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Market
Access for ECOWAS A seminar in Abuja, Nigeria, hosted by the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Secretariat, finalized a UNIDO Trade Facilitation / Market Access Programme for seven (Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone) of its fifteen member states. The eight states not included in the Programme are also members of UEMOA, (L’Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine) and are already included in UNIDO's € eight million flagship Trade Facilitation / Market Access initiative, funded by the EU, covering UEMOA member states. The ECOWAS Programme (see working model) represents an evolution in the approach taken in the EU-UEMOA Programme. While the core elements of the ECOWAS Programme remain in the areas of Quality, Standardization, Metrology and Testing, emphasis is also placed on upgrading supply capacities and in what could be called the more traditional areas of Trade Facilitation. The Programme, which reflects issues elaborated in the NEPAD Market Access initiative, will have a duration of five years and a budget in the vicinity of US$29 million. ECOWAS and UNIDO are actively seeking donor support. Following the meeting in Abuja, UNIDO Project Manager, Steffen Kaeser, held discussions at the Conference on the Financing of NEPAD in Dakar, Senegal, with ECOWAS Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibn Chambas and Deputy Executive Secretary, Oluremi Aribisala. Attended by representatives from six of the seven National Quality and Standards Infrastructures, from the private sector and ECOWAS Secretariat, the Abuja validation seminar resulted in agreement on a programme concept centered on four main objectives: Strengthening supply capacities - through enterprise upgrading and international partnerships for investment, trade and sub-contracting; Increasing market reach - through the harmonization of standards and technical regulations, and through access to international standards and trade information; Improving product marketability - through recognized product analysis, laboratory accreditation and a more conducive environment for export promotion; Enhancing market connectivity - through increased negotiation capacities for trade agreements and streamlining of pre-shipment mechanisms and procedures. The innovative aspect of the ECOWAS Programme is the linkage of Quality and Standards related infrastructures with UNIDO specific networks such as SPX and ITPO and with other actors outside UNIDO such as consumer associations, enterprise advisory services, trade information services, export promotion offices and customs structures. UNIDO is not alone in appreciating the need to broaden concepts and increase assistance in areas that affect the ability of developing countries to trade. It is a sign of the times, given the increasing emphasis that is being placed on trade as a critical factor in enabling developing countries to share the benefits of globalization. Such a broadening is one of the expected outcomes of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) International Forum on Trade Facilitation 29 - 30 May, 2002. According to the prospectus, the Forum "will contribute to a broader understanding of trade facilitation, beyond purely customs or market access matters, acknowledging that various definitions of the scope of trade facilitation exist". A clear indication of the type of action necessary to facilitate trade in developing countries was given by UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan in his reaction to the European Union "everything but arms" initiative. The Secretary- General noted: ".... the LDCs (least developed countries) have neither the surplus of exportable products nor the production capacity to take immediate advantage of new trade opportunities. They will need substantial investment and technical assistance in order to expand their production" (Financial Times of 5 March 2001). A wide variety of UNIDO services have an impact on increasing the capacity of developing countries to trade. Among the other services that can be brought to bear in UNIDO Trade Facilitation / Market Access initiatives are the Cluster and Networking Development Programme, the Business Partnership Programme - Corporate Social Responsibility (see story this issue), Cleaner Production - Triple Bottom Line, and Industrial Energy Efficiency. In addition to the ECOWAS and UEMOA initiatives, UNIDO has similar programmes under development in Africa in cooperation with SADC (Southern African Development Community) and CEMAC (Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale), in the Central American region, the Arab region and the countries of ASEAN. More
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