Since early 2000, the pace and scope of globalization has been unprecedented. Integral tothe expansion of global trade and investment fl ows has been the rise of the dynamic South – a newbreed of dynamically growing developing countries taking a more signifi cant place in world tradeand investment. This phenomenon has also led to a rapid expansion in trade among developingcountries – South-South trade – especially in Asia.
The emergence of the dynamic South and the spectacular growth of South-South trade andinvestment fl ows – now seen as a corner stone of the new trade geography – present an importantwindow of opportunity for all countries, regardless of their level of development. South-Southregional trade agreements (RTAs), including bilateral, regional and interregional free tradeagreements (FTAs), form part of an array of important instruments for trade creation, investmentand regional development.
Policymakers in developing countries are increasingly giving priority attention to enhancingSouth-South trade through regional and interregional cooperation arrangements. In this context, theexperience of Asia, where about 85 per cent of total South-South trade in goods is now concentrated,can be considered as of practical value and holds lessons for other developing countries andregions.
The publication South-South Trade in Asia: The Role of Regional Trade Agreements seeksto provide policymakers and decision-makers in government and in the private sector with an indepthanalysis of the dynamic trends of South-South trade in Asia and rapidly evolving RTAs inthe region, including analysis of their scope and coverage, their impacts on global and regionalproduction strategies, and assessment of their contribution to South-South trade growth in Asia.
This collaborative project between UNCTAD and JETRO is aimed at responding to the needsof not only policymakers, but also the private sector, particularly in developing countries. We, inUNCTAD, hope that this publication will open the way for further cooperation and collaborationon South-South trade.
Lastly, I would like to express my special appreciation to JETRO for its effective cooperationand support in this joint endeavour.
Supachai Panitchpakdi
Secretary-General of UNCTAD
| UNCTAD XII pre-event (Tokyo, 25 March 2008) |
| Keynote address by Supachai Panitchpakdi |
