PRESS RELEASE N.97/2014

Opening session of the Regional Seminar on International Trade Statistics

Addis Ababa, 12 May 2014: The opening session of the Regional Seminar on International Trade Statistics, jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) was held this morning at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The seminar which takes place from the 12 to 16 May 2014, will bring together national experts responsible for compilation of international Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS), statistics of international trade in goods and services, and balance of payments (BOP). The meeting will also gather major stakeholders of statistical development in Africa including the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), World Customs Organization (WCO), World Trade Organization (WTO), United Nations Statistics Division, national statistical offices and national customs offices.

In his opening statement on behalf the Director of Economic Affairs and Statistics Division Dr. N’GuettiaKouassi,Mr. Dossina Yeo pointed out that the volume of intra-African trade was estimated at 12%, and in order to boost intra-African trade, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union dedicated their two summits of 2012 to the theme "Boosting Intra -African Trade."

He then explained that the major decisions of these two summits were the establishment of an African Observatory on trade in order to monitor and evaluate the implementation of an area of hemispheric free trade, and the establishment of a Free Continental trade area by 2017. He finally underlined the necessity of encouraging the production of quality statistics on international trade in Africa in order to implement the African Observatory on Trade.

Other speakers at the opening session were Mr. Karoly Kovacs from the (UNSD), andMr. SlaheddineSaidi (AfDB)

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For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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