mercredi 12 mars 2008

UNCTAD: Trade and Development Board, 43rd executive session

Trade and Development Board, 43rd executive session

(March 34d, 2008 - 3 p.m. in Room XVIII of the Palais des Nations)


1. Special address by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon

The secretary-general of the UN, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon held a short introductory speech today in anticipation of the meeting of UNCTAD to be held in Accra, Ghana in April. He mentioned that 2008 should be the year of the “Bottom Billion”, an initiative to help the poorest countries which have been left behind in economic growth.

He went on to mention the most recent successes of the UN concerning Darfur, climate change, and many other problems.

He spoke of the “resolve of the forgotten people” to have their voices heard, their welfare more taken into account. He reminded the assembly of the special duty of the UN to poor people (i.e. of people earning less than $1 a day). In this context, he also made reference to an MDG Africa group meant to help Sub-Saharan Africa achieve millennium goals.

Optimistic about the future of UNCTAD, he confirmed that he expects a crucial boost in UNCTAD’s importance and activity in April when the meeting takes place in Accra.

He stressed the need for an international resolve and consensus to do same for bottom billion as has already done on climate change, underlining how the international community can reach its goals if all countries work together.

He emphasized that the meeting in Accra must not only lead to trade and investments helping to reduce poverty, but also to help “unblock” the Doha round.

He suggested to scale up UNCTAD activities in support of MDG, closing his speech with a remark that development is not a privilege of the few, but a right for all.
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Speech by Chitsaka Chipaziwa (Ambassador from Zimbabwe)


The ambassador emphasized his resolve to strengthen UNCTAD and to increase its importance and scope of action, reminding the assembly that the G77+China would not countenance any diminution of UNCTAD’s role in the UN development “machinery”.

He also expressed concern that the UN’s main focus is swinging too much away from economic issues; but without an increases in income, poverty can’t be overcome, and many other areas of action will become more difficult for the UN. Mr. Chipaziwa also expressed great praise for the secretary general’s speech. At the same time, however, he urged him to bring the United Nations’ main focus back to economic development.
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Clodoaldo Hugueney (Ambassador from Brazil & chair of the G77)


The Brazilian ambassador also stressed the issue raised by the ambassador from Zimbabwe, repeating that the international community’s focus must be moved back to economic development.

He added that the meeting in Accra should lead to a global consensus on development, and strengthen UNCTAD’s role. However, the meeting should not only deal with economic issues, but it should also address climate change, energy and migration.

He proposed relaunching the commodity program (which is of particular importance to Africa).

He also cited climate change as a development challenge that requires UNCTAD’s contribution.

He also justified his reference to migration with the explanation that no single UN organization addresses migration.

On trade, he said that UNCTAD should send a strong signal against protectionism, influencing the Doha round positively. He added that Brazil is determined to bring the Doha round to a close this year.

In order to underline Brazil’s high-level participation in the Accra meeting, he stated that both Brazilian president Lula and a high-level economic minister would be present in Accra.
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Andrej Logar (EU Ambassador from Slovenia)


The Slovenian ambassador said that Europe sees UNCTAD as an important arm of UN, although mainly limited to its core area of “comparative advantage”

He also made some suggestions on how to strengthen UNCTAD:

- establish clear priorities for its work (based on its areas of expertise)
- better involvement of national actors
- increased intergovernmental cooperation
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Mercy Amoah (Ambassador from Ghana)

The ambassador from Ghana expressed her pride and anticipation to hosting UNCTAD 12.
She cited Africa as the continent with the biggest challenges in development, and reminded the assembly that it looks to UNCTAD for support. She expressed her appreciation that 2 major events will take place in Africa this year (UNCTAD + UN high-level meeting)
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2. Preparations for UNCTAD XII

High Level Panels:
Trade and development for Africa’s prosperity; action and direction (Host country with UNCTAD will choose an event that is interesting to it) -> Attendance by presidents of Ghana, Brazil, Finland… -> hope that other heads of state will attend // plan to invite 25 more African heads of state

9 round tables identified
Looking for participants, which country would be a good fit for which round table

Some of the tables:
- South-South trade
- Harnessing knowledge and technology for development
- Debt management solutions
- Strengthening UNCTAD’s role in development
...

Ghana: Logistical problems being solved (accommodations, transportation, infrastructure, visas,…) -> visas can even be issued on the spot, at the airport!!

Pakistan: vaccinations? -> all measures will be put in place, for vaccinations that are immediately effective
Oman: Possible to obtain visas in Geneva for countries w/o embassy from Ghana?

Plan to bring secretariat football team to play with 11 Ghanan ministers

- Nathan J. Wooden

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