Archive

Hakim Ben Hammouda, Director of ECA's Trade Finance and Economic Development Division
For Africa to meet its MDGs financing gap, there is an urgent need to increase efforts to mobilize resources, above all from domestic sources and, in that regard,a focus on capital market development, and other measures to support investment will be key, said Hakim Ben Hammouda, Director of ECA's Trade Finance and Economic Development Division, at the opening of a regional meeting on financing investment in Africa on 24 April. More...
ERA 2007 launch generates extensive media coverage
ERA 2007 launch generates extensive media coverage
The 2007 Economic Report on Africa (ERA 2007), the annual flagship publication of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), has so far stimulated a great deal of media attention. The Information and Communication Service has been so far logged around 30 news articles published worldwide. More...
Capital Flows and the Development of African Economies: Towards an Action Plan for Financing Investment in Africa
ECA Media Advisory
Addis Ababa, 18 April 2007 (ECA): The Economic Commission for Africa will convene a regional meeting on financing investment in Africa in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania on 24-25 April 2007.
ATPC News
February - March
2007, Vol 2, No. 2
[Version française]
The 2007 edition of the Economic Report on Africa (ERA 2007)
Africa's economic growth to improve in 2007, according to ECA
ECA Press Release No. 05/2007
Addis Ababa, 3 April 2007 (ECA ) – African economies are forecast to grow by an average of 5.8% in 2007, according to the latest edition of the Economic Report on Africa (ERA 2007), the annual flagship publication of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), which is launched today.
2007 African Economic Conference Call For Papers
The ECA and African Development Bank will convene the 2007 African Economic Conference on the theme “Opportunities and Challenges of Development for Africa in the Global Arena” on 15-17 November in Addis Ababa. The program committee now invites submission of abstracts (or papers) by interested participants on any economic issues of relevance to African economies.
New Book On Market Access
ECA Publishes a New Book On Market Access
27 March 2007
The Trade Financing and Economic Development Division (TFED) of the Economic Commission for Africa has just published a book on market access challenges facing Africa and the way forward.
Colloque international
Call for Papers
ECA and the GATE research group of the University Lumiere Lyon will convene an international conference on the Economic, Social and Environmental Consequences of Trade Liberalization in North Africa and Middle East in Rabat (Morocco) on 19 - 20 October 2007.
Progress Review of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) Negotiations in Africa
Progress Review of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) Negotiations in Africa
14 February 2007
A report on the status of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations in Africa has concluded that little progress had been made by African countries despite their many efforts.
University of Mauritius
Mauritian Officials complete an ECA-organized training on use of modeling software for trade agreements
February 7, 2007
Mauritian officials who completed a two-day training workshop organized last week in Port Louis by the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, University of Mauritius and ECA are now able to use modeling software to assess the impact of changes in trade policy and tariff schedules on the domestic economy.
ATPC News ATPC News January 2007, Vol 2, No. 1
:: December 2006, Vol 1, No. 2
Economic Report on Africa 2006
ECA Media Advisory ERA 2006
January 05, 2007
The 2006 edition of the Economic Report on Africa: Capital Flows and Development Financing in Africa places capital flows at the centre of the debate on development financing and examines how external capital can help countries accelerate growth and reduce poverty.
Experts Call for Regionalization of Capital Markets in Africa
The Trade, Finance and Economic Development Division (TFED) convened a two-day meeting on capital markets development in Nairobi, Kenya on 10-11 November 2006
Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting on Economic Partnership Agreements ATPC News September 2006, Vol 1, No. 1
Welcome to this first edition of the ATPC News which is replacing the former TRID News. The former Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) has ceased to exist as a result of recent organizational changes in ECA.
Experts to assess ways of improving service delivery in Africa
ECA Press Release
Addis Ababa, 5 October – The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is to host a meeting to examine the management of public expenditure in Africa in a bid to make service delivery more efficient.

:: Meeting website
Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting on Economic Partnership Agreements African experts analyse potential adjustment strategies to EPAs
Addis Ababa, 2 October - African trade experts met in Cairo last month to review ways of mitigating the costs of signing economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with European countries.
:: Meeting Conclusions [ Français ] - Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting on Economic Partnership Agreements and How African Countries Can Adjust
New report urges developing national productive capacities to stem poverty
Addis Ababa, 20 July 2006- Despite higher rates of economic growth in recent years, the world's poorest countries will remain in a dire situation until that growth becomes sustainable.
Related Documents:
::
The Least Developed Countries Report 2006 Overview by the Secretary-General of UNCTAD [pdf format] 
::
Facts about Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
ARIA II Second report on Assessing Regional Integration in Africa launched
Addis-Ababa, 07 June 2006 (ECA) -- The African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) launched their second joint report on regional integration in Africa during the African Union summit of heads of states in Banjul, The Gambia from 1 – 2 July.
:: Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA) II
:: Key facts
Trade and Regional Integration Division News

Trade and Regional Integration Newsletter
August 2006
July 2006

June 2006

9th GTAP Conference Global Economic Analysis Conference opens in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa, 15 June - Leading economists and other interested parties met in Addis Ababa on Thursday for a global economic analysis conference, the first time such a gathering has been held in Africa.
:: For more information, click here to visit the conference website.
African Trade Experts Experts call for more ECA and ATPC support on trade policy issues
Addis Ababa, 8 June - African trade experts have called on the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), to continue providing much needed technical assistance to enable member States mainstream trade in their national development plans.
Agreement reached to speed up liberalisation of African air transport
06 June 2006
A high level meeting of policy-makers and chief executives representing various African airlines has agreed to develop comprehensive competition rules to speed up the liberalisation of Africa's skies.
Infrastructure “missing component” in Africa's development
By Robert T. Lisinge, 23 May 2006

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) last week jointly organized a ministerial round table and two high level seminars aimed at highlighting the importance of infrastructure development and regional integration on the continent.
Related links:
Infrastructure Development and Regional Integration
Presentation by Mr. Hakim Ben Hammouda, Director of TRID
Trade and Regional Integration Division News

Trade and Regional Integration Newsletters - May 2006
There are three issues for this month:
Issue # 1: examines the Expert Group Meeting on “Mainstreaming Trade into National Development Strategies” that will be held in
Casablanca, Morocco, from 29 - 31 May 2006.
Issue #2: presents details of the 9th Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis that will be held in Addis Ababa from 15-17 June 2006.
Issue #3: covers the ADB/ECA Ministerial Round Table & High Level Seminars that was held on 16 May 2006.

Trade and Regional Integration Division News Trade and Regional Integration Newsletter - April 2006
African Ministers of trade met in Nairobi, Kenya from 12 – 14 April to review progress on measures taken to increase intra-African trade; current negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO); and negotiations for the new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union. This edition of TRIDNews leads with details of the ministerial discussion, and also includes an article on the current direction of EPAs negotiations.
Trade and Regional Integration Division News Trade and Regional Integration Newsletter - March 2006
This month's edition focuses on the ECA trade team's technical assistance missions to Senegal and Gabon.
Gabonese Development Bank (BGD) ECA trade assistance team visits Gabon
By Andrew Allimadi, 31 March 2006
The trade and regional integration division (TRID) of ECA and the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), in collaboration with the ECA Central Africa Sub-regional Office conducted a technical assistance mission to Libreville, Gabon from 27 – 30 March at the request of the Gabonese Development Bank (BGD).

ECA trade assistance team visits Senegal
By Andrew Allimadi, 22 March 2006
The trade and regional integration division (TRID) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) conducted a technical assistance mission to Dakar, Senegal from 13 – 16 March at the request of the Senegalese government.

Executie Secretary of ECA ECA Hosts Workshop on regional economic communities
By Andrew Allimadi, 28 February 2006
ECA hosted a one-day high-level workshop on Saturday 25 February 2006 to discuss the capacity needs of Africa's regional economic communities (RECs).
:: Speech by the ECA Executive Secretary
Trade and Regional Integration Division News Trade and Regional Integration Division News
February 2006
This month's edition leads on continuing efforts to secure a development-friendly Doha Round.
African Trade Negotiators Define post-Hong Kong Strategy
By Andrew Allimadi, 22 February 2006

ECA and the African Union jointly organized a retreat for African Ambassadors and Trade Negotiators from the 17 – 18 February in Montreux, Switzerland.
Training Workshop for African Diplomats Training Workshop on WTO Negotiations
By Andrew Allimadi, 24 February 2006
will hold a training workshop on World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations for African embassies based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday 27 February 2006.
:: Presentations
Mr Adeyemi Dipeolu ECA holds briefing for African Embassies in Addis Ababa
By Andrew Allimadi, 07 February 2006
The Economic Commission for Africa held a briefing for all African embassies based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday 6 February 2006. The briefing covered activities of the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), which is a project of ECA set-up with funding from the Canada Fund for Africa.
African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) Documents New African Trade Policy work in progress documents published
09 February 2006
The African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) of ECA has published seven new work in progress documents, some of them in English and others in French. The work in progress series presents initial findings of on-going research on trade-related issues in ECA for wider circulation to encourage comments and feedback.
Trade and Regional Integration Division News Trade and Regional Integration Division News
January 2006
 
:: Working paper for comments
An African Type "MIGA" and Infrastructure-indexed Bonds: Potential Means for Financing Africa’s Infrastructure Agenda.
New Book - Africa and the WTO: 100 Key Words Africa and the WTO: 100 Key Words
By Andrew Allimadi, 30 January 2006
The director of ECA's Trade and Regional Integration Division, Hakim Ben Hammouda and Magdi Farhat, head of the Africa Bureau of the International Trade Centre, have published a new book titled: Africa and the WTO: 100 Key words.
Trade and Regional Integration Division News Trade and Regional Integration Division News
December 2005
Trade and Regional Integration Division News

Trade and Regional Integration Division News
November 2005

Countdown to Hong Kong Countdown to Hong Kong: Lamy submits Draft Ministerial Text
By Andrew Allimadi, 28 November 2005
:: Draft Ministerial Statement - Preparations for the Sixth Session of the Ministerial Conference
:: The Arusha Development Benchmarks for the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, China.
African Ministers of Finance Meet in Tunis Ministers agree on long-term transport development in Africa
By Andrew Allimadi, 22 November 2005
:: Declaration of the Ministers Responsible for Transport and Infrastructure from member countries of the Sub-Saharan African Transport Policy Programme (SSATP)
[ Français]
African Ministers of Finance Meet in Tunis

African Ministers of Finance Meet in Tunis
By Andrew Allimadi, 22 November 2005
:: Opening Remarks, by Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa
:: Communiqué Meeting of African Ministers of Finance

:: Document: Is Africa Going to Benefit from Hong Kong?

Retreat for African Ambassadors

Retreat for African Ambassadors and Negotiators based in Geneva on Development Benchmarks for the Hong Kong Ministerial, 5-6 November 2005, Lausanne, Switzerland
:: Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA): Key Development Benchmarks To Look Out For
:: Briefing Note on US Proposal on Agriculture Market Access Negotiation
:: Negotiations on Rules with regard to Regional Trade Agreements

Trade and Regional Integration Division News Trade and Regional Integration Division News, September/October 2005
WTO Negotiations Briefing Note

The US Proposal on agriculture has potential to push Doha Round negotiations to an ambitious conclusion – ECA
By Andrew Allimadi, 17 October 2005
The recent US proposal at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the liberalization of international trade in agriculture has the potential of moving the Doha Round negotiations towards an ambitious and successful conclusion.
:: Briefing note on US proposal on agriculture market access negotiation: Impact for african countries [PDF file]
::
WTO Negotiations Briefing Note [PDF file]

ARIA II Peer Review ARIA II Peer Review Calls for Strong, Achievable Recommendations
05 October 2005
The second edition of the Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) serial publication assessing regional integration in Africa (ARIA), moved a step closer to completion last week when an external peer review of the draft took place.
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs)

Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) Meeting
22 – 24 September 2005, Mombasa, Kenya
Final Report [English, French]
Meeting Conclusions [English, French]
Regional Meeting on Economic Partnership Agreements

By Andrew Allimadi, 29 September 2005
EPAS Regional Meeting to take place in Mombasa
By Andrew Allimadi,19 September 2005

Trade and Regional Integration Division News Trade and Regional Integration Division News, August 2005
This edition of TRIDNews tackles the nuances of the ongoing negotiations between African countries and the European Union (EU) for new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), scheduled for introduction in January 2008.
Trade and Regional Integration Division News Trade and Regional Integration Division News, July 2005
This edition of TRIDNews leads with a discussion of the current state of maritime transport. It will also introduce the latest list of African Trade Policy Centre Work in Progress publications.
Africa brainstorms Africa brainstorms on technical details of WTO negotiations
By Andrew Allimadi, 05 July 2005
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) organized a trade experts’ brainstorming meeting for African countries; to discuss the technical details of the Doha Development Round negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). ECA and UNDP took active roles at the meeting, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 29th June to 1 July.
Trade and Regional Integration Division News Trade and Regional Integration Division News, June 2005
This edition of TRIDNews leads with key discussions by African Ministers of Trade in Cairo, Egypt from 8 to 9 June 2005. The meeting came at an important time as the continent prepares for the crucial World Trade Organization Ministerial Summit, scheduled for Hong Kong in December 2005.
African Trade Policy Centre - Papers
African Trade Policy Centre publishes more working papers
By Andrew Allimadi, 24 June 2005
:: "Trade Preferences and Africa: The State of Play and the Issues at Stake", by Andrew Mold.
:: "Doha Round entre promesses, desillusions et resignations", by Hakim Ben Hammouda
CRCI Meeting Committee adopts report on accelerating intra-African trade
By Andrew Allimadi, 25 March 2004
The Committee on Trade and Regional Integration concluded its meeting Friday 25 March with the adoption of a report, which will be submitted to African Ministers of Trade at their next scheduled meeting in Cairo, Egypt at the end of May.
:: Deputy Executive Secretary Opens Regional integration Committee Meeting, By Andrew Allimadi, ECA, 21 March 2004.
African Trade Policy Centre Paper: Comprehensive review of the likely impact of Economic Partnership Agreements on African countries
This study examines the economic and social impacts of the trade liberalization aspects of the proposed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union (EU) and African countries.

ECA Organizes Trade Experts Meeting in Rwanda
By Andrew Allimadi, 24 March 2004
The Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) organized an Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting on the impact of international trade negotiations on the East African sub-region, which took place from the 15th – 19th March in Kigali, Rwanda.
:: Report of the meeting    :: List of Participants

Experts Meet To Boost Inter-African Trade
By Andrew Allimadi, ECA, 21 March 2004
An Ad-hoc expert group meeting on boosting intra-African trade opened today at ECA. The two-day meeting is being attended by African country representatives, as well as representatives from the African Union, Regional Economic Communities and other UN agencies.
:: Presentations
African Union (AU) Commissioner for Transport and Infrastructure, Dr. Bernard Zoba AU’s Commissioner Zoba visits ECA.
By Andrew Allimadi, ECA, 21 March 2004
The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Transport and Infrastructure, Dr. Bernard Zoba, paid an official visit to ECA on Friday 18 March, to brief ECA on AU activities, particularly in the areas of transport and infrastructure.
Committee on Regional Cooperation and Integration  - 4th session Committee on Regional Integration to Meet Next Week
The Trade and regional Integration Division (TRID) of ECA is convening the fourth session of its Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration from 24 – 25 March 2005.
:: Committee on Regional Cooperation and Integration
Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting on the impact of international trade negotiations on the West African sub-region West African Countries Strategize On International Trade Negotiations
By Andrew Allimadi, 15 March 2004
The Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) of ECA organized an Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting on the impact of international trade negotiations on the West African sub-region from the 7th – 8th March in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
ECA to host GTAP Conference ECA to host GTAP Conference
By Andrew Allimadi, 10 March 2004
The Advisory Board of the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) has chosen ECA to host its ninth annual conference, scheduled for June 2006.The Conference is a major annual event that brings leading economists in global trade policy research and analysis.
TRID News Trade and Regional Integration Division News - February 2005
Ambassador Amina Mohamed from Kenya has been elected to Chair the powerful General Council of the World Trade Organization. She is the first woman to hold this position and this edition of TRIDNews is dedicated to her.
ECA advises North Africa on the impact of phasing-out of Multi-Fibre Agreement
By Andrew Allimadi, 24 February 2004
The Trade and Regional Integration Division of the Economic Commission for Africa organized an expert group meeting to discuss the impact of the phasing-out of the multi-fibre agreement on the economies of North African countries.
TRID News Trade and Regional Integration Division News - January 2005
This edition of TRIDNews leads with a discussion on the role of improved transport infrastructure in attaining the Millenium Development Goals.
ECA presents papers at Global Development Network Conference ECA presents papers at Global Development Network Conference
By Andrew Allimadi, 31 January 2005
The Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) participated in the sixth annual conference of the Global Development Network, held in Dakar, Senegal from 24 – 26 January 2005.
TRID News Trade and Regional Integration Division News - December 2004
This edition of TRIDNews covers a meeting in the Republic of Congo on international trade negotiations and introduces two new publications from ECA covering transport issues.
ECA publishes two transport books
By Andrew Allimadi, 10 December 2004
The Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) of ECA has published two new comprehensive volumes on transport and development in Africa. The publications are in French and are titled: Les transports et l’intégration régionale en Afrique; and La Décision de Yamoussoukro et le transport aérien en Afrique.
trid nEWS

Trade and Regional Integration Division News - Nov. 2004
This edition of TRIDNews reprints an editorial by Mr. K.Y. Amoako in the Financial Times newspaper and reports on two meetings held in Tunis in November 2004, Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting on Market Access and a meeting of African trade negotiators and officials.

Sequencing of EPAs implementation critical – ECA Paper
By Andrew Allimadi, 10 December 2004
Any Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) reached between the European Union (EU) and African countries will need to allow for a long and sequenced implementation period in order to benefit African countries.
Central African countries reaffirm commitment to international trade Central African countries reaffirm commitment to international trade
By Andrew Allimadi, ECA, 07 December 2004
ECA organized an Ad-hoc Expert Group meeting on the impact of international trade negotiations on the Central Africa sub-region, from 2 – 3 December in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo.
:: Congo Meeting documents
Ministers call for speedy implementation of Yamoussoukro Decision Ministers call for speedy implementation of Yamoussoukro Decision
By Andrew Allimadi, 06 December 2004
Ministers of Transport and Infrastructure from West and Central Africa met on the 2nd December 2004 to review the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision in the West and Central African sub-region.
:: Meeting documents and information
High-Level Brainstorming Meeting for African Trade Negotiators and Officials
25 – 26 November 2004, Tunis, Tunisia.

Brainstorming Meeting Adopts Communiqué Committing Africa to Serious Negotiations
By Andrew Allimadi, 01 December 2004

:: Expert Group Meeting on Market Access
   22 – 23 November, Tunis
, Tunisia
African Trade Experts Aim to Revitalise World Trade Talks
ECA Press Release 31/2004, 24 Nov. 2004.
A "High-Level Brainstorming Meeting" for African trade negotiators and officials opens Thursday morning in Tunis, Tunisia, to discuss ways to revitalize world trade negotiations and restore development goals to the heart of the World Trade Organisation’s Doha Round.
Related story:
African trade negotiators strategize on kick-starting the Doha Round of WTO talks By Andrew Allimadi, 19 November 2004
African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC)  Papers
Papers from the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) 
- Trade Liberalization and Development: Lessons for Africa [French]
- Economic and Statistical Analyses of Trade Capacity Building in Sub-Saharan Africa
By Chantal Dupasquier and Patrick N. Osakwe
- Exclure l’Afrique des marches? Evaluation de l’acces aux marches pour les pays africains
Par Hakim Ben Hammouda Mustapha Sadni-Jallab Nassim Oulmane Rémi Lang et Romain Pérez
- Fiscal Implications of Trade Liberalization on African Countries
- Financement de l’intégration régionale
Andy Mold, Economic Affairs Officer, presenting the seminar paper Take politics out of preferences – says ECA seminar paper
By Andrew Allimadi, 10 Nov. 2004

Although trade preferences can be a good source of exports growth for African countries, this potential is largely unrealized because of the numerous complexities in accessing these trade arrangements.
African perspective, within the framework of the current agricultural trade negotiations in the WTO. EU Ponders Future Agricultural Competition [Report]
The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Government of the Netherlands organized a High-Level Conference on “Europe’s Agriculture in a Competing World” in Maastricht, Netherlands from 28 - 29 October this year. ECA was invited to this Conference to provide an African perspective, within the framework of the current agricultural trade negotiations in the WTO.
TRID News October 2004
Monthly Newsletter of the Trade and Regional Integration Division
October was a busy month for all at ECA with several international meetings taking place in Addis Ababa. This edition of TRIDNews reports on some of these activities, and on future TRID events.
Regional Workshop on Trade and Development Opens at ECA
By Andrew Allimadi, 08 November 2004.
A regional workshop on trade and development for parliamentarians, the business community and civil society organizations from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia, has opened at the headquarters of ECA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
:: Opening speech by Mr. Hakim Ben Hammouda, Director of Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) of ECA.
Joseph Atta-Mensah ECA Seminar paper takes an innovative look at corruption
By Andrew Allimadi, ECA, 29 October 2004

Joseph Atta-Mensah, Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the Economic Commission for Africa's Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) is working on a unique method of measuring the impact of corruption on countries.

TRID News - September 2004
Transport issues took centre stage at TRID in September with a meeting of the stakeholders of the Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Programme (SSATP) and a road safety meeting hosted by the Economic Commission for Europe. This edition of TRIDNews is therefore devoted to transport issues.

Trade Training Begins at ECA
A training session for Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) staff on the Economics of International Trade and Trade Policy began today at the Commission's headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Economic Report on Africa 2004 Economic Report on Africa 2004 Published, Highlights Trade Addis Ababa, 29 September 2004.
Trade liberalization alone will not boost growth and poverty reduction in Africa. That’s the key message of this year’s Economic Report on Africa 2004 (ERA 2004), published by the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa.
High-Level Transport Meeting Opens at ECA
By Andrew Allimadi, 28 September 2004
Ethiopia’s Minister of Infrastructure opened the annual meeting of the sub-Saharan African Transport Programme (SSATP), taking place at ECA.
ECA/World Bank Conclude Joint Workshop
By Andrew Allimadi, September 20, 2004
The workshop reviewed the forthcoming World Bank publication, "Global Economic Prospects 2005." The theme of this publication is Trade, Regionalism and Development.
Opening statement by Mr. Hakim Ben Hammouda
Related story:
:: ECA to Host ECA/World Bank Workshop
TRID News - August 2004
While everybody is talking about dismantling tariff barriers facing African exports to the European Union (EU), wider trends in EU policy with regard to food safety could lead to the creation of non-tariff barriers that are just as difficult to surmount. This edition of TRIDNews will review these alarming developments, as well as introduce a new series of publications available at ECA’s Trade and Regional Integration Division.
Trade Liberalization and Development
This paper argues that trade policies must be dynamic, adaptable and differentiated between sectors in order to contribute effectively to development efforts.
Trade Liberalization under the Doha Development Agenda: Options and Consequences for Africa
This publication provides a quantitative estimate of the potential economic consequences of multilateral trade reform for Africa and draws policy conclusions for African negotiators.
Regional Integration Assessed !
TRID News - July 2004
Monthly Newsletter of the Trade and Regional Integration Division of ECA.
ECA launched the first comprehensive major study of regional integration in Africa, titled Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA). The report examines efforts made by African peoples, governments and other institutions from the early years up to the establishment of the African Union in 2000. This edition of TRID News discusses the report and other trade related issues.
ECA Holds Workshop on Market Access
By Andrew Allimadi, ECA, 04 August 2004
The Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) of ECA is currently conducting a three-day training workshop on market access issues. Santiago Fernandez de Cordoba, an economist working with the Trade Analysis Branch (TAB) of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is leading the workshop.
ECA to Study the Impact of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) on Africa,
29 July 2004.
- Opening Statement by the ECA Deputy Executive Secretary.
- Economic and Welfare Impacts of the EU-Africa EPAs: Concept Paper ; Analytical Methodology - the GTAP and SMART Models and related Databases.
- Programme of the meeting
Expanding the TradeNet ExperienceExpanding the TradeNet Experience
By Andrew Allimadi, Communication Officer, ECA, 29 July 2004.
In its efforts to inform Member States on best practices and success stories that exist in Africa, ECA organized a series of one-day meetings in six West and Central African countries where Tunisia TradeNet (TTN) made a presentation. Read full story.
The Role of ECA in Strengthening the Process of Political Integration in the East African Community (EAC)
Statement By Joseph Atta-Mensah, Senior Economic Affairs Officer in the Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) of the ECA.
26 July 2004, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
discussion of regional integration to ambassadors based in Addis Ababa on Friday 23 July. The presentation was chaired by Lalla-Ben Barka, the deputy executive secretary of ECA, and also attended by Elizabeth Tankeu, the African Union’s (AU) Commissioner for Trade and Industry.
:: Photo Gallery
ECA Briefs Ambassadors on Regional Integration
By Andrew Allimadi, Communication Officer
ECA launches report assessing regional integration in Africa
ECA Press Release No. 16/2004, 14 July 2004
- ARIA website

Photo Gallery of the Launch in Addis Ababa
ECA Staff Training on Trade
The Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has organized a one-week training course for its staff on economic modeling for trade negotiations. 19 July, 2004.
ATPC Work in ProgressATPC Work in Progress
This paper provides a detailed analysis of all the issues under negotiation in the current round of World Trade Organization (WTO) talks. It states the ministerial mandate given to negotiators, outlines proposals under discussion and explains the African position on all the topics.
ARIA ECA Press Release No. 15/2004
Coming soon: ECA’s groundbreaking study on integration in Africa
Addis-Ababa, 7 July 2004
TRID News - June 2004
This edition of TRIDNews discusses Mainstreaming Trade in National Development Plans, which was the theme of this year's Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. 
Mainstreaming Trade in National Development Strategies
This Issues paper summarizes and reviews the mix of policy actions - both on the domestic and international fronts - necessary to mainstream trade in national development strategies. The issue is addressed in a broad framework, including macroeconomic policies, regulatory and institutional issues and safety nets.
Unlocking Africa’s Trade PotentialUnlocking Africa’s Trade Potential in the Global Economy
This Policy Paper takes an introspective look at what African countries need to do in order to unlock the continent's trade potential and benefit from existing and future opportunities in the global trading system
ATPC Briefing No. 1 ATPC Briefing No. 1
This Briefing provides a background on the central issues regarding trade facilitation, analyzes the challenges facing Africa in this area and makes policy recommendations to overcome these challenges. It also includes a box on a successful trade facilitation exercise in Tunisia.
Multilateralism: Current African Experience and Perspective
This paper was presented at UNCTADXI in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which ran from 13 - 18 June 2004. It discusses ECA's view on re-establishing the primacy of multilateral trade rules as opposed to the drift towards bilateral trade agreements since the failure of the Cancun WTO Ministerial Conference.

TRID Partakes in AU Meeting of African Trade Ministers
By Andrew Allimadi, 01 June 2004
TRID Partakes in AU Meeting of African Trade Ministers The Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) participated in the deliberations of the Second Ordinary Session of the Conference of the African Union Ministers of Trade, which took place in Kigali, Rwanda from the 24th to 28th May 2004. Read full story.
:: Speech by Mr. Hakim Ben Hakim Ben Hammouda, Director of TRID, ECA;
:: Documents

"L’Afrique se rebiffe" story on Jeune Afrique L’intelligent (9-15May 2004) about the Agricultural workshop organized in Tunis by TRID.
ECA Conference of Ministers
"Mainstreaming Trade Policy in National Development Strategies"
18 - 22 May 2004, Kampala, Uganda

Ministerial Statement
  (Click here for PDF version PDF version of the report )
ATPC Holds First Stakeholder Meeting
The African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) held its first stakeholder meeting in Tunis, Tunisia on 30 April 2004. The aim of the meeting was to bring together several international agencies working on trade issues in Africa, national and sub-regional users of trade support services, and donor agencies to review activities of the Centre and discuss synergies between various programmes.
Agricultural Workshop: Tunis
By Andrew Allimadi
ECA's Trade Training Workshop for African countries in Agriculture opened in Tunis, Tunisia and is due to run from 26 to 29 April 2004. The four day workshop is being attended by African representatives and officials responsible for trade negotiations in ministries of Trade, Agriculture and at African embassies accredited to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. Read full story.
:: Photo Gallery
TRID News March 2004
Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting on Financing Regional Integration in Africa

6 - 7 April 2004, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Allocution d’ouverture de M. Hakim Ben Hammouda.

TRID NewsTRID News March 2004
Trade officials, experts and civil society from Maghreb countries held a two-day meeting in Rabat, Morroco to discuss the consequences of the failure of WTO Cancun talks on Maghreb countries.This edition of TRIDNews reports on the meeting and recommendation made for the way forward.

TRID NewsTRID News
February 2004.
This issue covers the shape of future EU (European Union)/ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific countries) trade relations.

ECA and UMA discuss Multilateral Trade Negotiations
(11 March 2004)

TRID News
Vol. 1, No. 4, January 2004. Monthly Newsletter of the TRID. This issue covers the first Central African Forum on Transport Infrastructure and Regional Integration, recently held in Cameroon.
(01.21.2004)
Africa Prepares for the Resumption of WTO Talks:
TRID News Vol. 1, No. 3, December 2003 : Monthly Newsletter of the Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID).
(12.15.2003)

Fulfilling the Doha Development Agenda: A Road Map For Future Negotiations
Conclusions of Post-Cancún Expert Group Meeting.

Post-Cancun Expert Group MeetingPost-Cancun Expert Group Meeting for African Trade Negotiators and Officials
Accra, Ghana, 28-29 Nov. 2003
Press Release 23/2003
ECA/Ghana Hold Post-Cancun Strategy Meeting Today
(11.28.2003)
Strategic Vision
of Trade and Regional Integration Division (TRID)
(11.07.2003) 

The Doha Round and African Development:
Turning Words into Deeds
,
ECA Position Paper Series,
September 2003

 

Vacancy announcements
-
Senior Regional Advisor on Trade (L5) Deadline:24 April 2004
Regional Advisor on Trade (L4) Deadline:24 April 2004)

Opening Statement at the at the Third Meeti ng of Committee on Regional Integration.
By Hakim Ben Hammouda, Director of Trade and Regional Integration Division.
(10.31.2003)

Third Meeting of the Committee on Regional Cooperation and Integration
30-31 October 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Report on the Implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration on Market Access for Air Transport in Africa, October 2003
Report of the High-Level Brainstorming Meeting of African Trade Negotiators Preparatory to the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference,
11-13 June 2003,
Grand Baie, Mauritius
TRID Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 1, October 2003
(10.14.2003)
Report on the Implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration on Market Access for Air Transport in Africa, October 2003
(08.12.2003)
ECA Geneva Liaison Office: Monthly Report for May to June 2003
(07.22.2003)
 

 

 

 

 

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