Medlemmerne af Folketingets Europaudvalg og deres stedfortrædere Bilag Journalnummer Kontor 1 400.C.2-0 EUK 27. januar 2005 Til underretning for Folketingets Europaudvalg vedlægges formandskabets opsummering i forbindelse med ministerkonference den 19.-20. januar 2005 i Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

2 MINISTERIAL MEETING ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT DAR ES SALAAM, 20^TH JANUARY, 2005 STATEMENT BY CO-CHAIRS,   MS CARIN JÄMTIN MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION OF SWEDEN AND   DR. JUMA NGASONGWA,   MINISTER  FOR  INDUSTRY  AND  TRADE  OF  THE  UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA Dear colleagues and friends, We are happy that ministers and distinguished delegates from twenty African coun- tries¹ and the five Nordic countries² , have met here in Dar es Salaam on 20^th Janu- ary, 2005 for a dialogue on trade and development for poverty reduction.  A num- ber of international organizations³ and NGOs⁴ have also attended the meeting. The purpose of the meeting has been to contribute to an enhanced and continuing dialogue on this topic, between developing and developed countries, an opening of the minds to various perspectives and points of view.  It has also been an opportu- nity for African countries to share experiences with the Nordic countries on devel- opments  in  regional  integration  schemes,  as  instruments  for  trade  development.   We now have a better understanding of different perspectives to take with us to the international fora where we are operationally dealing with the issue of the develop- ment needs that will enable African countries to make better use of their potential for effective participation in global trade, sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation. 1 The 20 African countries are: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Tan- zania, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia 2 The Nordic countries are:  Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden 3 The international organizations are: IMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, World Bank, WTO and the UN Economic Commission for Africa. The African cooperation organizations are: AU, COMESA, EAC, ECOWAS and SADC ⁴The NGOs are: Danish 92 Group, Norwegian Church Aid for Eastern Africa, Forum Syd, Sweden, IGNIS Foundation/Norwegian NGO Forum, SEATINI The Private Sector Organizations are: Norwegian Farmers Union, ROPPA, Uganda Ma- nufacturers Association, Confederation of Tanzania Industries, Confederation of Danish Industries, Zambia Association of Chambers Of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI), Zambia Export Growers Association (ZEGA). - The EU was represented by the European Commission.

3 It is clear to us that increased efforts and commitment in order to reach the Millen- nium  Development  Goals  have  to  be  made  by  both  developing  and  developed countries.    In  particular,  the  aim  of  halving  poverty  in  Africa  by  2015  should  be given the full attention that it deserves.  Economic growth is a prerequisite for ful- filling  this  objective.  International  trade  is  an  essential  factor  for  creating  such growth. There has been a general understanding among us, that the main responsibility for creating a more growth-oriented environment in developing countries, primarily lies within the countries concerned. The success depends on a number of factors that include good  governance  and  private  sector  development.    The  New  Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and the establishment of the African Union (AU) have underscored these priorities and the African ownership of the develop- ment process.  Several African countries have adopted Poverty Reduction Strate- gies.  These have strengthened the partnership between African developing coun- tries and the international community for reaching the common goal of poverty- eradication.  The Nordic countries, and the developed world at large, have to make continued efforts and commitments to contribute to this process. Ministers  observed  that  trade  is  an  important  vehicle  for  accelerated  growth.    There was a common understanding that active participation by the African coun- tries in ongoing negotiations in the WTO under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) is of crucial importance.  It was generally agreed that developing countries would benefit a great deal from an effective rules-based multilateral trading system. Such system would create opportunities and address challenges that face small and weak  countries  in  the  community  of  world  trading  partners  in  a  global  environ- ment. It is important to ensure that the Doha Development Agenda delivers the promise of development and a result for developing countries that mirrors their trading in- terests.  Continued dialogue between African countries and the Nordic countries, to identify challenges at hand, could benefit the DDA process.  African interests need to be efficiently addressed during the DDA negotiations.  We have to strive to en- sure a development-oriented outcome, which includes tangible benefits for the de- veloping  countries,  especially  for  the  least  developed  countries  (LDCs).    African countries  could  learn  from  the  practical  experience  of  Nordic  countries  when  it comes to regional trading arrangements that are compatible with requirements in the multilateral trading system. The Nordic countries remain committed to support- ing African countries in this. Many issues have been discussed during our deliberations here today.  The inter- ventions have pointed to the following as actions of particular importance: Ensure  a  development-oriented  result  of  the  DDA  negotiations.  This would, include tangible benefits for the developing countries, especially the LDCs; Address outstanding problems concerning implementation of WTO agree- ments;

4 Make special and differential treatment for developing countries more pre- cise,  effective  and  operational.  The  principle  of  binding  commitments amongst trading partners should be underscored in this; Liberalize  trade,  both  north-south  and  south-south.  Improved  market  ac- cess for products of particular interest to African countries is of key impor- tance; Eliminate export subsidies for agricultural products; Make  determined  efforts  for  the  African  countries  to  benefit  from  im- proved market access; Alleviate short-term negative consequences for vulnerable developing coun- tries of trade liberalization. This would include the question of preference erosion, loss of government revenue and employment, and need for safety nets to mitigate against the social costs of liberalization; and Seize  the  opportunities  for  growth  and  development  that  are  inherent  in trade facilitation. As trade in itself is neither sufficient nor the only means for creating growth and prosperity, there was a general understanding that economic development in Africa should be promoted in many ways.  Ministers underlined that problems concerning supply-side  constraints  have  to  be  addressed.    Integration  of  trade,  including  the issue  of  private  sector  development,  into  the  national  development  plans  and/or poverty  reduction  strategies  would  be  an  important  step  in  this  regard.  PRSPs should coherently reflect national priorities and form a solid basis for national own- ership of the development process.  It would also stimulate well-targeted and co- herent  trade  related  assistance  (TRA)  from  the  international  community  towards the common goal of eradicating poverty. Regarding trade related assistance, it was agreed that further technical and financial assistance to African countries is necessary.  Such assistance should not only help African countries participate fully in the WTO negotiations. It should also enable them  to  address  internal  constraints  in  order  to  fully  utilize  their  trade  potential.   The Nordic countries remain committed to supporting various trade related assis- tance, notably through the Integrated Framework (IF) and other instruments. Individual countries have specific interests and views on the subject of trade and development.  This is the reality for Nordic and African countries alike.  This does not,  however,  preclude  the  possibility  and  importance  of  developing  a  common point of reference.  The Nordic and African countries share a common and strong interest in promoting development. We think that international trade plays an im- portant role in this respect.  Consequently, we share a common interest in strength- ening the multilateral trading system to promote development.  This shared interest is the binding force that has brought us together here in Dar es Salaam.  With the objective of working for a fruitful conclusion of the next WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong  we  shall  continue  to  exchange  views  and  ideas  in  all  relevant  international forums as well as in the bilateral context. We shall continue the dialogue that we have started here in Tanzania. Dar es Salaam, January 2005