6th meeting of the committee on trade, regional cooperation and integration: statement by Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ECA 13 October 2009 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

This Statement delivered by Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA at the sixth Meeting of the Committee on Trade, Regional Cooperation and Integration. Mr. Janneh, on his remarks highlighted that, this Committee is one of the five ECA’s subsidiary bodies that review the agenda and issues pertaining to their respective development sectors, formulate policies and strategies to address Africa’s development challenges, and determine sectoral work priorities to be reflected in the work programme of the Commission. Africa can be proud of some success stories in its regional integration agenda. Programmes to liberalize trade by breaking down tariff and non-tariff barriers are being earnestly implemented in a number of RECs. In West Africa for instance, ECOWAS and UEMOA have resolved to operate as a common customs union. The COMESA, EAC and SADC efforts to create a single Free Trade Area is a highly commendable initiative which should be emulated by other RECs to accelerate regional integration. He conclude the statement by emphasizing that we in ECA, in collaboration with our partners in development, will continue to do our utmost, as always, to accompany the efforts of our member States, the African Union Commission and the Regional Economic Communities, towards advancing the developmental and integration agenda of our continent.