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By: DEBORAH GABRIEL[/align]
[align=right]Dated: 28/07/2005
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An economist experienced in developing strategies for Africa
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Global organisations that ‘aim to make the world a better place’ usually end up accused of being a vehicle for rich countries to control the poorer ones.
On its website the World Trade Organisation (WTO) describes itself as “the only international organisation dealing with the global rules of trade between nations.� However, it goes on to say that through its trade rules “the result is a more prosperous, peaceful and accountable economic world.�
It is therefore unsurprising that when the WTO makes such grandiose claims that it stands accused of being a mechanism to ensure that rich countries protect their interests through trade agreements that work to their advantage.
The tarnished image of the WTO does not deter Togolese-born Yves Ekoue Amaizo from seeking the post of Deputy Director General. Having spent the last 17 years as an economist with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the 45-year old is well accustomed to the workings and politics of large global organisations. During his tenure at UNIDO, Mr Amaizo has focused on industrial and commercial development and is an expert in feasibility studies. He also specialises in investment promotion and has co-ordinated programmes and projects at a regional level.[/align]
[align=left]Mr Amaizo told Black Britain: “I would like to contribute towards the improvement of Africa’s share of global trade.�
With extensive experience in information networks and statistics, he is currently involved in developing economic strategies for Africa and the private sector.
Mr Amaizo said: “Trade cannot be separated from productive capacity without threatening Africa’s sustainable development.�
The UNIDO economist has developed several economic initiatives which have been incorporated into the UK Commission for Africa report and adopted by African heads of state as the NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) component for sustainable development.
Speaking of his vision for Africa, Mr Amaizo told Black Britain: “I would like to ensure that there is more involvement from African countries on the issue of trade matters which has a profound affect on the lives of millions of people.�
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[align=left]No end to poverty until there is trade justice, say critics
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[align=left]Black Britain decided to put some of the criticisms against the WTO to Mr Amaizo for his thoughts on how these recurrent problems could be resolved. These are the issues under dispute:
On Monday, ahead of a WTO General Council meeting in Geneva, leading development agency ActionAid spoke out against current trade deals under negotiation, warning that if implemented they will only push millions of people further into poverty.
ActionAid has complained that with the US subsidising its cotton farmers to the tune of $4 billion a year, the resulting depression in world prices is forcing many African cotton farmers out of business.
In addition poor countries are being pressurised to open up their markets to foreign investment but free markets are not beneficial to African economies.
Angela Wauye from ActionAid Kenya said: “We cannot trade our way out of poverty while the US and Europe continue to dump highly subsidised produce on our markets , whilst demanding that we accept more competition from their multinationals.�
In addition, ActionAid are highly critical of backdoor negotiations that take place among rich countries outside the WTO through informal and ministerial meetings among elite groups.
The result, they say is that poorer, less influential countries are sidelined and left without a voice on important trade matters.
Aftab Alam, head of ActionAid’s trade justice campaign said: “It is time for the WTO to put the lives and livelihoods of millions of poor people…at the centre of negotiations.�
Adding a voice of dissent, Onyekachi Wambu of AFFORD (African Foundation for Development) told Black Britain:
“There are real problems with the way that African goods are kept out of western markets either through trade tariffs or regulations or other ways of not allowing Africans to trade fairly.
With trade Africans have control over the economy. The ability to trade means you get an income and choose what you want to do with it.�
Referring to the recent G8 summit in Gleneagles where aid was doubled but trade talks taken off the agenda, Ms Wambu said:
“It came as no surprise that the West chose aid and delayed discussing the trade issue.�
Reform and regional partnerships are the solution, says Amaizo
Since the WTO's inception in 1948, Africa’s share of world trade has decreased from 7% to 2%: “So African countries have not really benefited from the WTO�, conceded Mr Amaizo.
The share of African trade is usually of non-processed goods (25%) whilst processed goods, which are the most tradable, make up 75%.
“The issue here is that developed countries are asking African countries to open up their markets on non-processed goods, when they only have 2% of the market.
The result is a surplus of goods which are heavily subsidised. “This not only forces down the price of African goods but it stops African countries from producing their own products�, said Mr Amaizo.
“There is something fundamentally wrong in the trade system�, he added.
Unfortunately, rich nations are still insisting that they are not prepared to give way to cut their subsidies and implement fairer trade rules to benefit poorer countries, Mr Amaizo explained.
“Especially in the case of cotton, West African countries are fed up of the double injustice.
This system is unsustainable and anything which is not sustainable causes instability and poses future security risks which impact everyone.�
Mr Amaizo told Black Britain that a way forward may lie in regional partnerships which are useful between neighbouring countries in terms of establishing trade conventions and facilitating economic growth.
“It is then easier to move forward from a regional to a global level. This is a bottom up approach that I am suggesting.
Today we have the top down approach which does not appear to be working. I see no reason why regional partnerships cannot co-exist alongside global ones such as the WTO.�
Mr Amaizo added that when African concerns are left off the agenda “it is not marginalisation, but exclusion.�
Referring to Brazil’s former success in suing the USA over illegal trade subsidies, Mr Amaizo said that the tribunal system within the WTO designed to settle trade disputes is not properly utilised by African countries:
“We need to provide technical assistance and funding to enable less influential and less developed countries to use this mechanism.�
Speaking of Mr Amaizo’s candidature for Deputy Director General of the WTO, Dr Emanuel Argo, President of the Global African Diaspora (GLAD) told Black Britain:
"GLAD feels that Mr Amaizo can deliver the services required of him as someone from the ground who is aware of the needs of ordinary Africans as well as the dynamics of business and enterprise.
We feel he will draw attention to the needs not only of Africa but of any country where the needs of the populations must be supported.�
Onyekachi Wambu of AFFORD is more doubtful about what can be achieved by one person within a large global organisation.
Drawing a parallel with the United Nations Ms Wambu told Black Britain:
“For a long time Kofi Annan has tried to put Africa at the top of the agenda, but in the end these organisations are made up of Sovereign states and the most powerful ones call the shots.
So it’s less about the individual and more about what the powerful nations of the world want to do.�
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