ECA and UNCTAD course highlighted key issues on international economic agenda

Abstract

Better understanding of the infrastructure necessary to foster competitiveness and the relevance of transportation to trade and key issues in international trade negotiations and regionalism were the focus of the United Nations Economic Commission on Africa’s (UNECA) presentations during a three-week workshop held recently. The 16th Regional Course on Key Issues on the International Economic Agenda took place from 25 January to 12 February in Cairo, Egypt. The workshop’s overall objective was to raise awareness of the relevance of the channels and mechanisms used by international trade transactions and how they could contribute to improve competitiveness in their countries. Twenty-six participants from 20 African countries attended the course. The participants had a broad range of professional background and included representatives of ministries of trade and industry, ministries of external relations and regional integration, ministries of economic development, university lecturers and researchers from development institutes, banks, and trade boards.