UNCTAD XII RE-AFFIRMS THE MANDATE BUT PARES DOWN THE UNCTAD INTERGOVERNMENTAL MACHINERY
Conference on Trade and Development held in Accra concluded 2008 by adopting on April 25th the Accra Declaration and Accord, which while reaffirming the UNCTAD mandate, downsized the UNCTAD intergovernmental machinery from three commissions as agreed at the Midrand conference, to two commissions. This is perhaps the most dramatic downsizing of UNCTAD since then and could be a forbearer of further downsizing the UNCTAD secretariat, with negative impacts on programme delivery. . [more]
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AFRICAN COMMODITIES: How corporatization squeezed out producers?
We are living in a confusing time in the history of commodity markets. Commodity prices are currently high. Yet producers in Africa and other parts of the developing world do not seem to be benefiting from these high prices. Instead, they are crying out for protection.[more]
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MKAPA CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING OF UNCTAD AND ENHANCING ITS DEVELOPMENT ROLE.
The UNCTAD mission is not obsolete; its relevance is strong to-day than ever before. So the challenge to member states is not to make the organization more relevant to our times; it is to make it more effective.” [more]
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| EPAs state of play |
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ESA trade ministers meet Mandelson(3 March 2008).pdf.
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Of the 37 Developing countries in the ACP states, 9 have so far signed the interim EPA and 28 have not yet .Out of 39 LDCs only 9 have signed so far and 30 have not. Some are expected to sign in the due course[more]
EPAS update (SADC and ESA ) |
Many SADC and ESA states sign the interim EPA. South Africa and Nambia say NO, as Angola, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan are yet to reveal their side.[more]
| Namibia signs the Interim EPA in the understanding that its concerns will be addressed. |
On 12 December 2007, Namibia initialed the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement on the understanding that its concerns would be addressed through the negotiations towards a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.[more]
Update: Interim EPAs as published by the EC. [pdf]
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