Call to boost Free Trade Area project in Maghreb Arab Union States and bring in e-trade
By Petchezi Essodeina, ECA
16 March 2005

A declaration issued at the end of a three-day seminar, held on 1 to 3 March in Tangier Morocco under the theme "ICT and development of trade exchange in Maghreb Arab Union (known as UMA in French)" calls for a revival of the Free Trade Area Project and mainstreaming e-commerce technologies in trade exchange and economic policies in the region. Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia are members of the Union. The document highlights among others, the need to:

• Revive the Maghreb bank of investment and foreign trade to finance key projects in the region;
• Build private/public sector partnerships to focus on the development of human resources and face the brain-drain challenge in the ICT sector;
• Harmonize the legal frameworks applying to e-transactions via the web in the region;
• Undertake studies on the potential of e-commerce and devise strategies on how to harness ICT for e-tourism and e-services; and
• Set up a follow up committee and a commission of UMA experts responsible for the promotion of e-commerce.

Speaking at the seminar, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Trade, His Excellency Mr. Mustapha Mechahouri indicated that e-commerce provides an opportunity to overcome difficulties inherent to the traditional way of doing business. He further urged participants to bridge the widening digital gap between developed and poor countries.

According to the Secretary General of UMA, Mr. Habib Boulaaras, e-commerce among Maghreb states will not expand unless rules are harmonized, especially the regulations on electronic signatures.

This seminar was organized by the UMA secretariat in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and a UNDP Regional programme known as ICTDAR.

The recommendations articulated by the declaration will be conveyed to the Council of UMA Ministers of trade and ICTs for endorsement.

For more information, contact: Mr. Mohamed Timoulali Regional Advisor. Mtimoulali@uneca.org