LARGER SCOPE FOR ANALYTICAL WORK AT UNCTAD

9:39 AM May 15, 1996

LARGER SCOPE FOR ANALYTICAL WORK AT UNCTAD
Geneva 17 May (Chakravarthi Raghavan) -- The UN Conference on Trade and Development, in line with its clear comparative advantage on trade-related development issues, has been asked to continue to facilitate integration of developing countries and countries in transition into the international trading system, in a complementary manner with the WTO, and promote trade and investment in cooperation with the International Trade Centre (ITC).

Until the next Conference (in 2000 in Thailand), UNCTAD has been asked to concentrate on a few priority subjects in the areas of Globalization and development; international trade in goods and services and commodity issues; Investment, enterprise development and technology; and Services infrastructure for development and trade efficiency.

Issues in the first area will be dealt with mainly at the Trade and Development Board, and the other three in three Commissions, each of whom could convene expert group meetings to tackle particular issues.

In the area of Globalization and development, UNCTAD is asked to continue to analyze global interdependence issues from a development perspective, concentrating on micro and macro issues. This cluster of work will supporting annual discussions at the TDB, utilizing among others the annual Trade and Development Report and the World Investment Report. Poverty alleviation is to remain an important objective, and concrete opportunities to promote it are to be identified.

This work is to focus on:

* examining specific development challenges regarding effective participation in international trade and investment, drawing lessons of value to developing, transition and least developed countries, and integrating within it the important development lessons learnt about debt management problems;

* examining successful development experiences, drawing out lessons of value to other countries, particularly the LDCs, and identifying suitable options, supporting cooperation among developing countries, in partnership with contributing countries and institutions;

* monitoring implementation of the programme of action for LDCs.

In terms of the intergovernmental machinery, the TDB, among other responsibilities, is to be responsible for overall consistency of UNCTAD's activities with agreed priorities, set out benchmarks and evaluate performance on that basis; ensure careful scrutiny and enhance transparency of UNCTAD's budget, work programme, technical cooperation activities and publication policy; ensure activities of subsidiary bodies are in conformity with their mandates; carefully regulate calendar of meetings and reduce the number of meetings.

In terms of its mandated functions, the TDB at one part of its regular annual session in autumn (to last about 10 working days) is to deal with a substantive policy item to attract high-level participation including personalities from public, private/business and academic sectors.

At this session it will also deal with interdependence and global economic issues and review progress in implementation of the Plan of Action on LDCs and the UN's new agenda for development of Africa.

The TDB will meet in executive session thrice a year to deal with policy, management and institutional matters.

The Board can set up subsidiary bodies, Commissions, with clear and specific terms of reference. Commissions will meet once a year, and for no more than five days.

The Conference has mandated three Commissions: one on Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities; a second on Investment, Technology and Related Financial Issues; and a third on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development. The three are to deal with issues identified in the document under these respective heads.

The TDB is to meet in Executive Session before 19 July to establish the three Commissions and identify two agenda items for their first sessions.

Each Commission is authorized to convene expert meetings of short durations, no more than three days and with a maximum of ten meetings a year. The precise terms of reference of expert meetings is to be set by the Commission. The outcome of experts meetings need not be in the form of agreed conclusions. Technical matters discussed at the expert group meetings will be conveyed to the parent Commission which will consider them and the policy implications.

Participation in expert meetings can come from the academic world, public and private sectors and NGOs. The TDB at is next regular session is asked to take a decision on improving participation of developing country experts and for a Trust Fund to enable LDCs to participate. In the first year, the Commission on Trade in Goods and Services and Commodities may convene upto three expert meetings. For the following years, the TDB is to review distribution of expert meetings among Commissions.

The UN General Assembly and ECOSOC has also been asked to consider the relationship between the Commission on Science and Technology for Development and UNCTAD.

While reaffirming importance of involving non-government actors in UNCTAD activities, the Conference was unable to agree on the Secretary-General's proposal for a Development Senate.

But the Secretary-General has been asked to hold further consultations to further participation of civil society in UNCTAD's work, taking into account experience of participation of civil society in other UN fora and international and regional organizations.

The Conference noted with appreciation, the Secretary-General's initiative to hold a meeting with actors in development to advise him, and said this should be financed from extra-budgetary resources. He was invited to inform the TDB about the preparations for this and report subsequently on its outcome.