The WTO’s 7th Annual Public Forum was organized around four key topics that were to be debated during the two days: global governance; coherence between the national and international levels of policy-making and between different multilateral institutions; economic growth and the role of trade as a vehicle for development; and finally, sustainable development.
Plenary opening
In his opening speech, Director-General Pascal Lamy, highlighted the numerous occasions where civil society had a real impact on the WTO agenda. These include the 2003 agreement on cheaper medicines for developing countries, and the inclusion of issues such as fisheries subsidies, environmental goods and services, and food aid in the current Doha negotiations. With regard to the ongoing negotiations concerning agricultural and industrial goods, Pascal Lamy seemed very optimistic, stating that « as positions converge on these key subjects, the pace of work is also accelerating on the rest of the Doha agenda ». Finally, to conclude his keynote address, the Director-General stressed the importance of the progress made in the parallel agenda package on Aid-for-Trade.
Her Excellency, Ms. Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, emphasized the need to keep current Doha negotiations alive, in order to harness globalization, stating that bilateral or regional trade agreements were only second best solutions. She said that the way in which the WTO could contribute to control the phenomenon was precisely through a guarantee of a universal, rule-based and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, which would be especially in the interest of weaker and poorer nations. Concerning the global economic situation today, Ms Halonen stressed that « all countries have the right to develop and to aim for growth and prosperity ». She also mentioned the growing influence of trade on other non-economic dimensions of development such as the environment, democracy and human rights, and urged the WTO and other international organizations to ensure that their policies are coherent with each other. On the particular issue of sustainable development, Ms Halonen stressed that industrialized countries must continue to take all necessary steps to promote access to environmentally sound technologies for all countries, and show solidarity towards developing countries that address climate change. Finally, Ms Halonen congratulated the positive role the WTO has taken in its Aid for Trade programme, which has seen an expansion of its agenda beyond the narrowly defined technical assistance, and is now supporting developing countries efforts to achieve better competitiveness in world trade.
Ms Olubanke King-Akerele, Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Liberia, said that the topic under discussion was of vital importance to Liberia and to all developing nations around the globe, who have not yet seen the benefits of trade. In this respect, she expressed a rather pessimistic view concerning the Doha negotiations, stating that « recasting the debate and making real progress will be particularly difficult with respect to the full and fair integration of the 50 least developed countries into the multilateral system ». Ms Akerele gave a brief account of her country’s economic situation, and she insisted on the role of trade in solidifying peace in post-conflict situations, and in particular in the Mano River Union Subregion of Liberia, which includes also Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. Here she has made a reference to the growth circles occurring in South East Asia, as an example of positive developments at the sub regional level, that bring peace and security through infrastructural development. Ms Akerele continued by addressing Liberia’s current process of developing a poverty reduction strategy. With the help of the International Trade Center, Liberia developed a trade road map, which includes a series of supply-chain analysis on products such as coffee, cocoa, rubber, wood products, crafts and spices. What is significant about this, Ms Akerele said, is that « we are bringing to the small people what this business of trade is all about ». She then tackled the question of global governance and the role the WTO played in the construction of such a system. She said that the attacks the WTO received from various actors concentrated mainly on the need for a more balanced decision-making power between rich and poor, and a more egalitarian trade regime. She insisted on the fact that if Doha failed, the international community would have failed the global poor, and she also requested to see the gender dimension provided for in WTO trade matters. Ms Akerele concluded her speech by reminding the public about the urgency of the matters under discussion for « the bottom billion ».
Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, spoke of good news with regard to the goal of reducing global poverty by half by 2015, and attributed much of the credit to the WTO, if the happy outcome was to be met. He gave the examples of China and India as countries of unprecedented sustainable growth and poverty reduction, and said that their successes show why the Millennium Development Goals will be met by 2015. Professor Mahbubani added that the reason of such extraordinary success lies in the fact that China and India « have bought and are implementing the essential WTO vision that both they and the world will be better off by opening and liberalizing their economies, especially in the field of trade ». Nevertheless, he noted that the current impasse in the Doha negotiations came from the loss of faith in trade-liberalization from the traditional champions of liberalization, namely the United States and the European Union, who are afraid of loosing their competitiveness to developing countries like China and India. He qualified this situation as tragic. With respect to this new international context, Professor Mahbubani claimed that the role and responsibility of NGOs had to change dramatically. He urged them to change their attitudes towards globalization, giving the example of China’s strong growth since its entry into the WTO, as evidence of the virtues of trade liberalization. He proceeded to give examples of how globalization is actually helping the poorest people around the world, through cell phones, the use of internet, televisions or education. In his concluding remarks, Professor Mahbubani apologized for his optimistic faith in globalization and reiterated his concern with regard to the increase in trade barriers quietly taking place in America and Europe, a phenomenon which he qualified as « fatal » for the developed countries and the world at large, in building a better world for all.
A Governance Audit for the WTO: Roundtable Discussion on Making Global Trade work for Development
The workshop was divided into two parts, first a joint presentation by Dr. Carolyn Deere, Mr. Mayur Patel and Mr. Arunabha Ghosh, from the Global Trade Governance Project, GEG, Oxford, followed by a roundtable discussion with panelists Mr. Harlem Désir MEP, Vice Chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament; Mr. Faizel Ismail, Head of Delegation to the WTO from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of South Africa; Mr. Alejandro Jara, WTO Deputy Director-General; H. E. Mr. Mothae Maruping, Ambassador, Permanent representative of Lesotho to the WTO; Mr. Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, Chief Executive, ICTSD; H. E. Mr. Guillermo Valles Galmés, Ambassador, Permanent representative of Uruguay to the WTO.
The joint presentation began by establishing a governance audit as a means to shed light on decision-making process in the WTO. The concept was used as a tool to systematically identify the mechanisms for improving the responsiveness of the WTO system to development priorities and sustainability concerns. The presentation focused on three of the eight functions served by the WTO: negotiation, monitoring, and technical assistance and capacity building.
1. The negotiation function, Mr. Mayur Patel:
Mr. Patel spoke of the informal changes occurring in the decision-making process, and in particular of the rising number of developing country coalitions and their inclusion as platforms for joint-representation in the WTO. He said that what was striking about this new trend of coalition bargaining was the unprecedented institutionalization of these groupings. The result of this is that developing countries are enhancing their representation and negotiation capacity, since their delegations are usually relatively small and ill equipped to influence the negotiations. Coalition bargaining has thus allowed them to partially offset their individual constraints through cooperation in informal gathering. Coalitions have also improved access to WTO decision-making by providing developing countries with a foothold in previously exclusive meetings. Finally, a third implication of coalition representation is that it has improved access of many weak states and the internal transparency of some WTO decision-making processes.
2. The monitoring function, Mr. Arunabha Ghosh:
Mr. Ghosh reminded the audience that the Trade Policy Review Mechanism was established in 1989, as a means to increase the collective understanding of members’ policies. Originally, developing countries accepted the TPRM with some exceptions. The TPRM’s activity has grown significantly over the years: almost all countries have undergone a review at least once, 26 of the 32 LDC members have been reviewed, while they received technical assistance since 2000 to conduct their own reviews, and the use of regional reviews has also been introduced, in order to highlight challenges to trade policy from a regional perspective. Nevertheless, the participation of a majority of WTO’s members remains negligible. Mr. Ghosh estimated that an average LDC has participated only in three meetings, and the likelihood that they will ask a question or raise a point is only 2%. The reasons for this may include questions of maintaining preferences with richer trading partners, other meetings of more immediate importance occurring at the same time as the review meetings, or the lack of technical expertise of developing countries to understand the policies of their trading partners and ask pertinent questions. The outcome of this trend is that developing countries remain with few possible avenues to demand any policy correction. The implications for developing countries range from magnified informational problems, to widening information and analysis gaps between small and large developing countries, as well as emergence of developing country coalitions that continue to be constrained by limited technical expertise.
3. The capacity-building function, Dr. Carolyn Deere
Dr. Deere spoke of the broad political consensus with regard to the assistance required by developing countries to maximize the gains of their participation in the WTO. The rationale for the trade-related technical assistance and capacity building program (TACB) was to empower developing countries to engage more effectively in the multilateral trading system so that they reap a fair share of its political and social gains. In this respect, the TACB program focuses on fore core priorities: building supply-side capacity to benefit from new international trade opportunities, supporting the institutional infrastructure to implement WTO agreements, development-oriented legal and policy assistance to revise laws in order to meet WTO obligations, and also supporting strengthened participation in negotiations and decision-making processes. Since 1995, both the scale and the scope for TACB have expanded significantly. Nevertheless, some outstanding challenges remain, related to the fact that TACB is a donor-driven program. The first challenge pertains to the fact that there is a donor control over the resources. Indeed, despite a large increase in funding for TACB since 2002, resources still fall short of that which developing countries actually need to obtain benefits from their WTO participation. There is also an uneven commitment to multilateral TACB initiatives, as developed countries usually prefer bilateral agreements. Furthermore, TACB financing is subject to the vagaries of donor’s changing trade and foreign policy priorities; the reality is that most developed countries allocate resources according to their own national priorities. A second challenge is coordination and ownership constraints at the National level. This includes managing TACB from a host of different donors and dealing with short-term aid instead of long-term investments.
During the roundtable discussion, Ambassador Ismail commented on the importance of coalitions and the need for coherence in the WTO capacity-building process. He also said with regard to the TPRM, that it is also important that developed countries act as they should and respect their obligations vis-à-vis developing countries. Ambassador Maruping also commented on the TPR and said that it was imperative for the WTO to maintain its relevance. Ambassador Valles commented on the purpose of coalition formation, which he said was to establish an agenda that will benefit developing countries, as well as provide information and transparency. Mr. Jara spoke of strengthening negotiation power through coalition building, and suggested that the TPR should be open to the public in order to improve it. He also stated that the deficit in subsidies notification affects the developing countries in upholding their rights, and that capacity-building lacks resources. Lastly, Mr. Désir suggested to set up a parliamentary assembly in the WTO in order to facilitate understanding between the North and the South.
A series of questions were then taken up from the audience.
Restoring Morality to the Global Market
The workshop was made up of moderator Mr. Jean-Pierre Lehmann, professor of international political economy at the IMD and founding Director of The Evian Group; Mr. Ravi Kanth Devarakonda, Geneva editor of the Washington Trade Daily and Deccan Herald; Ms. Ximena Escobar de Nogales, Deputy Director and senior economic counselor at CASIN; H. E. Ms. Gail Mathurin, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Jamaica; Mr. Aldo Matteuci, Senior fellow at the DiploFoundation.
Mr. Lehmann made some introductory remarks. He said that the global market economy hosts many injustices, and that the Doha Round was an opportunity to redress some of these injustices. He also commented on the importance of building coalitions in order to restore morality to the global market.
Mr. Matteuci’s presentation focused on the laws that govern the market, and not vice-versa. He reminded the audience that even Adam Smith’s economical theory of the invisible hand contained an element of morality to it.
Ms. Escobar de Nogales talked about consumer behavior. In particular, she focused on the importance of consumer behavior for developing countries and stated that the consumer must have an active morality in order to make a difference on the global market.
Mr. Devarakonda concentrated on the issue of patented drugs. He affirmed that two billion people lack access to essential medication at the moment, but the market was the ultimate arbitrator of price setting. This caused a moral dilemma, in the sense that people are dying because they do not have access to medicines, but these are protected by patents in Western countries in order to stimulate innovation. The current system of Compulsory License Mechanism tries to deal with this issue, but developing countries are sometimes prevented from using it, due to pressure from the drugs industry. So the question remained on how could one redress morality in this context. Mr. Devarakonda suggested to set up a global public pact, that would provide a code of conduct for extreme situations, where the market alone cannot be the sole decider.
Ambassador Mathurin’s intervention was concerned with who’s morality should guide the global market.
A series of questions were then taken up from the audience.
Coherent Strategies for Trade Liberalization – Bottom-up policies regional agreements and the WTO-system compatibility
The Session was composed of Moderator Mr. Frederik Erixon, Director of the ECIPE; Dr. Razeen Sally, Director ECIPE; Professor Patrick Messerlin, form the Groupe Economie Mondiale, Sciences po Paris; Mr. Huang Rengang, Minister Counsellor of China to the WTO; and Mr. Roderick Abbott, former Deputy Director-General of the WTO.
Mr Erixon made some opening remarks by asking whether there were some direct or indirect effects of different types of liberalization on the WTO system and what could one make of the new phenomenon of autonomous liberalization.
Dr Sally discussed medium-term strategic issues, including the multilateralization of regional agreements, the usefulness of having some rules agenda, as well as the acceleration of unilateral liberalization, particularly in Asia. He noted three changes from the GATT to the WTO: the agenda has broadened and deepened in scope, decision-making has widened beyond the original restricted club, and the WTO has become politicized by governments and infiltrated by anti-market NGOs. His conclusions for the mid-term future were that there should not be anymore WTO global rounds in the future, but only standalone negotiations, that special and differential treatment could not be left undifferentiated, and finally, that there should be a shift of focus from market access issues to rules issues.
Mr. Rengang began his presentation by reminding the audience that his country’s accession negotiations lasted fifteen years. He then discussed how the WTO system has helped China open up to international trade, to the point that its partners are now complaining that China is over-liberalizing, by exporting too much. Mr. Rengang also talked of the WTO system as a non-universal system, as many important countries such as Russia were not included in it, so its rule of law was limited in promoting trade liberalization. With regard to the Doha Round, the conclusion of the negotiations was not foreseen for the near future, so there was a strong probability that unilateral, bilateral and regional agreements were to continue as trade liberalization alternatives. He also discussed China’s policy of reducing tariffs on environment oriented imports before an actual binding agreement was reached in the negotiations, as a measure to maintain the coherence of the system.
Professor Messerlin pointed out that liberalization in the past few years happened mostly on a unilateral basis. He discussed the lack of leadership in international trade, and explained it through a more hostile public opinion, stronger anti-trade lobbies, and more absent businesses.
Mr. Abbott talked about regional agreements and the threat they represent to the multilateral system. He argued that the WTO system was not a universal one, pointing out to the exceptions provided in article 24, the provisions for weavers and the special regimes for developing countries. He therefore concluded that one should not be troubled if such great quantity of regional agreements are being negotiated. With regard to regional agreements, Mr. Abbott said that they were discriminatory, long-lasting and creating loopholes to WTO rules. He concluded his statement reiterating that it was a good idea to pursue multilateral negotiations and agreements in the future.
Globalization and the WTO Doha Agenda: Impact on Development
Speakers included Mr. Martin Khor, from the Third World Network; Mr. Mehdi Shafaeddin, former Senior Economist at UNCTAD; Ms. Anne Kamau, from the Permanent Mission of Kenya at the UN; H. E. Mr. Oscar Carvallo, Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at the UN; and H. E. Ms. Gail Mathurin, Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the UN.
The general discussion was centered on the issues contributing to the current deadlock in the Doha negotiations, namely agricultural issues, where developing countries have agreed to cut their tariffs further than in the Uruguay Round; industrial tariffs and the introduction of the Swiss standard formula, which means that developing countries have to reduce their tariffs much more than developed countries; negotiations on services; and the development issues, which have been left for the end of the Round, if time remains.
The discussion focused specifically on the development implications of industrial tariff cuts. It was argued that the contradictions in design and implementation of WTO rules and the inconsistencies between the Doha text and developed countries’ proposals triggered much of the current turmoil in the negotiations. The introduction of the Swiss formula in particular, went against the developing countries’ interests, while serving those of developed countries. The former would be subject to much greater tariff reduction rates, despite the fact that the principal of less than proportional reciprocity was agreed in Hong Kong. This would create significant detrimental long-term effects on the industrialization of developing countries, with no negative effects in the developed world, since industrialization has already occurred there. The developing world, by contrast, suffers from underdevelopment of its industrial sector. Thus, they need to apply higher tariffs to some of their industries, particularly new ones. Or with the low tariffs rates proposed, this will disarm them of an important policy tool for establishing new industries and upgrading old ones. The implications of such low and bound tariffs include the locking of the structure of production of most developing countries into primary commodities, simple resource-based and labor intensive products. The conclusion of the discussion highlighted the fact that development should not be sacrificed for the sake of reaching an agreement in the multilateral arena, nor should developing countries accept to be bullied into unfair trade agreements at the bilateral level.
R. M.
jeudi 1 novembre 2007
samedi 20 octobre 2007
International Trade Centre
UNCTAD/WTO
17th October
Consultations with ITC partner countries: Asia and the Pacific
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss 3 or 4 issues in process by the ITC.
The JAG objectives, format and content:
For the next JAG it is intended to have a short meeting before, more compact than the one of April 2007. ITC is trying to fix a 2 years budget for the next JAG. The main item is to review and approve the consolidation programme. There will be an informal meeting on Monday 19th of November to give fuller update about the changes and evolution of ITC.
Governance issue: proposals:
- the JAG as the policy-making organ of ITC for substantive programme review and policy guidance should convene a meeting once a year;
- the JAG will convert the actual consultative committee into a Consultative Board: more compact and informal body, focusing on the Annual Report, limited membership: 10 to 12, one representative per major region and one representative from UNCTAD and WTO, the role will be to advise ITC on programme, financial and evaluation matters;
- members should meet at least twice a year;
- Trust Fund Management
After these two issues where presented the Chair gave the floor to Cuba. The representative wanted to have more details about the Consultative Board. The Chair answered that the board will be rotative but a region can chooses to keep the same representative.
Pakistan asked where the members would meet and the response was Geneva or Montreux.
India asked whether the Consultative Board will provide technical advice to the JAG. YES but it’s not the main mission. The role of the Consultative Committee was to manage the Global Trust Fund which convenes 6 issues, and now the Board, at the will of a lot of members States is now broader.
We then went on another issue. ITC’s proposed budget for 2008-2009:
There is no major change between the last biennial budget. ITC has 2 main sources of revenue: Regular Budget (48% UN and WTO) and Extra-Budgetary (52% donors).
The aim of ITC is to reach at least 2% increase. They will suppress (retirement) some posts and create others of a lower level.
ITC depends a lot on Extra-Budgetary resources.
Challenges and ITC’s response for Asia & the Pacific:
- Highlights of the regions:
o 8.3 % growth for the first half of 2007.
o Agricultural commodities are the main export sector.
o Textiles and clothing are predominant.
- Core Trade Challenges:
o On a Micro-level, there is a limited capacity of enterprises:
Inadequate diversification of the export base,
Lack of management skills,
Limited knowledge of the implications.
o On a Meso-level
Inability of trade support institutions to adjust to evolving needs for business
Equipping TSI’s to cater trade needs of SME’s.
o On a Macro-level
Insufficient business dimension in trade negotiations
Building Public-Private Partnership s for trade development.
- Current and future projects:
o National project in Bangkok, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam…
o Initiatives in 14 countries.
o Projects in Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand
o EC funded projects in Bangladesh, Bhutan.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
UNCTAD/WTO
17th October
Consultations with ITC partner countries: Asia and the Pacific
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss 3 or 4 issues in process by the ITC.
The JAG objectives, format and content:
For the next JAG it is intended to have a short meeting before, more compact than the one of April 2007. ITC is trying to fix a 2 years budget for the next JAG. The main item is to review and approve the consolidation programme. There will be an informal meeting on Monday 19th of November to give fuller update about the changes and evolution of ITC.
Governance issue: proposals:
- the JAG as the policy-making organ of ITC for substantive programme review and policy guidance should convene a meeting once a year;
- the JAG will convert the actual consultative committee into a Consultative Board: more compact and informal body, focusing on the Annual Report, limited membership: 10 to 12, one representative per major region and one representative from UNCTAD and WTO, the role will be to advise ITC on programme, financial and evaluation matters;
- members should meet at least twice a year;
- Trust Fund Management
After these two issues where presented the Chair gave the floor to Cuba. The representative wanted to have more details about the Consultative Board. The Chair answered that the board will be rotative but a region can chooses to keep the same representative.
Pakistan asked where the members would meet and the response was Geneva or Montreux.
India asked whether the Consultative Board will provide technical advice to the JAG. YES but it’s not the main mission. The role of the Consultative Committee was to manage the Global Trust Fund which convenes 6 issues, and now the Board, at the will of a lot of members States is now broader.
We then went on another issue. ITC’s proposed budget for 2008-2009:
There is no major change between the last biennial budget. ITC has 2 main sources of revenue: Regular Budget (48% UN and WTO) and Extra-Budgetary (52% donors).
The aim of ITC is to reach at least 2% increase. They will suppress (retirement) some posts and create others of a lower level.
ITC depends a lot on Extra-Budgetary resources.
Challenges and ITC’s response for Asia & the Pacific:
- Highlights of the regions:
o 8.3 % growth for the first half of 2007.
o Agricultural commodities are the main export sector.
o Textiles and clothing are predominant.
- Core Trade Challenges:
o On a Micro-level, there is a limited capacity of enterprises:
Inadequate diversification of the export base,
Lack of management skills,
Limited knowledge of the implications.
o On a Meso-level
Inability of trade support institutions to adjust to evolving needs for business
Equipping TSI’s to cater trade needs of SME’s.
o On a Macro-level
Insufficient business dimension in trade negotiations
Building Public-Private Partnership s for trade development.
- Current and future projects:
o National project in Bangkok, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam…
o Initiatives in 14 countries.
o Projects in Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand
o EC funded projects in Bangladesh, Bhutan.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
Meeting of the ISDR Support Group
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.
Wednesday, 10 Oct. 07
Mr. Carlos Foradori from Argentina the Chairman of the ISDR Support Group started the meeting by doing a brief statement introduction about the recent developments of ISDR Secretariat.
According to him it’s very important to have initiatives at the regional level. He points out example of Guatemala’s initiative to coordinate actions in Haiti and the Buenos Aires meeting. He also asks for the support of the United Nations, UNICE and the Red Cross. He then gave the floor to Mr. Salvano Briceno, Director of ISDR Secretariat.
He informed that the Report of the ISDR has been published today (10 Oct. 07) and pointed out the major issues and recommendations.
- The need to support countries efforts:
- support the development of national platforms: it is already been done but it’s not sufficient.
- Investment must increase: common policies are needed.
- Accountability system is needed, one must keep monitoring the countries.
- Supporting the countries efforts is a key role for the private sector.
- The program focuses on:
- Special IPCC report on adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
- Cities need multi-sectoral plan including safe hospitals.
- Critical assessment of economic and social cost and benefits of risk reduction.
- The increasing participation of the civil society.
- Participation of women and leadership of women.
- Scale up proven practices based on science and technical date knowledge
- Regional cooperation: there will be an Asian Conference at the initiative of India on November 7th and 8th.
- Multi-stake holder voluntary guidelines and good practices.
- The ISDR system is also developing itself in:
- Engaging developmental, environmental and humanitarian partnership: more efforts are needed.
- Using UN trust fund for Disaster Reduction to support Joint Work Program
- Following up, reporting and monitoring.
- Preparing itself for the Global Platform of 2009
Mr. Briceno then putted forward the ISDR System Management Oversight Board. There are 6 Partner members of the UN which are: UNDP, World Bank, UNEP, OCHA, Red Cross, and ??? (Missed the last one). The issues discussed by the MOB are the following:
- follow-up of Global Platform. (- ISDR System Joint Working Program, - Economic study on cost/benefit).
- Disaster Risk Reduction is a UN priority.
- Global Survey on early warming.
- Global assessment Report for Disaster Risk Reduction 2009.
Mr. Salvano Briceno then talked about the Joint Planning of Work for 2008-2009. The Hyogo framework is a priority for action guides planning. One should build on existing mechanism, link them up and not create new ones. And he then let the floor to Mr. Reid Blaster who talked about what the General Assembly discussions focussed on:
- Climate change and disaster risk reduction: the scientific evidence is clear and
- Shift from “debate” to action.
- Multiply sources of action : local government, cities, business, NGOs
- Climate is now a priority for Ban Ki Moon and the UN.
- Special events at the UN GA.
- Adaptation issues edging into view.
There is a link between climate and Disasters: climate accounts for 80 to 90% of all disasters, floods account for the half of all disasters, for 84% of death and for 50 billions of lost per annum.
The specific priorities for the Secretary General are:
- Create and advocate clear messages.
- Promote Disaster Risk Reduction and Hyogo framework post 2012 regime.
- Seek IPCC Special Report to fill gap on climate change and disaster risk link.
- Build advocacy, tools and coorfination in ISDR system’s Joint Working Program.
- Support national level linking of climate change and disaster risk agendas.
After this briefings, the Chairman gave the floor to the delegations for their remarks and questions about the issue.
Norway asked whether ISDR is a strategy, a forum, an organisation, a program under the umbrella of OCHA? And also how do ISDR controls the direction of the money?
Mr. Foradori answered that ISDR is program of the UN Secretariat but it’s also under the umbrella of DESA (?) and is administrated by OCHA. All the funds come from humanitarian sources and is then not enough. As for the control, the fund is given to ISDR who gives it to the International Organisations and follows up so that the money is used for the original purpose. He also reminded that China and the Netherlands where good donors.
Sweden informed their will be a Commission of 12 members (didn’t mentioned them) this autumn, that will work for 1 year and a half and that will present a final report of climate and disaster risk.
Maldives asked what was ISDR planning during the Bali Conference. Mr. Foradori answered that their will be side meetings in Bali under the framework of IPCC and added that ISDR will take part of the Nairobi Action Plan adopted.
India reminded the need for coordination among different sources of fund and UN.
Switzerland and Finland closed the debate saying their were very keen on integrating ISDR on the UN budget.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.
Wednesday, 10 Oct. 07
Mr. Carlos Foradori from Argentina the Chairman of the ISDR Support Group started the meeting by doing a brief statement introduction about the recent developments of ISDR Secretariat.
According to him it’s very important to have initiatives at the regional level. He points out example of Guatemala’s initiative to coordinate actions in Haiti and the Buenos Aires meeting. He also asks for the support of the United Nations, UNICE and the Red Cross. He then gave the floor to Mr. Salvano Briceno, Director of ISDR Secretariat.
He informed that the Report of the ISDR has been published today (10 Oct. 07) and pointed out the major issues and recommendations.
- The need to support countries efforts:
- support the development of national platforms: it is already been done but it’s not sufficient.
- Investment must increase: common policies are needed.
- Accountability system is needed, one must keep monitoring the countries.
- Supporting the countries efforts is a key role for the private sector.
- The program focuses on:
- Special IPCC report on adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
- Cities need multi-sectoral plan including safe hospitals.
- Critical assessment of economic and social cost and benefits of risk reduction.
- The increasing participation of the civil society.
- Participation of women and leadership of women.
- Scale up proven practices based on science and technical date knowledge
- Regional cooperation: there will be an Asian Conference at the initiative of India on November 7th and 8th.
- Multi-stake holder voluntary guidelines and good practices.
- The ISDR system is also developing itself in:
- Engaging developmental, environmental and humanitarian partnership: more efforts are needed.
- Using UN trust fund for Disaster Reduction to support Joint Work Program
- Following up, reporting and monitoring.
- Preparing itself for the Global Platform of 2009
Mr. Briceno then putted forward the ISDR System Management Oversight Board. There are 6 Partner members of the UN which are: UNDP, World Bank, UNEP, OCHA, Red Cross, and ??? (Missed the last one). The issues discussed by the MOB are the following:
- follow-up of Global Platform. (- ISDR System Joint Working Program, - Economic study on cost/benefit).
- Disaster Risk Reduction is a UN priority.
- Global Survey on early warming.
- Global assessment Report for Disaster Risk Reduction 2009.
Mr. Salvano Briceno then talked about the Joint Planning of Work for 2008-2009. The Hyogo framework is a priority for action guides planning. One should build on existing mechanism, link them up and not create new ones. And he then let the floor to Mr. Reid Blaster who talked about what the General Assembly discussions focussed on:
- Climate change and disaster risk reduction: the scientific evidence is clear and
- Shift from “debate” to action.
- Multiply sources of action : local government, cities, business, NGOs
- Climate is now a priority for Ban Ki Moon and the UN.
- Special events at the UN GA.
- Adaptation issues edging into view.
There is a link between climate and Disasters: climate accounts for 80 to 90% of all disasters, floods account for the half of all disasters, for 84% of death and for 50 billions of lost per annum.
The specific priorities for the Secretary General are:
- Create and advocate clear messages.
- Promote Disaster Risk Reduction and Hyogo framework post 2012 regime.
- Seek IPCC Special Report to fill gap on climate change and disaster risk link.
- Build advocacy, tools and coorfination in ISDR system’s Joint Working Program.
- Support national level linking of climate change and disaster risk agendas.
After this briefings, the Chairman gave the floor to the delegations for their remarks and questions about the issue.
Norway asked whether ISDR is a strategy, a forum, an organisation, a program under the umbrella of OCHA? And also how do ISDR controls the direction of the money?
Mr. Foradori answered that ISDR is program of the UN Secretariat but it’s also under the umbrella of DESA (?) and is administrated by OCHA. All the funds come from humanitarian sources and is then not enough. As for the control, the fund is given to ISDR who gives it to the International Organisations and follows up so that the money is used for the original purpose. He also reminded that China and the Netherlands where good donors.
Sweden informed their will be a Commission of 12 members (didn’t mentioned them) this autumn, that will work for 1 year and a half and that will present a final report of climate and disaster risk.
Maldives asked what was ISDR planning during the Bali Conference. Mr. Foradori answered that their will be side meetings in Bali under the framework of IPCC and added that ISDR will take part of the Nairobi Action Plan adopted.
India reminded the need for coordination among different sources of fund and UN.
Switzerland and Finland closed the debate saying their were very keen on integrating ISDR on the UN budget.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
UNCTAD 54th Session
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Closing meeting,
Item 10: Matters requiring action by the Board in the follow- up to the eleventh session of the Conference and arising from or related to reports and activities of its subsidiary and other bodies.
This item is divided into three sub-items:
The first deals with the Report on UNCTAD XII multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Jennifer Ferro presented the first matter: a Report on ICTs. She points out four different points:
- Partnership on free and open software:
Opportunities to explore the development production together with UNITAR;
Policies issues for open technologies.
- Partnership on merging ICTs for development, made up of 10 International Organizations:
improvement of ICT data of Members States;
development of an international agreed call list of ICT indicators (this is one of the main achievements);
Cooperation between International Organizations (ask all countries to use this ICT indicators specially developing countries);
a memorandum as been signed; focus on assisting developing countries in establishing ICT data;
Creation of a new ICT website launched last 2006.
- Partnership on e-tourism:
elaboration of joint activities within the context of e-tourism trough the use of ICTs (active financial collaboration of the Canadian Minister of Tourism).
- Virtual Institute Partnership launched at UNCTAD XI was success:
from 5 to 21 members (i.e. Mozambique);
we’re try to have partnerships with the national Universities;
professional development workshop on the issue,
collow ship program and Curricular advice,
establishment of study tools for students and involvement of academics in international conferences, teaching progress,
links research and policy making.
Then their was presentation of the Division on Investment by the Director of this issue. He said they did a number of concrete actions such as:
- establishment of links with the Common Wealth Business Council: Business forum on Asia/Africa held this year in China this year;
- Partnership between China and Africa: investment of China in Africa.
- Partnership with Japan Bank for International Cooperation: promoting investment in Africa
- Since São Paolo strengthening of cooperation with WIPO.
- Partnership with University of Fribourg.
- Partnership with OECD to engage the developing countries in increasing their economy.
- Partnership with World Tourism Organisation: investment promotion in the tourist sector: there is no need for us to recruit staff, we use the one of WIPO.
- Technical Assistance Project on pharmaceutical abilities in Africa with Uk and Germany.
- Partnership with UNDP, ILO.
- 80 Small and Medium Enterprises + 11 trans-national cooperation
- Side events during UNCTAD XII
Finally Mr. Thomas from the Trade Development presented his Report on partnership commodities:
- development of international agency cooperative network: UNCTAD and UNDP Conference on Commodities in Brazil in May 2007; UNCTAD collaboration with private sector, World Bank, annual intergovernmental forum on Mining; collaboration with civil society (Institute of Sustainable development).
- give assistance to the LDCs of Africa to be linked up with buyers of most influent countries (Migros).
- establishment of Task Force on Commodity: BUT due to a lack of funds it has failed, but we nonetheless did a number of activities.
Angola was the only country to take the floor. The Delegate seek for more information about le the lack of funds for the Task Force.
The second sub-item, Hearing with the civil Society and private sector, in accordance with paragraph 117 of the São Paolo Consensus, was presented by Mrs. Anne Laure Constantin from IATP NGO.
- Need for new regionalism: multiplication of regional agreements.
- Urges UNCTAD to work with ACP Countries (African, Caribbean and Pacific)
- Deplores that 20% of the global population enjoins 80% of the world resources.
- Need to establish employment policies for gender equity.
Finally the third sub-item, Report of the Working Party on the Medium-term Plan and the Program Budget on its resumed 54th session was presented by Mr. Christophe Guiyou (? Not sure about the name) the Chair of the Working party, from the PM of France:
- Need to ensure that all regions benefit from the funds.
- Access for every body to web pages of UNCTAD.
- Improve the quality and transparency of UNCTAD documents.
- Commodities insurances and work of the Secretariat.
- Invites the Council to take note of the report.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Closing meeting,
Item 10: Matters requiring action by the Board in the follow- up to the eleventh session of the Conference and arising from or related to reports and activities of its subsidiary and other bodies.
This item is divided into three sub-items:
The first deals with the Report on UNCTAD XII multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Jennifer Ferro presented the first matter: a Report on ICTs. She points out four different points:
- Partnership on free and open software:
Opportunities to explore the development production together with UNITAR;
Policies issues for open technologies.
- Partnership on merging ICTs for development, made up of 10 International Organizations:
improvement of ICT data of Members States;
development of an international agreed call list of ICT indicators (this is one of the main achievements);
Cooperation between International Organizations (ask all countries to use this ICT indicators specially developing countries);
a memorandum as been signed; focus on assisting developing countries in establishing ICT data;
Creation of a new ICT website launched last 2006.
- Partnership on e-tourism:
elaboration of joint activities within the context of e-tourism trough the use of ICTs (active financial collaboration of the Canadian Minister of Tourism).
- Virtual Institute Partnership launched at UNCTAD XI was success:
from 5 to 21 members (i.e. Mozambique);
we’re try to have partnerships with the national Universities;
professional development workshop on the issue,
collow ship program and Curricular advice,
establishment of study tools for students and involvement of academics in international conferences, teaching progress,
links research and policy making.
Then their was presentation of the Division on Investment by the Director of this issue. He said they did a number of concrete actions such as:
- establishment of links with the Common Wealth Business Council: Business forum on Asia/Africa held this year in China this year;
- Partnership between China and Africa: investment of China in Africa.
- Partnership with Japan Bank for International Cooperation: promoting investment in Africa
- Since São Paolo strengthening of cooperation with WIPO.
- Partnership with University of Fribourg.
- Partnership with OECD to engage the developing countries in increasing their economy.
- Partnership with World Tourism Organisation: investment promotion in the tourist sector: there is no need for us to recruit staff, we use the one of WIPO.
- Technical Assistance Project on pharmaceutical abilities in Africa with Uk and Germany.
- Partnership with UNDP, ILO.
- 80 Small and Medium Enterprises + 11 trans-national cooperation
- Side events during UNCTAD XII
Finally Mr. Thomas from the Trade Development presented his Report on partnership commodities:
- development of international agency cooperative network: UNCTAD and UNDP Conference on Commodities in Brazil in May 2007; UNCTAD collaboration with private sector, World Bank, annual intergovernmental forum on Mining; collaboration with civil society (Institute of Sustainable development).
- give assistance to the LDCs of Africa to be linked up with buyers of most influent countries (Migros).
- establishment of Task Force on Commodity: BUT due to a lack of funds it has failed, but we nonetheless did a number of activities.
Angola was the only country to take the floor. The Delegate seek for more information about le the lack of funds for the Task Force.
The second sub-item, Hearing with the civil Society and private sector, in accordance with paragraph 117 of the São Paolo Consensus, was presented by Mrs. Anne Laure Constantin from IATP NGO.
- Need for new regionalism: multiplication of regional agreements.
- Urges UNCTAD to work with ACP Countries (African, Caribbean and Pacific)
- Deplores that 20% of the global population enjoins 80% of the world resources.
- Need to establish employment policies for gender equity.
Finally the third sub-item, Report of the Working Party on the Medium-term Plan and the Program Budget on its resumed 54th session was presented by Mr. Christophe Guiyou (? Not sure about the name) the Chair of the Working party, from the PM of France:
- Need to ensure that all regions benefit from the funds.
- Access for every body to web pages of UNCTAD.
- Improve the quality and transparency of UNCTAD documents.
- Commodities insurances and work of the Secretariat.
- Invites the Council to take note of the report.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
UNCTAD 54th Session
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Plenary meeting,
Item 8: Technical Cooperation Activities
This session dealt with the Report on UNCTAD’s assistance to the Palestinian people.
The introduction of this report was made by Mr. Mahmoud A.T Elkhalif, Officer-in-Charge, Assistance to the Palestinian People.
There is a need to establish rules for the Palestinian trade. UNCTAD will do every thing to respect the Bangkok Plan of Action and the Sao Paolo Consensus. Actually since 1984 whereas several items have been removed, this one (Technical Cooperation Activities: assistance to the Palestinian people) has always been kept over the years. UNCTAD congratulates Italy and ILO support on Small and Medium Enterprises
Palestinian economy has become an example for countries in war. Nevertheless, this economy is decreasing:
- 8.4 Billions dollars lost between 2000 and 2005.
- The per capita GDP decreased by 15% between 2005 and 2006.
- Palestinians can presently only produce 2/3 of what they use to produce in 1998.
- More than 1 million people are living under extreme poverty.
- More than 80% are dependant on food aid.
- The unemployment average climbed to 30% of the active population.
The Palestinian economy depends on donor’s aid, hence there is a need for new investments, and international support. The report makes two recommendations: - Reassess the trade regime with Israel and the rest of the world. Stop the isolation, open Palestine to Egypt and Jordan. – Support the Palestinian efforts on trade policies.
Palestine argues that Israel went against the Oslo and Paris agreements of 1993 and 1994.The negative actions of the army have empowered the dependence of the economy on international aid. The Palestinian delegate deplores the Israeli occupation.
Oman speaking on behalf of the Asian group and China added that Israel has highly contributed to the decrease of the Palestinian trade.
Portugal and the EU encourages bilateral talks between Palestinians and Israelis. The EU opposes it self to any division of Palestinian territories. The Portuguese delegate reminded that EU is the major donor of Palestinian assistance and that it will go on. In 2006 EU gave 688 millions euros and will provide 2.5 millions grant to improve the trade technology.
As for Israel, it’s impossible to sustain economy progress in a climate of violence. As long as Hamas controls Gaza, Israel and the International Committee shall not be concerned by Palestinian’s economic issues. The Israeli delegate wonders why do we have a special item on UNCTAD’s assistance to the Palestinian people? He deplores the fact that the report presented by Mr. Elkhafif doesn’t mention Palestinian lack of good governance: money is not used for the real purpose, there is corruption and a lack of transparency. And he didn’t forget to talk about terrorism.
Chad expressed itself against the separation wall and is joined by the League of Arab States and Algeria.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Plenary meeting,
Item 8: Technical Cooperation Activities
This session dealt with the Report on UNCTAD’s assistance to the Palestinian people.
The introduction of this report was made by Mr. Mahmoud A.T Elkhalif, Officer-in-Charge, Assistance to the Palestinian People.
There is a need to establish rules for the Palestinian trade. UNCTAD will do every thing to respect the Bangkok Plan of Action and the Sao Paolo Consensus. Actually since 1984 whereas several items have been removed, this one (Technical Cooperation Activities: assistance to the Palestinian people) has always been kept over the years. UNCTAD congratulates Italy and ILO support on Small and Medium Enterprises
Palestinian economy has become an example for countries in war. Nevertheless, this economy is decreasing:
- 8.4 Billions dollars lost between 2000 and 2005.
- The per capita GDP decreased by 15% between 2005 and 2006.
- Palestinians can presently only produce 2/3 of what they use to produce in 1998.
- More than 1 million people are living under extreme poverty.
- More than 80% are dependant on food aid.
- The unemployment average climbed to 30% of the active population.
The Palestinian economy depends on donor’s aid, hence there is a need for new investments, and international support. The report makes two recommendations: - Reassess the trade regime with Israel and the rest of the world. Stop the isolation, open Palestine to Egypt and Jordan. – Support the Palestinian efforts on trade policies.
Palestine argues that Israel went against the Oslo and Paris agreements of 1993 and 1994.The negative actions of the army have empowered the dependence of the economy on international aid. The Palestinian delegate deplores the Israeli occupation.
Oman speaking on behalf of the Asian group and China added that Israel has highly contributed to the decrease of the Palestinian trade.
Portugal and the EU encourages bilateral talks between Palestinians and Israelis. The EU opposes it self to any division of Palestinian territories. The Portuguese delegate reminded that EU is the major donor of Palestinian assistance and that it will go on. In 2006 EU gave 688 millions euros and will provide 2.5 millions grant to improve the trade technology.
As for Israel, it’s impossible to sustain economy progress in a climate of violence. As long as Hamas controls Gaza, Israel and the International Committee shall not be concerned by Palestinian’s economic issues. The Israeli delegate wonders why do we have a special item on UNCTAD’s assistance to the Palestinian people? He deplores the fact that the report presented by Mr. Elkhafif doesn’t mention Palestinian lack of good governance: money is not used for the real purpose, there is corruption and a lack of transparency. And he didn’t forget to talk about terrorism.
Chad expressed itself against the separation wall and is joined by the League of Arab States and Algeria.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
UNCTAD 54th Session
Friday, 5 October 2007
Plenary meeting,
Item 5: Economic Development in Africa: Reclaiming Policy Space: Domestic Resource Mobilization and Development States
At the beginning on the session, M. Guy Alain Emmanuel Gose from Ivory Cost, appointed by the African group was elected as the Chairperson of the Sessional Committee II and Ms. Lee Xuan Lu first secretary of Permanente Mission of China appointed by the Asian group was elected as Vice-Chairperson.
The first comments came from Mr. Supachai, the Secretary General of UNCTAD, for general comments. He stated that the average of approximately 5,7 – 6% growth in Africa was episodic. And added that it wasn’t really due to the African progress but that the cancelling of the debts where playing an important role.
He pointed out other issues: ownership, assistance, support, project and comments from the UNCTAD to answer the real domestic needs of LDCs. Africa need to growth by 6 or 7 % per annum and that around 25% of the GDP should be dedicated to the TDP instead of 15% presently.
The financial assets are not in place to put the African savers in confidence. The Diaspora plays an important role in the Official Development Assistance. There is a need to strengthen the financial system. The micro credit institutions have contributed to the emergence of small and medium enterprises. UNCTAD should find a way to help this system and include it to the financial system.
How to encourage the migrant workers and the Diaspora to send back their foreign change? The money must be sent for more productive issues, for investment: Rwanda and Ghana are countries that succeed on it.
En concluded by stating that the developing countries must work on training education and be able to define good policies.
Mr. Habib Ouane, Director of the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes, then introduced the item 5.
If first comment was that since 2004 growth increased gradually and that it hadn’t been seen since the 1970 decade. The Sub-Saharan region is the only region that will certainly not reach the millennium goals of reducing the poverty by half by 2015 if it doesn’t annually increases it growth by 8% or more.
He stressed out that the African financial gap can not be filled only with international aid. There is a need for domestic resources which are not utilized and mobilized. Remittances in most African countries are higher than ODA flow.
General Statements:
Benin taking the floor on behalf of the LDCs argues that even thought the International aid has increased, it’s not sufficient and that Africa should receive the double. Without the international aid, Africa will not be able to attract foreign investors. He added that the distribution of this aid is not equilibrated: ten countries are receiving 40%. As for the remittances of the Diaspora, one should reduce the transaction costs.
Cuba talking on behalf of GRULAC, was very critic toward African countries and other LDCs stating that there is a lack of political will from the African leaders. He wonders how come they didn’t succeeded yet to reduced or even eradicate poverty in some areas.
On the contrary Russia believes that there is a need for new partnership with Africa.
European Union reminded his participation on the Ghana meeting of 2008 (UNCTAD 12) and that an African summit that take place in Lisboa.
Japan also informed that Tokyo will held a Conference on Development of Africa in may 2008.
According to USA UNDP should better coordinate their action and that there is a need to redouble the efforts.
China concluded the debate by saying that it signed assistance programs with 45 African countries, cancelled debts of 22, and have given 25 loans without rates. According to USA UNDP should better coordinate their action and that there is a need to redouble the efforts.
China concluded the debate by saying that it signed assistance programs with 45 African countries, cancelled debts of 22, and have given 25 loans without rates.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
Friday, 5 October 2007
Plenary meeting,
Item 5: Economic Development in Africa: Reclaiming Policy Space: Domestic Resource Mobilization and Development States
At the beginning on the session, M. Guy Alain Emmanuel Gose from Ivory Cost, appointed by the African group was elected as the Chairperson of the Sessional Committee II and Ms. Lee Xuan Lu first secretary of Permanente Mission of China appointed by the Asian group was elected as Vice-Chairperson.
The first comments came from Mr. Supachai, the Secretary General of UNCTAD, for general comments. He stated that the average of approximately 5,7 – 6% growth in Africa was episodic. And added that it wasn’t really due to the African progress but that the cancelling of the debts where playing an important role.
He pointed out other issues: ownership, assistance, support, project and comments from the UNCTAD to answer the real domestic needs of LDCs. Africa need to growth by 6 or 7 % per annum and that around 25% of the GDP should be dedicated to the TDP instead of 15% presently.
The financial assets are not in place to put the African savers in confidence. The Diaspora plays an important role in the Official Development Assistance. There is a need to strengthen the financial system. The micro credit institutions have contributed to the emergence of small and medium enterprises. UNCTAD should find a way to help this system and include it to the financial system.
How to encourage the migrant workers and the Diaspora to send back their foreign change? The money must be sent for more productive issues, for investment: Rwanda and Ghana are countries that succeed on it.
En concluded by stating that the developing countries must work on training education and be able to define good policies.
Mr. Habib Ouane, Director of the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes, then introduced the item 5.
If first comment was that since 2004 growth increased gradually and that it hadn’t been seen since the 1970 decade. The Sub-Saharan region is the only region that will certainly not reach the millennium goals of reducing the poverty by half by 2015 if it doesn’t annually increases it growth by 8% or more.
He stressed out that the African financial gap can not be filled only with international aid. There is a need for domestic resources which are not utilized and mobilized. Remittances in most African countries are higher than ODA flow.
General Statements:
Benin taking the floor on behalf of the LDCs argues that even thought the International aid has increased, it’s not sufficient and that Africa should receive the double. Without the international aid, Africa will not be able to attract foreign investors. He added that the distribution of this aid is not equilibrated: ten countries are receiving 40%. As for the remittances of the Diaspora, one should reduce the transaction costs.
Cuba talking on behalf of GRULAC, was very critic toward African countries and other LDCs stating that there is a lack of political will from the African leaders. He wonders how come they didn’t succeeded yet to reduced or even eradicate poverty in some areas.
On the contrary Russia believes that there is a need for new partnership with Africa.
European Union reminded his participation on the Ghana meeting of 2008 (UNCTAD 12) and that an African summit that take place in Lisboa.
Japan also informed that Tokyo will held a Conference on Development of Africa in may 2008.
According to USA UNDP should better coordinate their action and that there is a need to redouble the efforts.
China concluded the debate by saying that it signed assistance programs with 45 African countries, cancelled debts of 22, and have given 25 loans without rates. According to USA UNDP should better coordinate their action and that there is a need to redouble the efforts.
China concluded the debate by saying that it signed assistance programs with 45 African countries, cancelled debts of 22, and have given 25 loans without rates.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
UNCTAD 54th Session
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Plenary meeting,
Item 4: Review of progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.
The first step done was to elect Eduard Bizumuremyi as Vice-Chair-cum-Rapporteur of the Sessional Committee I.
Then Mr; Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, made comments on his report: The Least Developed Countries Report 2007: Knowledge, Technological Learning and Innovation for Development.
According to Mr. Supachai the 2004 Report reminded that in terms of capacity, LDCs’ reform hadn’t been resolved from the previous report. And the 2006 Report was concentrated on one key issue: how to concentrate both on national and international level. Productive capacity building was a major strategy for 2006. Resources alone are not enough, one needs innovation to improve a country. We should enhance productivity in other to have increasing development specially in agriculture.
All this lead to the 2007 report. 60% to 70% of differences between countries have been explained by the differences of innovation et technological knowledge.
What can be done on the national and international level to help the LDCs?
There is been no mention of improvement of technologies in the previous reports. In the LDCs the Innovation, Communication and Technology capital is only 1/5 whereas in developed countries it’s less than 50%.
There is a need for active intervention by the governments in trying to create the basic support, like electricity, implement the application of innovation and promotion of entrepreneurship. Less than 4% of international assistance went to the development. of ICTs.
Mr. Supachai concludes by saying that there is also the question of Intellectual Property. Many national professional are working in the UN or in other States rather than in their own countries. These should put in place ways to welcome back intellectuals.
This was followed by Mr. Cheikh Sidi Diarra, High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and small Island Developing States comments.
The social and economical conditions in LCDs continue to be precarious. The international support has increased but the high population growth has been faster. Plus, the climate change is now a new challenge to social and economical development in LDCs, especially in Africa and it’s leading to migrations. All this explains the dependency of LDCs on International aids.
Populations need access to credit, land, markets, elimination of trade barriers and reforms on the agricultural sector. The last point od Mr. Diarra was that there is also a need for mobilization and coordination of all the UN system and coherence between UNOHCR and UNCTAD.
Mr. Habib Ouane, Director of the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes, made an introductory statement on agenda item 4.
According to him, finance, technology and knowledge are the key issue for the development of new policies. These three factors are neglected by the national and international policies. The 2007 report recommends new policies and points out the default.
LDCs failed on poverty reduction, donors have neglected the need of LDCsin Science, Technology and Information, the IP of LDCs have been strengthened, the brain drain lead to the lost of human capital.
There are 4 main areas for political action:
- National politics, the governments should include STI policies: innovation in agricultural and non agricultural sectors.
- Migration: develop assistance program to maintain the intellectuals.
- Innovation and technical learning in LDCs: exclude Intellectual Property Right from agreement on the trade of LDCs.
- Promote the development of Technologies.
Mr. Ouane finished by reminding that the only countries that have yet bring financial support are Norway, Finland, France and Canada for the UNCTAD review of progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.
We then proceeded to general statements.
G77 and China group states that the production capacity depends on improvement of technology capacity. Its essential for donors to change their help approach.
Afghanistan talking on behalf of the Asian group asks UNCTAD to help for the implementation of national policies.
Benin on behalf of LDCs states that their as been progress in the health domain, LDCs have done a better evolution in the last years and the inflation has been slightly maintained. Some countries have changed their categories due their progress: Maldives, Kiribati…The International Trade rules highly participate to the decreasing of LDC.
Chile (GRULAC) says that the 2007 report should be a reference text in helping the LDCs and should be included in the national policies.
Russian representative reminded that his country have cancelled the debts of some States like Afghanistan. And China have extended the delay of payment for 44 LDCs with which they have diplomatic relation.
According to USA, mobile phone technology should be improved.
The EU representative thinks that the quota should be eliminated and it is joined by Chad on behalf of the African group who reminds that 34 countries out of the 51 LDCs are Africans. LDCs should adopt national policies for the debts.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Plenary meeting,
Item 4: Review of progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.
The first step done was to elect Eduard Bizumuremyi as Vice-Chair-cum-Rapporteur of the Sessional Committee I.
Then Mr; Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD, made comments on his report: The Least Developed Countries Report 2007: Knowledge, Technological Learning and Innovation for Development.
According to Mr. Supachai the 2004 Report reminded that in terms of capacity, LDCs’ reform hadn’t been resolved from the previous report. And the 2006 Report was concentrated on one key issue: how to concentrate both on national and international level. Productive capacity building was a major strategy for 2006. Resources alone are not enough, one needs innovation to improve a country. We should enhance productivity in other to have increasing development specially in agriculture.
All this lead to the 2007 report. 60% to 70% of differences between countries have been explained by the differences of innovation et technological knowledge.
What can be done on the national and international level to help the LDCs?
There is been no mention of improvement of technologies in the previous reports. In the LDCs the Innovation, Communication and Technology capital is only 1/5 whereas in developed countries it’s less than 50%.
There is a need for active intervention by the governments in trying to create the basic support, like electricity, implement the application of innovation and promotion of entrepreneurship. Less than 4% of international assistance went to the development. of ICTs.
Mr. Supachai concludes by saying that there is also the question of Intellectual Property. Many national professional are working in the UN or in other States rather than in their own countries. These should put in place ways to welcome back intellectuals.
This was followed by Mr. Cheikh Sidi Diarra, High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and small Island Developing States comments.
The social and economical conditions in LCDs continue to be precarious. The international support has increased but the high population growth has been faster. Plus, the climate change is now a new challenge to social and economical development in LDCs, especially in Africa and it’s leading to migrations. All this explains the dependency of LDCs on International aids.
Populations need access to credit, land, markets, elimination of trade barriers and reforms on the agricultural sector. The last point od Mr. Diarra was that there is also a need for mobilization and coordination of all the UN system and coherence between UNOHCR and UNCTAD.
Mr. Habib Ouane, Director of the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes, made an introductory statement on agenda item 4.
According to him, finance, technology and knowledge are the key issue for the development of new policies. These three factors are neglected by the national and international policies. The 2007 report recommends new policies and points out the default.
LDCs failed on poverty reduction, donors have neglected the need of LDCsin Science, Technology and Information, the IP of LDCs have been strengthened, the brain drain lead to the lost of human capital.
There are 4 main areas for political action:
- National politics, the governments should include STI policies: innovation in agricultural and non agricultural sectors.
- Migration: develop assistance program to maintain the intellectuals.
- Innovation and technical learning in LDCs: exclude Intellectual Property Right from agreement on the trade of LDCs.
- Promote the development of Technologies.
Mr. Ouane finished by reminding that the only countries that have yet bring financial support are Norway, Finland, France and Canada for the UNCTAD review of progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010.
We then proceeded to general statements.
G77 and China group states that the production capacity depends on improvement of technology capacity. Its essential for donors to change their help approach.
Afghanistan talking on behalf of the Asian group asks UNCTAD to help for the implementation of national policies.
Benin on behalf of LDCs states that their as been progress in the health domain, LDCs have done a better evolution in the last years and the inflation has been slightly maintained. Some countries have changed their categories due their progress: Maldives, Kiribati…The International Trade rules highly participate to the decreasing of LDC.
Chile (GRULAC) says that the 2007 report should be a reference text in helping the LDCs and should be included in the national policies.
Russian representative reminded that his country have cancelled the debts of some States like Afghanistan. And China have extended the delay of payment for 44 LDCs with which they have diplomatic relation.
According to USA, mobile phone technology should be improved.
The EU representative thinks that the quota should be eliminated and it is joined by Chad on behalf of the African group who reminds that 34 countries out of the 51 LDCs are Africans. LDCs should adopt national policies for the debts.
Ismaila Pedro FAYE
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