Transcript OECD ODA to ESCWA Region - The UN Regional Commissions

Promoting Aid-for-Trade
In the ESCWA Region
by
Bader Al-Dafa
Under Secretary-General
Executive Secretary
UNCTAD XII, Ghana, 23 April 2008
ESCWA consists of 13 Members
WTO members (8):
Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan,
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia & UAE
Observer Status (3):
Iraq, Lebanon & Yemen
Non-WTO members (2):
Palestine & Syria
Main Features of the ESCWA Region
 Developing
economies, despite
huge oil revenues
in some countries
 Modest
institutional &
infrastructural base
 Emerging private
sector
 Dominance of the
public sector,
despite recent
liberalization &
privatization
Major Indicators (%)
ESCWA Share of
World Total
2001
2006
GDP
1.65
1.99
Total Trade
2.51
3.27
FDI
0.32
3.75
Real GDP Growth
2.30
5.88
Source: (1) Annual Review of Developments in Globalization and
Regional Integration in the Arab Countries, ESCWA (2007)
(2) Statistical Abstract of the ESCWA Region, ESCWA (2007)
The ESCWA Region as a Recipient
3.0
4.0
Kuwait
Graduated
7.3
UAE
8.2
Qatar
-
E
UA
ait
Ku
w
in
hra
ia
dan
rab
Ba
-
iA
Bahrain
ud
4.2
Jor
Saudi Arabia
0
Sa
6.1
t
Jordan
yp
3.7
Eg
Egypt
10
ria
3.7
Sy
LMIC
on
-
ban
Palestine
20
an
-
Le
Iraq
Syria
30
Om
Lebanon
UMIC
GDP per capita
(2003-2005)
3.3
en
Oman
LDC
Growth Rate
(2000-2005)
Ye
m
Yemen
DAC
Category
Thousands
Country
2003
2004
2005
Source: World Development Indicators Database,
World Bank (2007)
OECD ODA to ESCWA Region
 ESCWA member countries received US$14.7 billion
(14%) of the world’s total ODA in 2006
 ODA distribution has been concentrated on social
infrastructure rather than economic infrastructure
& services & production
 Social-infra remains the priority for the region (water
& sewage, education, health, housing, rural
development)
The ESCWA Region as a Donor
 ESCWA Region provided US$3.3 billion in 2006, which went to
the region (62%), Asia (22%), Africa (15%) & Latin America (1%)
Sectoral Distribution of Aid
from the Arab Region (2006)
Health,
Education,
Housing
19%
Agriculture
13%
Transport/
Telecom
22%
Water/
Sanitation
8%
Energy
25%
Industry
13%
Source: Unified Arab Economic Report, Arab Monetary Fund (2007)
AFT to Address Supply-Side Constraints
& Market Access Challenges
Trade policy & negotiation
skills constraints
Low
competitiveness
of exports
AFT
Lack of adequate regional
trade facilitation measures
Infrastructure
constraints
Procedural Requirements for
Exporting & Importing by Selected Region
Region
Processing Time
(Days)
Document
(Number)
Export
Import
Export
Import
ESCWA
28.5
32
7.1
8.1
Latin America & Caribbean
22.2
25.8
7
7.6
East Asia & Pacific
24.5
25.8
7.0
7.5
OECD
9.8
10.4
4.5
5
Source: World Bank Group (2007)
A Conducive Environment for AFT
National governments need to…
Develop
Trade
Strategies
Commit to
Mainstream
Trade
Identify
Trade-related
Priority
Needs
Improve
Coordination
Mechanism
Opportunities Furnished by the AFT Initiative
for the ESCWA Region
 Alignment of AFT with priorities focusing on
national strategies
 Increase in the amount of concessional aid
 Effective coordination among donors &
harmonization of donor procedures
 Systemized review, monitoring & evaluation to
enhance transparency & efficiency
 Enhanced integration into the multilateral trading
system
What needs to be done?
1. AFT Global debate should be inclusive of all
regions
2. Streamline AFT definition, scope and approach to be
consistent with the objectives of South-South
Cooperation and Paris Declaration on Aid
Effectiveness
3. AFT delivery should be more demand-driven
4. Implement AFT Task Force Recommendations
5. Expand “Enhanced Integrated Framework”
What can ESCWA do?
As all UN RCs, ESCWA is well positioned to
assist in the implementation of the AFT
initiative.
1. Promote & support future AFT debate
(ensuring participation of the ESCWA Region)
2. Assist member countries and donors in
surveying AFT priority needs in relevant
areas
…What ESCWA can do?
3. Monitor & assess the impact & efficiency
of tailored AFT funding on productive
capacity & trade performance
4. Continue to provide target-oriented
technical assistance for member countries
5. Encourage dialogue between member
countries, donors and relevant regional
organizations
Ensuring Integration of AFT in ESCWA
Overall Strategy
Economic
Development &
Globalization
Trade
Transport/
Maritime
Financing For
Development
Economic
Analysis
Environment
ICT
Cross-Cutting Issues
- Capacity building for trade
- Promote private-public
partnerships
- Strengthen the private sector
- Promote South-South
Cooperation
‫وشكرا‬
Merci
감사합니다
THANK YOU