Opening statement by Mrs. Lalla Ben Barka, Deputy Executive secretary, economic commission for Africa : Second Ordinary session of the OAU/AEC minister of trade committee on trade, customs and Immigration

Abstract

Opening Statement by Mrs. Lalla Ben Barka Deputy Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Africa at the Second Ordinary Session of the OAU/ AEC Ministers of Trade Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Ministerial Meeting. Mrs. Barka, on her remarks highlighted that; African continent faces some basic and fundamental challenges in the 21st century. The challenge of effecting genuine development on the continent, with the objective of poverty reduction, in a reasonable time frame; The challenge of adapting to the momentum of globalization and liberalization of global trading markets in goods and services, within the framework of a rule-based multilateral trading system (WTO), as well as liberalization of financial markets; and The challenge of adapting to new technological advances and the information age and their impact on comparative advantage of economies and regions. The most important challenge that faces Africa therefore is "the challenge of effecting genuine development on the continent, with the objective of poverty reduction, in a reasonable time frame". This will require bold policies by African countries and increased support from the international community. She said that it is our belief that technical and financial assistance to Africa has to be centered on the main long-term goal for the continent to "achieve environmentally sustainable growth with poverty reduction by half by the year 2015".