Member States to discuss current progress and future prospects for implementing the programmes of the WA Office, and review its technical documents. Previous ICE meetings were held in Niamey (1998), Conakry (1999), Abuja (2000), Dakar (2001), Niamey (2002), Banjul (2003), Abuja (2004), Ouagadougou (2005) and Lomé (2006). The ECA Regional Office for West Africa is based in Niamey, Niger and is the secretariat for the Africa sub-region, made up of the fifteen ECOWAS countries. Further information can be obtained from : ECA West Africa Office B.P. 744 Niamey, Niger Telephone :+( 227)20722961 Fax :+( 227)20722894 E-mail: ice10@uneca.org