Source: Commonwealth Secretariat |

New phase for Hub and Spokes trade initiative which aids Africa, Caribbean and Pacific

An innovative trade initiative which is expanding opportunities for business, employment and prosperity in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will be extended to February 2019

To kick-start the ambitious next phase of the aid for trade programme, 40 of the programme’s main stakeholders including 16 trade advisers are gathering for a workshop

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 23, 2017/APO/ --

An innovative trade initiative which is expanding opportunities for business, employment and prosperity in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will be extended to February 2019.

The Hub and Spokes programme is a joint initiative of the European Union, ACP Group Secretariat, Commonwealth Secretariat and Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Through the programme, trade advisers are placed in government ministries and regional organisations to provide support and build local capacity to develop trade policies.

To kick-start the ambitious next phase of the aid for trade programme, 40 of the programme’s main stakeholders including 16 trade advisers are gathering for a workshop in Bridgetown, Barbados, between 22 and 23 May.

As 2017 is shaping up to be an uncertain year for global trade, the workshop comes at a time when economic and political unpredictability is being felt all across the globe. The two-day event will see participants review the changing trade landscape, exchange best practices and establish a sustainable foundation for the design of national and regional trade policies.

Commenting, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Deodat Maharaj said the Caribbean workshop presents an ideal opportunity to learn from regional experiences to ensure that developing countries and small and vulnerable states are not left behind.

Mr Maharaj said: “The Hub and Spokes programme is helping countries to use trade as a mechanism to advance human development and create prosperity. It has been an invaluable resource for Commonwealth member countries and in particular for small and capacity-constrained states. The work undertaken by these trade experts is second to none, ensuring that countries can effectively participate in global trade and that trade policies deliver on national development priorities.”

Chekou Oussouman, Head of the Hub and Spokes programme at the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) said: “The long-term technical assistance provided by the programme has given credibility to the partnership between the Commonwealth, OIF, EC [the European Commission] and the ACP Secretariat who have responded to requests from the ACP regions for the deployment of a network of high level advisers on trade policies.

“Beyond the reforms undertaken to make trade a lever for growth and successful structural transformation, several countries and regions have been involved in the ownership of the programme’s efforts and have also contributed to the financing of activities. Thus, the consolidation phase of the programme will enable key structuring activities to be transferred appropriately to the beneficiaries”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Commonwealth Secretariat.