"Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of Globalization for Development" to be focus of quadrennial meeting
Ghanaian Minister provides update on UNCTAD XII preparations
The Executive Session of UNCTAD´s Trade and Development Board officially approved this week a theme for next year´s UNCTAD XII conference in Accra, Ghana: "Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of Globalization for Development."
As described by Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi in an address following the theme´s adoption on Thursday (19 April), "The impact of globalization is felt everywhere, yet there continues to be concern and even fear about its consequences for development and for well-being in general. UNCTAD XII will provide us with a timely opportunity to address the pitfalls of the process, while preserving and enhancing the benefits, with the aim of dispelling fears and identifying measures that will allow all to reap the benefits that globalization can generate."
Mr. Supachai went on to say that his office will prepare by June a report "tabling ideas to be taken up under the theme," which UNCTAD member States will then discuss.
It was also decided Thursday that the quadrennial conference, set for 20-25 April 2008, will have four sub-themes: 1) enhancing coherence at all levels for sustainable economic development and poverty reduction in global policymaking, including the contribution of regional approaches; 2) key trade and development issues and the new realities in the geography of the world economy; 3) enhancing the enabling environment at all levels to strengthen productive capacity, trade and investment: mobilizing resources and harnessing knowledge for development; and 4) strengthening UNCTAD -- enhancing its development role, impact, and institutional effectiveness.
UNCTAD holds major policy-setting meetings every four years for a collective reflection on major topical economic stakes as well as to define the programme of work for the organization. The last quadrennial conference was held in Sao Paolo, Brazil, in 2004.
The Executive Session of the Trade and Development Board´s closing session this afternoon included a presentation by Alan Kyerematen, Ghana´s Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President´s Special Initiatives, who reviewed preparations for the 2008 conference and said the Government was committed to ensuring a successful conference -- "one with a difference."
