PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Benin: ITC chief hails cooperation between Benin, ITC
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) – Trade-related technical assistance provided by the International Trade Centre (ITC) has enabled Benin to strengthen its export trade and local productive capacity, according to ITC Executive Director Arancha González.
Speaking at the Ministerial Meeting on New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in the Least Developed Countries, being held in Cotonou, González said that ITC interventions can make a concrete difference to the lives of people in this West African country where ITC is working with the cotton industry.
''We work very closely with least developed countries. In fact LDCs and Sub-Saharan Africa represent over 60 percent of our interventions,'' she said.
Underlining the need to diversify the economic base of the LDC economies, González advised developing countries to invest in local value addition.
''It is about investing in domestic agro-processing, in manufacturing and more and more in services. The services sector, starting with tourism, provides an incredible opportunity for LDCs which have a growing population -- and a young population.
''Exploring and exploiting e-solutions through knowledge and technological transfer is also an important avenue,'' she said.
According to her, information and communication technologies could help Benin improve its position in both regional and international markets.
González, who arrived in Cotonou on Monday, is taking part in several activities at the LDC ministerial conference. She is also scheduled to attend bilateral meetings with Beninese government representatives and the private sector on strengthening Benin’s productive and trade capacities.
ITC is a subsidiary organisation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
-0- PANA IT/BEH/MSA/AR 29July2014
Speaking at the Ministerial Meeting on New Partnerships for Productive Capacity Building in the Least Developed Countries, being held in Cotonou, González said that ITC interventions can make a concrete difference to the lives of people in this West African country where ITC is working with the cotton industry.
''We work very closely with least developed countries. In fact LDCs and Sub-Saharan Africa represent over 60 percent of our interventions,'' she said.
Underlining the need to diversify the economic base of the LDC economies, González advised developing countries to invest in local value addition.
''It is about investing in domestic agro-processing, in manufacturing and more and more in services. The services sector, starting with tourism, provides an incredible opportunity for LDCs which have a growing population -- and a young population.
''Exploring and exploiting e-solutions through knowledge and technological transfer is also an important avenue,'' she said.
According to her, information and communication technologies could help Benin improve its position in both regional and international markets.
González, who arrived in Cotonou on Monday, is taking part in several activities at the LDC ministerial conference. She is also scheduled to attend bilateral meetings with Beninese government representatives and the private sector on strengthening Benin’s productive and trade capacities.
ITC is a subsidiary organisation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
-0- PANA IT/BEH/MSA/AR 29July2014
