The Economic Commission for Africa will host an inter-regional forum of over 60 experts from around the world to share experiences and views on how Aid for Trade can best facilitate the integration of developing countries into the global market. The meeting will take place from 22 to 25 April, in Tunisia’s capital, Tunis.

The forum is the culmination of a 2-year project involving the four UN Regional Economic Commissions, Economic Commission for Europe, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Economic Commission for Western Asia.

Each regional commission has a specific Aid for Trade focus. In Africa, the project has concentrated on developing a set of guidelines for the formulation of bankable Aid for Trade projects, as well as strengthening the capacities of selected Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) project developers in marketing their project proposals and unpacking its trade component.

The attending stakeholders have been active in the various activities carried out in the framework of the Aid for Trade project. Moreover, it will feature the participation of key institutions and development partners, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the African Development Bank, the World Bank, European Union, Regional Economic Communities and corridor management organizations.

The forum will also debate the progress achieved by developing countries, the common challenges, and the way forward in the Aid for Trade Agenda; and look at ways in which countries can formulate  bankable Aid for Trade projects and promote access to dedicated resources.