West African nations urged to use regional value chains as means to diversify exports
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Maintaining open value chains and predictable mechanisms to support them is key to ensure access to goods and services needed for industrial development and job creation in West Africa, said Eloi Laourou, Senior Advisor to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General.
Speaking at a conference co-organised by the University Cheikh Anta Diop (Senegal) and Abomey Calavi University (Benin) under the auspices of the WTO Chair Programme, Mr Laourou said value chains can help West Africa foster an inclusive and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WTO adviser thanked the Minister of Commerce and SMEs of Senegal, Ms. Aminata Assome Diatta, who was among those who participated at the meeting.
He underlined Senegal's important contribution to international cooperation and to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system.
The conference was organised in a hybrid, face-to-face and online format with a special focus on a central subject.
It sought to deal with the integration of the economies of the countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) of French-speaking West Africa, in regional and global value chains, and the importance of these trade flows to support production and export diversification strategies.
The WTO Chairs Programme aims to support and promote trade-related academic research and activities carried out by universities and higher education institutions in developing and least developed countries.
In 2009, WTO Chairs were awarded to 14 academic institutions, including the Cheik Anta Diop University of Dakar.
Seven other institutions, including the Abomey Calavi University of Benin, joined the Programme in May 2014 following a particularly competitive call for applications.
The third phase of the Programme, which will amplify this academic network, has been launched, and the selection process is underway.
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