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Geneva, 5 April 2005 - Summarizing the key points from the capacity-building workshop held March 10 in Geneva for the African Group of countries on Trade Facilitation - Technical Aspects of GATT Articles V, VIII and X in Relation to the Doha Work Programme, Dr. Magdi Farahat, Minister Plenipotentiary, Permanent Mission of Egypt to the World Trade Organization, Geneva, emphasized the need for a revolutionary reform process to help African countries incorporate best business and trade practices. As this will require a major transfer of technical know-how, Dr. Farahat called on intergovernmental agencies to establish a global package to assist developing countries in implementing trade facilitation instruments.

The Workshop, which was attended by representatives of over 20 Geneva-based WTO missions from the African Group, provided insight into technical, legal and implementation issues of GATT Articles V, VIII and X, which are currently being negotiated within the Doha Work Programme. It was organized jointly by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Participants considered the value of trade facilitation as an economic and trade development tool. While there was little disagreement on this point, many countries pointed to the associated implementation costs. Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the WTO, emphasised the critical role of technical assistance in addressing such costs for Africa. She pointed particularly to the challenges facing African countries in terms of high transport costs and complex trade procedures.

Trade facilitation involves simplifying, standardizing and harmonizing the procedures and associated information flows required to move goods from seller to buyer. It has the potential to save both Governments and trade hundreds of billions of dollars in transaction costs. Dr. Carol Cosgrove-Sacks, Director of the UNECE Trade Development and Timber Division, said that those costs and complexities were deterring potential exporters and importers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, from entering the global marketplace. This is especially the case, she said, in developing and transition economies, particularly landlocked countries and countries distant from main markets.

UNECE develops and maintains a range of standards, recommendations and tools, such as the United Nations Layout Key for trade documents, the UN/EDIFACT standard for Electronic Data Interchange, and the Single Window Recommendation and Guidelines, to support trade facilitation worldwide. The availability and application of these instruments and tools relevant to the three GATT Articles were considered throughout the Workshop.

For further information, please contact:

Tom Butterly Team Leader, Trade Facilitation Global Trade Solutions Branch UNECE Trade Development and Timber Division Palais des Nations CH – 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 1178 Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0629 E-mail: [email protected]	Dr. Cornelius T. Mwalwanda Principal Advisor ECA Geneva Interregional Advisory Services United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG) Bocage Annex, Pavilion 1, Office 60 Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 5888 Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0772 E-mail: [email protected]
Workshop Programme: http://www.unece.org/trade/workshop/ece_eca_gva/programme.pdf

 

 

Ref: ECE/TRADE/05/N01