PRESS RELEASE

United Nations, 25 June: Least Developed Countries (LDCs) expect an even more active role for the International Trade Centre (ITC) in helping them in their efforts for development as global partnerships, multilateral initiatives and cooperation were the only way forward in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and sustainable long-term development, Akec Khoc, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations and Vice Chairman of the LDC group has said.

He made the call when he addressed a one day open forum for partnerships on export development and inclusive growth in LDCs organized by the United Nations-Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) at UN Headquarters in New York at which ITC Executive Director Patricia Francis made a presentation.

He said the ITC’s programmes had been an important contribution to efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the commitments of the Brussels Programme of Action.

Patricia Francis, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint technical cooperation agency of UNCTAD and WTO for business aspects of trade development, said that aid for trade within the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) should aim at empowering developing countries, particularly the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Making the main presentation at the Eleventh Open Forum for Partnerships on “Export Development and Inclusive Growth in LDCs: The ITC Response”, Ms. Francis said such aid should also empower developing countries to benefit form trade opportunities, generate private sector growth through trade and complement trade reforms and global market opening.

Outlining the ITC’s role in the aid for trade and EIF agenda, Ms Francis said aid for trade covered policy support, infrastructure and facilitation, adjustment finance and supply-side enterprises. She told the meeting that that the ITC’s efforts in strengthening partnerships focused on national stakeholders.

Continuing, Mr. Francis noted that being the provider of integrated trade development programmes in export and international business development, her organization was at the juncture between the UN family and the WTO system.  As such, the Geneva-based organization viewed its role at three levels:  Making enterprises more competitive, strengthening trade support institutions, and strengthening policy makers’ ability to integrate business into the global economy.

The forum was moderated by Anwarul K. Chowdhury, United Nations Undersecretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and was attended by New York-based representatives of LDCs, other Member, UN System and NGOs. States

Speaking at the start of the forum, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative Chowdhury highlighted the strong relationship between LDCs and the ITC and noted that the open forum was intended to provide a platform for heads of agencies located away from headquarters to exchange ideas about their work in support of the most vulnerable countries’ developmental efforts.

For further information, please contact Derrick E. Bwalya, Information Officer, United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small. Tel: (917) 367-2471. Email: bwalyad@un.org. Website: http://www.un.org/ohrlls/ Island Developing States

UN-OHRLLS/25/2007