“ECA economist receives eminent international trade research award”

13 June 2007

The Director of the Trade, Finance and Economic Development Division (TFED) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Mr. Hakim Ben Hammouda last week received the 2007 Alan Powell Award, one of the most prestigious in the area of global trade research.

Mr. Ben Hammouda was presented the award at the occasion of the tenth Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis held from 7 to 9 June 2007 on the campus of the Purdue University (USA) under the auspices of the Center for Global Trade Analysis.

While presenting the award, the Advisory Board of the Global Trade Analysis Project ( GTAP) stated that: “Under Hakim's leadership, the Trade and Regional Integration Division (now called Trade, Finance and Economic Development Division) has been totally revamped and is now assuming a leading role in the development and dissemination of trade policy research in Africa”.

“Hakim brought the ECA into the Global Trade Analysis Project ( GTAP) Advisory Board in 2005 and spearheaded the initiative to extend GTAP's coverage in Africa” reads the statement.

In his thank-you remarks, the recipient indicated that the award goes beyond personal merit and recognizes the outstanding contribution of the ECA to the Global Trade Analysis.

ECA hosted the Ninth Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis in Addis Ababa, in 2006. “It was an extremely successful conference allowing us to further expand the GTAP Network into Africa” noted the members of the GTAP Advisory Board.

Each year the GTAP Advisory Board presents an award to one of its members in recognition of outstanding service and accomplishments in the area of trade policy research.

Mr. Hakim Ben Hammouda is the first ever Alan Powell Award Recipient originating from a developing country.