Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Oct 25, 2013 (SPS) - The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, participated this week in the ongoing African Union Conference of Trade Ministers, represented by the Saharawi Minister of Trade, Mr. Abda Cheikh, accompanied by the Saharawi Permanent Representative to the AU, and Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Lamin Baali, and the Sahrawi trade expert Mrs. Nguia, according to a source from SADR Embassy in Ethiopia.
The meeting that is taking place in its eight ordinary session from 24 to 25 October, discusses multiple issues related to trade facilitation, boosting of inter-African trade, in addition to the discussion of various declarations on the ongoing negotiations in the World Trade Organisation, the constitution of the African Continental Free Market, and African Growth and Opportunity Act.
The Ministerial Conference was also preceded by a meeting of trade senior officials, who discussed multiple issues, and prepared draft declaration on the African negotiations regarding the World Trade organization, the Economic Partnership agreements, and the African Growth and Opportunity Act, in addition to a report to be examined and adopted by the Ministers.
In addition to the SADR, the meeting was attended by Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana,, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
It was also attended by the following Regional Economic Communities and AU partner organisations: COMESA, ECCAS, ECOWAS, SADC, EAC, UEMOA, ACP, AfDB, Commonwealth, DIFD, ECDPM, Joint Secretariat Support Unit UNECA/AfDB/AUC, OIF, NEPAD Agency, South Centre, Third World Network Africa, UNECA, UNDP, World Bank, World Customs Organization, World Trade Organisation, ENDA Tiers Monde, and many others.
It should be recalled, that The Saharawi delegation held various meetings and contacts on the margin of the works of this conference, informing the participating delegations about the latest developments in the Saharawi cause. (SPS)
090/110