Launching of the Economic Report 2015 in West Africa
Niamey, May 14, 2015 (ECA).The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), together with the Government of Senegal, will organize on June 4, 2015 in Dakar the ceremony to launch the Economic Report on Africa 2015. Initiated by the ECA Sub-Regional Bureau for West Africa and the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), this launching will take place under the distinguished patronage of the Senegalese Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Planning in the presence of Ambassadors from African countries, representatives of the institutions of the United Nations System accredited in Dakar, representatives of intergovernmental organizations, civil society, journalists, academics and students, as well as specialists of the business community.
Entitled “Industrializing through Trade”, the 2015 edition of the Economic Report on Africa examines and analyses the essential elements that will make it possible to efficiently promote industrialization, and in so doing, structural transformation, on the basis of an exhaustive examination of the experiences of the industrialized and emerging countries as well as the industrialization efforts of African countries. Underpinned by ten country case studies, the report advocates a strategic and sequenced use of trade policies in order to stimulate intra-African trade and the construction of regional value chains, in such a way as to strengthen capacities and the potential of African industries. .
The report, which distills key messages, underlines the role of trade in the promotion of industrialization, at the regional and global levels and the importance of the implementation of trade policies aiming mainly at overcoming the deficiencies of the market and the institutional obstacles which hold back the competitivity of African exports. To summarize, it examines in detail how trade can serve as an instrument to accelerate industrialization and structural transformation in Africa.
We will return to this subject after the event in Dakar.