Development Partners Commit over $US1 billion of Funding at North-South Corridor Conference

ECA Press Release No. 18/2009

Addis Ababa, 14 April 2009 – Africa’s development partners have committed more than US $1 billion to upgrade road, rail and port infrastructure under the North-South Pilot Aid Project.  The commitment came during the High-Level North-South Corridor Aid for Trade Conference held in Lusaka, Zambia from 6-7 April 2009.

The conference was attended by Presidents Rupiah Banda of Zambia; Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, who is also the Chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, who is also the Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC); and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, representing the East African Community (EAC). Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank; and Pascal Lamy, Director General of the World Trade Organisation, also attended.

The conference reviewed progress on Aid for Trade for Southern and Eastern Africa and pledged to continue supporting trade facilitation in the sub region.  The World Bank also launched its Trade Facilitation Facility at the conference.

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was represented by Mr. Abdalla Hamdok, Director of the NEPAD and Regional Integration Division (NRID) and Ms. Jennifer Kargbo, Director of ECA Southern Africa Sub-regional Office.  ECA made a presentation on key issues and the state of implementation of Aid for Trade in Africa.  

The Pan African Alliance on E-Commerce that was launched with the support of the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) of ECA in March 2009, was also presented and endorsed during the Aid for Trade sub-regional review.

The conference was jointly organized by COMESA, EAC and SADC. There are plans to organize a similar event for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in June 2009.

:: North South Corridor Pilot Aid for Trade Conference: Outcomes, Conclusions and Way Forward
:: Increasing Trade and Competitiveness in Africa
:: Global Review on Aid for Trade 2009