ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA COMMISSION ECONOMIQUE POUR L'AFRIQUE

Transcription

1 Distr: LIMITED RITD/. ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA COMMISSION ECONOMIQUE POUR L'AFRIQUE Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration Seventh Session 2-3 June 2011 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Theme: Towards an accelerated Continental Free Trade Area and Customs Union in Africa AIDE-MEMOIR Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Division (RITD), ECA, P. O. Box 3001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

2 2 A. Introduction The Seventh session of the Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration (CTRCI), established by resolution 827 (XXXII) of the ECA Conference of Ministers will take place in Addis Ababa from 2 to 3 June The 7 th Session will be preceded by an Ad-Hoc Expert Group meeting cum Workshop on the establishment of inter-rec Free Trade Areas (FTAs) and harmonization of FTA regimes among the RECs from 31 May to 1 June Drawing on this preceding event, the 7 th Session will focus on policy actions and measures needed to accelerate the process of accelerating the establishment of a continental free trade area in Africa, and thereby pave the way for a rapid movement towards the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African Common Market in accordance with the vision of the Abuja Treaty. African countries are vigorously pursuing an integration agenda as a collective strategy to promote sustainable economic growth and development, help reduce poverty, improve people s well being, and enhance Africa s effective participation in the global economy. That is why African Heads of State and Government promulgated in 1991 the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community (AEC), also known as the Abuja Treaty, which provides the guiding principles and a region-wide framework under which the integration agenda would be carried out. The principles and goals enshrined in the Abuja Treaty are further underpinned and reinforced by the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU), which came into force in July 2000 as well as by the various treaties and protocols of the regional economic communities (RECs), and the AU program of the New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD). The Seventh Session of the Committee is taking place at a time of renewed enthusiasm for accelerating the establishment of a continental free trade area towards achieving the African Common Market. This is evidenced by the COMESA-SADC-EAC tripartite FTA initiative and the decision of the African Ministers of Trade to fast track the establishment of a continental FTA during their meeting in Kigali in November The continental free trade area would contribute to accelerating the process towards a Continental Customs Union and thereby deepening Africa s integration as the continent is transformed into one single free trade area, with greater mobility of goods and services, investments and men and women across the continent. B. Issues to be discussed Against this backdrop, the Seventh Session will examine ways and means of fast-tracking a continental free trade area and accelerating the process towards a Continental Customs Union and a the African Common Market, with a view to enhancing intra-african trade prospects. The meeting will take of stock of progress in Africa s regional integration, and developments in infrastructure and natural resources sectors. The Meeting will also look into developments taking place in the international trade arena, with particular emphasis on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), Aid-for-Trade, and WTO negotiations, as all of these global issues have a bearing on Africa s integration agendas. The discussions and outcome of the 7 th Session will go a long way in shaping the debate and preparations towards the African Union Summit in January 2012, which will focus on the theme of enhancing intra-african trade.

3 3 C. Participants Attending the Committee s sessions are the following categories of participants: Senior Officials such as Permanent Secretaries and experts from African ministries in charge of or conversant in regional cooperation and integration, African Union and REC affairs, intra-african trade, international trade negotiations, infrastructure (transport, energy etc.), natural resources development; African Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries based in Addis Ababa; Representatives from the African Union Commission and its NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, the Regional Economic Communities, and Corridor Management Institutions; Representatives from civil society organizations including the private sector, and Representatives from the African Development Bank, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), UN system organizations, the World Bank and other institutional and development partners. There is no limitation on the number of non-sponsored participants from Member States, RECs and other delegations to the 7 th Session. However, for all practical purposes a reasonable number of delegates per country and per institution is advisable. E. Date and Venue The Seventh Session is scheduled to be held from 2-3 June Just prior to the 7 th Session from 31 May to 1 June, there will be an ad-hoc expert group meeting cum workshop on establishing inter-rec FTAs and harmonized FTA regimes across the RECs. The Venue for both the 7 th Session and this pre-event will be at the United Nations Conference Center at the Headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Given the theme of the 7 th Session, ECA will cover economic class return air fair ticket and perdiem at United Nations rates for one delegate only from each member State and Regional Economic Community (REC) to the preceding ad-doc expert group meeting cum workshop on the establishment of inter-rec FTAs and harmonization of FTA regimes as indicated above. F. Provisional Programme The provisional programme of the 7 th Session of the Committee on Trade Regional Cooperation and Integration from 2-3 June 2011 is attached in Annex I. The provisional programme of the pre-event on 31 May to 1 June 2011 regarding the adhoc expert group meeting cum workshop on establishing inter-rec FTAs and harmonized FTA regimes across the RECs is attached in Annex II.

4 F. Contacts 4 Confirmations of names of delegates to the 7 th Session and pre-event, along with their positions/titles, nationality and passport particulars, their departments and addresses including s can be forwarded by or fax to the following staff members: Joseph Atta-Mensah: Director, Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Division (RITD); United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); P.O. Box 3001; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Telephone No ; jattamensah@uneca.org or attamensah@un.org Daniel A. Tanoe: Economic Affairs Officer; RITD; UNECA; P.O. Box 3001; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Telephone No ; dtanoe@uneca.org or tanoe@un.org Emmanuel Chinyama: Economic Affairs Officer; RITD; UNECA; P.O. Box 3001;Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Telephone No ; echinyama@uneca.org or chinyama@un.org Mekdes Kassa, Staff Assistant: RITD; UNECA; P.O. Box 3001;Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Telephone No ; mkassa@uneca.org or kassa@un.org

5 5 ANNEX I Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration Seventh Session 2-3 June 2011 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Theme: Towards an accelerated Continental Free Trade Area and Customs Union in Africa PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME OF WORK Thursday, 2 June :00-9:30 - Registration 9:30-10:15 - Opening of the meeting Statement by ECA Representative Statement by AU Representative Keynote address by Representative of Host Government Election of Bureau Adoption of Agenda and Programme 10:15-10:30 - Coffee Break 10:30-10:50 - Presentation of Report on Progress in Regional Integration in Africa 10:50-11:10 - Presentation of Report on Infrastructure and Natural Resources Development 11:10-11:30 - Presentation of Report on Almaty Programme of Action 11:30-13:00 - General debate and discussion on the above presentations 13:00-14:00 - Lunch Break 14:00-14:20 - Presentation of Report on Progress Achieved in Intra-African trade 14:20-14:40 - Presentation of Report on International Trade negotiations 14:40-15:10 - Discussion on the two presentations 15:10-16:30 - Review of the Work programme of the ECA Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Division including priorities for the next Biennium :30-16:45 - Coffee Break 16:45-18:00 - General debate on theme (Towards an accelerated Continental Free

6 *+ 6 Trade Area and Customs Union in Africa), with sharing of experience from RECs. (RECs to share their experiences) Friday, 3 June :00-17:00 - Consideration and Adoption of the report of the 7 th Session and Closing of the meeting

7 7 ANNEX II 1 PRE-EVENT Ad Hoc Expert Group Meeting cum Workshop on Supporting the Establishment of inter-rec Free Trade Areas and the Establishment of Harmonized FTA regimes among RECs 31 May - 1 June 2011 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME OF WORK Tuesday 31 May :00 9:30 - Registration 09:30-10:00 - Welcome Remarks by ECA Representative 10:00-10:30 - Presentation of ECA study on the Establishment of Inter- REC Free Trade Areas 10:30-11:00 Presentation of report on Harmonized Free Trade Areas among RECs :15 - Coffee break :30 - General debate and discussions on establishing inter-rec FTAs and Harmonized FTA regimes among RECs 12:30 14:00 - Lunch break 14:00-16:00 - Continuation of the debate and discussions on the two presentations Wednesday, 1 June :00-17:00 - Consideration and adoption of synthesis report and recommendations 1 The participation at this pre-event of one delegate from each member State and Regional Economic Community will be sponsored by ECA in terms of return economic class ticket and per-diem