ECA hails launch of Pan African Alliance on e-Commerce

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ECA hails launch of Pan African Alliance on E-Commerce

Addis Ababa, 13 March 2009 (ECA) – A Pan African Alliance on E-Commerce was launched in Addis Ababa Ethiopia today to upgrade the volume of trade between African countries. According to studies at the ECA, intra-African trade as percent of total exports is about 10 percent. Contrast this to intra-Europe export trade, which is around 70 percent, and growing.

The new alliance was launched at the end of a two-day workshop on Trade Facilitation and Aid for Trade that opened in Addis Ababa on Thursday.

Mr Urbain Zadi, Director of the Office of Strategic Planning and Programme management at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) welcomed the launch, describing the new institution as proof of “Africa's new determination to work together in promoting international trade through the use of the information and communication technology, (ICT)”.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the ECA, Zadi underscored ECA's support for the creation of the alliance and said it is indicative of ECA's commitment to build partnerships so as to avoid duplication and wastes in the continent's development efforts.

He qualified the alliance is an eloquent example of useful partnership building in the areas of trade and ICT development. The interim bureau of the alliance is led by Senegal, where its headquarters will be based.

Other members of the bureau include: 1st Vice President of Commerce Organization and Promotion (Cameroon); 2nd Vice President of Commerce Technology and Standard (Ivory Coast); 3rd Vice President of President Commerce Projects (Morocco);

4th Vice President of Commerce, Organization and Promotion (Congo); Vice President of Commerce Technology and Standard (Ghana); Vice President of Commerce Project (Libya); Treasurer (Togo) Intermediate Treasurer while waiting for Togo's adhesion formalities (Senegal).

The 10 countries that signed up to the new alliance also include Gabon and Kenya. Mr. Ibrahima Nour Eddine Diagne, the newly elected president of the alliance's executive committee, expressed the hope that the launch of the alliance would inspire other countries to join.

Mr Zadi stressed the importance of efficient information flows for facilitating international trade and said it has “become a major factor in the competitiveness of firms and agencies involved in cross-border activities.”

“On a daily basis, international traders have to prepare and submit increasing amounts of information to various government authorities, with each authority often having its own specific systems and paper documents. These extensive information requirements constitute a significant obstacle to business and hinder the development of international trade”, he explained.

After signing the statutes, bylaws and rules of the new organization, Mr. Diagne told journalists at a press conference that electronic sector needs to be developed despite the poor state of the physical infrastructure in most African countries.

“We need to know what new technology is available and what it can bring. We want there to be a revolution in perfecting and mastering new technology”, he said.

Mr. Mahamat Abdoulai, Officer in Charge at ECA's Trade, Finance, and Economic Development Division at the ECA, chaired the closing session of the workshop.

He hailed the launch of the new alliance and praised participants for sharing experiences and for assessing progress made in the implementation of regional and national trade facilitation programmes and projects.

Issued by the ECA Information and Communication Service P.O. Box 3001

Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Tel: 251 11 5445098 Fax: +251 11 5510365 E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org Web: www.uneca.org