UNCTAD TO PARTICIPATE IN FOURTH AFRO-ARAB TRADE FAIR TO BE HELD IN DAKAR FROM 15 - 24 APRIL
Press Release
TAD/1871
UNCTAD TO PARTICIPATE IN FOURTH AFRO-ARAB TRADE FAIR TO BE HELD IN DAKAR FROM 15 - 24 APRIL
19990413 GENEVA, 13 April (UNCTAD) -- In light of its activities to strengthen trade relations among developing countries, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has been selected as a key participant in the fourth Afro-Arab Trade Fair, which will take place in Dakar (Senegal) from 15 to 24 April. This event is organized by the authorities of the host country, in close association with its international centre for foreign trade (Centre International du Commerce Extérieur du Sénégal) together with the Organization for African Unity (OAU) and the League of Arab States. It follows the success of three previous Afro-Arab Trade Fairs, which took place in 1993 in Tunis, in 1995 in Johannesburg and in 1997 in Sharjah, respectively.The purpose of the Fair is to expand and deepen the economic and trade cooperation between the two groups of countries. Over 3,000 exhibitors from about 60 African and Arab countries are expected to be represented at Dakar.
Apart from the exhibition itself, which will include an UNCTAD information stand, a Cooperation Forum on trade issues will be held from 16 to 19 April, with the participation of African and Arab Ministers and other high-level authorities. At the Forum, UNCTAD will make a presentation on the integration of Arab and African countries into the international trading system and describe its practical activities in the areas of training, advisory services, and dissemination of information on international trade issues. The UNCTAD will also explain the role that services can play in strengthening economic cooperation among those countries. It will also inform the participants about its work in the area of investment and with regard to issues dealt with in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the UNCTAD technical assistance activities. Special reference will be made to the UNCTAD Trade Points -- trade facilitation centres which provide small and medium-sized enterprises with advisory services and computerized databases on providers of trade-related services (customs, banks, transporters, insurance companies and others).
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From 16 to 20 April, UNCTAD will also organize meetings for non-governmental organizations on trade issues and on preparations for the tenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD X) which will be held in Bangkok (Thailand) in February 2000. UNCTAD X will provide Ministers and other high-level officials from member States (188 countries) with an opportunity to review the major international economic initiatives and developments taken since UNCTAD IX (Midrand, South Africa, 27 April - 11 May 1996). The Conference is expected to consider the strategies and policies which are most likely to ensure the successful integration of all countries concerned, particularly the developing countries, into the world economy on an equitable basis and avoid the risk of further marginalization.
Among the trade and trade-related items expected to be discussed by the non-governmental organizations in Dakar are: the WTO -- role and functions and main implications for the business community; general implications for Arab and African countries; developments regarding the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS); specific issues of interest to the African and Arab business communities in the area of investment; preparations for the Third WTO Ministerial Conference.
Bilateral consultations between ministers and other high-level officials will be organized by the UNCTAD team.
For more information, please contact Said Guehria, Technical Cooperation Coordinator, Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities, UNCTAD, at telephone: +41 22 907 5708, fax: +41 22 907 0044; or Carine Richard-Van Maele, Chief, Press Unit, UNCTAD, at telephone: +41 22 907 5816/28, fax: +41 22 907 0043; or e-mail: press@unctad.org.
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