Making Trade Work (Better) for Africa and LDCs: How to Ensure that Trade is Inclusive and Pro-Poor

Ministerial Round Table co-hosted by UNCTAD, EIF and the Commonwealth Secretariat – Building productive capacity to transform economies  

Tsavo 1, KICC

Rapid trade and output growth in the past two decades have led to a significant decrease in poverty rates worldwide. But still too many remain left behind. In Africa and LDCs, even the best years of trade growth and increased export earnings inadequately translated into diversification, economic transformation, and poverty reduction. This round table will discuss ways to make trade a more effective tool for inclusive and sustainable development. It will seek means of strengthening the links between trade and poverty reduction, and will address the role that the international community can play in accelerating progress.

Discussion questions

•              How to strength the contribution of foreign trade to poverty reduction in Africa and LDCs?

•              How can synergies be created between trade policy and FDI policy, so as to accelerate social progress?

•              What are the best mechanisms to build the links between trade and structural economic transformation?

•              What role should the international community play in accelerating progress?

•              What strategies should Africa and LDCs follow to diversify and upgrade exports?

•              How can the impact of trade on the creation of quality employment be strengthened?

•              What are the best ways to take into account the changing international trade scene (global value chains, e-commerce) into national trade policymaking?

•              How can national policymakers maximize the developmental gains from (mega) regional trade agreements?

Moderator: Mr Ratnakar Adhikari

Panellists

Mr Matthieu Boussichas, Programme Manager, Foundation for International Development Study and Research (Ferdi)

Mr Yao Graham, Coordinator, Third World Network-Africa

Ms Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Director, United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

Mr Deodat Maharaj, Deputy Secretary-General Economic and Social Development, Commonwealth Secretariat

Ms Sekai Nzena, Head of a Public Affairs, Amatheon Agri Holding N.V.

H.E. Ms Jessy Petit Frere, Minister of Trade and Industry, Haiti

Amb. Darlington Mwape (Zambia), Head of the Development Programme, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development

H. E. Mr Joshua Setipa, Minister of Trade and Industry, Lesotho