Program of Work

High-Level Brainstorming Meeting for African Trade Negotiators Preparatory to the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference

Jointly Organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU),

In collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO)

26 - 29 June 2001,
United Nations Conference Center
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

First Day

09:00 - 09:30 Registration
09:30 - 10:15 Agenda Item 1.
- Opening of the Meeting/Adoption of the Agenda
- Chairperson: H.E. Almbassador B. Chidyausiku (Zimbabwe)
- Coordinator of WTO African Group in Geneva
- Representative of the OAU/AEC Secretariat
- Representative of ECA
10:15 - 11:15 Agenda Item 2.
- WTO Work Programme Since Seattle and State-of-Play in
- Preparation for Doha Ministerial Conference
- Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador B. Chidyausiku (Zimbabwe)
- Representative of the WTO Secretariat
11:15 - 11:30 Tea Break
11:30 - 13:00 Agenda Item 3.
- Implementation Issues and Mandated Reviews
- Chairperson: Mr. Kofi Larbi (Ghana)
- Lead Discussants: Representatives of Egypt, Kenya and Zambia
- Missions in Geneva
13:00 - 14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 - 16:00 Implementation Issues and Mandated Reviews (continued)
16:00 - 16:15 Tea Break
16:15 - 18:30 Agenda Item 4
- Action in Favour of Least Developed Countries - Strategy for
- Follow-Up of the Trade Cluster of the LDC III Plan of Action
- adopted in Brussels
- Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador N. Irumba (Uganda)
- Lead Discussant: Representatives of Djibouti, Lesotho and
- Tanzania Missions in Geneva and Office of the Special Co-
- ordinator for LDCs, UNCTAD
 

Second Day

09:00 - 12:00 Agenda Item 5: Agriculture
Chairperson: Mr. Marinal Roy (OAU Panel of Experts)
- Lead Discussants: UNCTAD, Representatives of Senegal
- Mission in Geneva, and AERC
12:00 - 13:00 Agenda Item 6: Services
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador A. Nahayo (Burundi)
- Lead Discussants: Representatives of Nigeria
- Mission in Geneva, UNCTAD/CAPAS IV Programme, and
- Representative of the Mission of Mauritius in Geneva
13:00 - 14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 - 16:00 Agenda Item 6: Services (continued)
16:00 - 16:15 Tea Break
16:15 - 18:30 Agenda Item 7: Co-ordination with the ACP-EU Partnership
Agreement Negotiations and AGOA. /Update of Sub-Regional
Trade Liberalisation Initiatives
- Chairperson: Mr. Yaovi Addodo (OAU Panel of Experts)
- Lead Discussants: : Chair of the Trade Committee of the ACP
- Group (Brussels), OAU/AEC Panel of Experts, ACP Secretariat
- and RECs
 

Third Day

09:00 - 11:00 Agenda Item 8: New Issues: Investment, Competition Policy,
Trade Facilitation, Transparency in Government Procurement,
Environment, Electronic Commerce
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador Ali Mchumo (Tanzania and OAU
Panel Member of Experts)
- Lead Discussants: ECA, Representatives of South Africa
Mission in Geneva, ECA, and Third World Network
11:00 - 11:15 Tea Break
11:15 - 13:00 Agenda Item 9: Africa's Positive Agenda: Trade and Debt, Trade
and Finance, Global Policy Coherence, WTO Systemic Issues
including Transparency and Participation,Technical Assistance,
Observer Status etc.
Chairperson: Mr. Amr A. Ramadan (Egypt)
- Lead Discussants: Representatives of the OAU/AEC, ECA and UNCTAD
13:00 - 14:30 Lunch Break
14:30 - 16:00 Agenda Item 10: Round Table on the Challenges of
Mainstreaming Trade in Development
Chairperson: Ms. Jo Elizabeth Butler (ECA)
- Lead Discussants: OAU/AEC, ECA, ECOWAS, COMESA, SADC,
and UEMOA
16:00 - 16:15 Tea Break
16:15 - 18:30 Agenda Item 11: Future Strategy
Chairperson: H.E. Ambassador Kalinde (OAU Geneva Office)
- Lead Discussant: Current Co-ordinator, WTO African Group
(Zimbabwe)
 

Fourth Day

Morning: Drafting of conclusions and recommendations
Afternoon:
16:00 - 18:00 Agenda Item 12: Review of the Main Conclusions and
Recommendations of the Meeting, and Adoption of the Report
18:00 - 18:30 Agenda Item 13: Closure of the Meeting