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Trade Policy Analysts To Improve Capacity-Building In ACP

2 September 2004

World Trade Centre
 "The project aims to reinforce, at national and regional levels, the capacity to formulate and implement coherent trade policies..."
Nine trade policy analysts from the Commonwealth and the European Union (EU) will shortly take up posts under the 'Hub and Spokes' project to improve capacity-building in member countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). They will also assist regional economic integration organisations in their negotiations with the European Union and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 

The Trade Policy Formulation, Negotiations and Implementation Project -- also known as 'Hub and Spokes' initiative -- is a joint effort of the Commonwealth Secretariat and l'Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie (AIF) with funding from the European Commission. 

The analysts will be briefed by officials from the Secretariat, the EU and ACP about regional and multilateral trade negotiations at a meeting at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London from 6 to 7 September 2004. Among the topics on the agenda are the role of these organisations; the aim of 'Hub and Spokes' in capacity-building for trade in beneficiary countries; and an overview of ongoing trade negotiations.

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Winston Cox said: "The project aims to reinforce, at national and regional levels, the capacity to formulate and implement coherent trade policies. These policies should be developed in consultation with the relevant stakeholders and incorporated into development strategies and negotiation agendas."

In October, the analysts will take up posts within government ministries in the Fiji Islands, Guyana, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Tonga, United Republic of Tanzania and Vanuatu. Another will be based at the Pacific Forum Secretariat in Fiji. 

Under the project, a total of 48 trade analysts and nine regional trade advisers are expected to assist host countries with trade negotiations, trade policy formulation and implementation of trade agreements. Over the next four years, they will conduct research and analysis of WTO issues, including issues under consideration in ongoing ACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations. 

The Secretariat is responsible for the implementation of the project in the Caribbean Community, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Southern African Development Community regions and the African Union. 

AIF will implement the project in the West African Economic and Monetary Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa member states. All the analysts and advisers are expected to be posted by December 2004.

 

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service  Issue 199    1 September 2004

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