In Geneva, Switzerland is found a small international trade organisation whose image is little known or underestimated by many African governments. Although African diplomats in Geneva call it and its Executive Director, J. Denis Bilisle "the African businessman's friend", the small organisation attracts only those "in the know" at its annual Joint Advisory Group Meeting (this year, from 10 to 14 April).

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a subsidiary of two trade development giants, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and  the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). ITC is the focal point in the United Nations system for technical co-operation with developing countries and economies in transition in trade promotion and export development. It was created by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1964 and since 1968 has been operated under the joint aegis of GATT, now WTO and the UN through UNCTAD. ITC works with Africa to set up effective national trade promotion programmes for expanding exports and improving import operations of enterprises. ITC's main link with Africa's private sector is manifested in technical co-operation activities. J. Denis Bilisle believes Africa's main need is to build national capacity for trade. This is the only way exports will increase and job creation expand. That is one way the benefits of liberalisation will be realised. He is right and Africa must help his organisation to make a modest contribution to achieve that. Bilisle cites the development of the supply side; understanding WTO rules; creating and delivering national export strategies; and developing export skills as essential and the most promising opportunities in trade.

In the post Uruguay Round, improved skills to understand WTO rules and their implications on trade become critical. But, Africa lacks these skills. ITC''s perception of imparting these skills goes beyond simple seminars. In Africa, it is difficult to tell whether exporters really know about the potential opportunities and threats of WTO rules to their business due to a lack of an effective linkage of the rules with the exporters. The international community must assist in developing a strong link between WTO and governments, firms, and their associations. Enterprises need to comprehend provisions in the WTO that are of developmental value to them so that they can press their governments to fight for these and convert them into gains just like their counterparts in rich countries do.

Wth its existing state of debility juxtaposed by decades of protectionism, Africa's firms need to understand how they will cope up. Unless proper preparations are made, the erosion of preferences under the WTO will plunge Africa into even stiffer competition. ITC's assistance will be important as firms reposition to compete globally. Interest in ITC's work will be important too if Africa has to avoid continued crouching. Lacklustre must end. With ITC's long history in this business, a glimmer of hope is there for companies to build and maintain sustainable competitive advantage.

Enhancing Africa's capacity for trade

Creation and delivery of national strategies that are synchronised with WTO rules will be key for survival and prosperity of African firms. This could only be achieved by mainstreaming trade in national strategies. At the moment many African governments put trade at the backseat of their priorities. They also treat the private sector with disdain. In the post-Uruguay Round, this attitude will be detrimental to development. ITC's vision is to participate in the establishment of dialogue between all relevant players in trade ** private sector and their associations, public sector, etc in order to contribute toward building a strong and long-term national strategy for trade.

National capacity building for trade will do well if they are based on a mix of new trade rules, national export strategies and export skills, as ITC shows. This includes incorporating rules; involving all relevant players; and developing trade skills in quality management, marketing, human resource and all other important facets.

This year's annual meeting will be the 33rd such event. Among the items that will feature at this year's meeting are ITC's work in trade information, south-south trade, and market development for products such as gourmet coffee. The meeting also reviews ITC's technical cooperation activities as a whole in 1999, including its joint work programmes with other international organizations dealing with trade development.

One such inter-organizational initiative is the Integrated Framework (IF) for technical assistance for LDCs. Created in 1997 at a WTO Ministerial Meeting, the IF's objective is to increase the benefits that LDCs derive from trade-related assistance available to them from the six agencies  (WTO, UNCTAD, ITC, UNDP, World Bank and the IMF) which established this Framework, plus those of other interested bilateral, regional and multilateral organisations, with a view to assisting them to enhance their trade opportunities, to respond to market demands and to integrate into the multilateral trading system. The IF has potential to contribute immensely to the development of capacity building alluded to earlier. As Africa is host to 33 LDCs, it is a special target for the IF and its Ministers of trade should exhibit more interest and commitment.

At the Third WTO Meeting in Seattle and the UNCTAD X Meeting in Bangkok last month, LDC Ministers issued a Declaration and Communiqui respectively asking for an independent review of the IF. An evaluation is now underway, conducted by an independent team of consultants under the aegis of the evaluation unit of the World Bank. These consultants will be interviewing and consulting extensively with LDCs.

Lack of financial commitment

The high profile of agencies makes the future of the IF promising. ITC, which hosts the administrative unit of the IF, identifies increased efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of trade-related technical assistance; co-ordinated efforts; increased transparency; increased visibility and participation given to the trade sector; enriched dialogue between governments and the private sector as key strengths of the IF.It is at such forums as the ITC Annual Meeting, where all the three Geneva-based agencies and other agencies will be present, that LDC Ministers could come and ask questions. It is here they could ask donors why funding for country roundtables has remained flat. Ever since its inception, the IF has received lacklustre commitment from donors. It is here they could elaborate how they want "ownership," an important attribute for the IF to work. It is also here they could send positive signals to the international community about their seriousness and commitment to trade in general and the IF in particular.
Finally, Ministers should use more than  declarations and communiquis to fight marginalisation. The most effective weapon is perhaps their presence and active participation at forums such as the ITC Annual Meeting, because with one voice they simultaneously talk to WTO, UNCTAD and ITC.

Beatrice Chisunkah. emichigan@deckpoint.ch Swizerland

Transmitted: April 3rd 2000