Extracts from the reports and recommendations

1. Practical obstacles to the effective use of the trade provisions of LomV.

The working party noted the “absence of awareness of economic operators... of the provisions of LomV aiming to stimulate trade development “, and the “ practical difficulties of beneficiaries in interpreting LomV”. They recommended that Governments: “define a consistent trade development strategy associating the private sector in the definition and implementation of the programmes”.

2. The trade environment

Working party 13 stressed the urgent need for “a more active participation of ACP countries in the GATT negotiations” and to systematically provide for “the possibility” in LomV, of reinforcing trade and support services internally and internationally”.

3. Key elements of trade and services development programmes

“All ACP States and regional organisations should consider trade and services as factors in overall economic planning”. The (trade development) programmes should be sector and market specific with quantified and qualified objectives established at the design stage... Programmes should... involve an appropriate private public sector mix and include (at this design stage) all the necessary support services (export credits, insurance, packaging, transport and warehousing)... Some countries and regions which are especially “ services “ sector oriented may regard development in such sectors (consultancy, telematics etc) as taking precendence over visible trade programmes... It was recommended that part of the resources of LomV be used to help ACP States and regions to decide the location of production units in selected product groups in order to avoid duplication of investment while satisfying market needs... “

4. Improving intra-ACP trade

“In view of the fact that the lack of a political will is a major obstacle to intra-ACP trade, it is recommended that the ACP States take appropriate measures and/or implement the resolutions adopted regionally concerning the free movement of goods, services and persons...

The transport and communication problems encountered nationally and regionally the lack of information, the absence of complementarily in the various productions. their limited competitiveness in relation to the rest of the world the investment problems and in particular the trade financing problems as well as the compensation mechanisms are recognised as being the main obstacles to the development of intra-ACP trade...”