Ghana Ready For UNCTAD Summit

Ghana is set to host the 12th summit of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 12) in Accra from April 20 to 25, next year as it has signed an agreement with UNCTAD to that effect.

The conference, which will attract about four to five thousand delegates including heads of state, trade ministers, UN officials, non governmental organizations and the media, is under the theme 'Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of Globalization and Development'.

Whilst initialing for Ghana, Joe Baidoe-Ansah, Minister of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and President's Special Initiatives said Ghana intends to make UNCTAD XII a turning point in the history of UNCTAD - a conference which will bring UNCTAD to the doorstep of the developing world, particularly Africa.

According to him, the theme for the conference was designed to make a significant contribution to the dialogue on Africa's current and future development.

Mr. Baidoe-Ansah said another major attraction of the conference was Ghana's proposal, which UNCTAD endorsed, to hold a parallel World Summit on Investment which will bring together business leaders from around the world to engage in dialogue on core business issues.

Mrs. Lakshmi Puri, Acting Deputy Secretary-General, UNCTAD who led the six-man team to sign for the UN Agency said the conference would be a serious one which would examine all facets of trade that would lead to development of all nations.

She said it would treat emerging challenges affecting trade between developed and developing countries and pay attention to South-South issues, including globalization, energy and commodity economy.

From Business Desk