Limiting the impact of a potential global slowdown and ensuring that the benefits of globalization reach all the world's developing countries and poorest populations are among the objectives of the 12th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII) to be held in Accra, the capital of Ghana, from April 20 to 25.
The conference will seek identifying policies for meeting the urgent needs of the people of developing countries and will discuss topical issues in trade and development, such as multilateral rules and disciplines on financial activity and currency flows similar to those regulating international trade, according to a UNCTAD press release.
The theme of UNCTAD XII is "Addressing the opportunities and challenges of globalization for development".It will bring together Heads of State and Government, including Ghanaian President John Kufuor, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Finnish President Tarja Halonen and Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi will address the conference.Thousands of ministers, delegates, representatives of the private sector and non-governmental organizations and experts are also expected to attend the conference.
Africa will feature prominently at the Accra Conference, which marks the conference's return to Africa after 12 years since it was held in South Africa's Midrand in 1996.
Participants to the conference will focus on measures needed for African countries to benefit more from globalization and on what should be done to strengthen the international community's efforts to promote development-friendly trade and economic growth in Africa.
Created in 1964, UNCTAD, currently with 193 members, is responsible for helping developing countries integrate into the world economy so that they benefit as much as possible from trade, investment and development.
It aims to guide debate and reflection on global development questions so that the combination of national policies and international action generates sustainable development.Xinhua
